When to Go to Rajasthan

When to Go to Rajasthan

India's peak tourist season is from mid-September through March, when the weather is temperate. Rajasthan gets packed during this time, so make all reservations well in advance.

If you want to get away from the hordes and can bear the heat of a desert summer, April is a good time to visit. By May and June, it's so hot that even the merchants spend the afternoons sleeping in their shops. Then the monsoon hits, bringing rain-laden clouds until September. India's monsoons can disrupt plane schedules and the phone and electrical systems; heavy rains can also wash away roads or bury them in landslides. That said, the monsoons can be a pleasant time to see Rajasthan, which is pretty and green in the rain.

Weather Chart

The following are the normal daily temperature ranges for Delhi, the nearest big city:

December-January 45-73°F (7-23°C); February-March and November 50-93°F (10-34°C); April and July-October 66-97°F (19-36°C); May-June 81-106°F (27-41°C).

Holidays

India's fixed national holidays are January 26 (Republic Day), August 15 (Independence Day), October 2 (Gandhi's birthday), and December 25 (Christmas). Endless festivals enliven -- and shut down -- different parts of the country throughout the year.