When to Go

When to Go

The ideal time to visit Orissa is October through March, when the temperature is around 77°F (25°C) during the day and the air is relatively dry. After March the heat starts building to 95°F (35°C) until the monsoon rains begin, in late May or early June. This cools things down a bit, but the rain can come down in buckets until mid-September, and during this time Orissa is prone to floods and cyclones. It is also sensible to avoid the standard holiday periods that Indian tourists flock to the area, such as the school holidays that occurs three times a year in summer from late April to early June; a few days before and after Diwali (in the fall); Durga Puja; and from late December to early January when mainly Bengali tourists flock to Orissa. The most exciting time in Puri is during July's Rath Yatra festival. It is also one of busiest times—Puri is swamped with pilgrims and finding accommodation in the town is tough; you are better off staying in Bhubaneswar and making a day trip to Puri. The classical dance festival at Konark is worth checking out.