We have been May both times, hottest places Delhi (manageable) and Calcutta which was humid more so than Phuket, Shimla and Sikkim were cold at night. Granted we are used to 28 upwards and shiver below 25. Shimla weather reminded us of England.

Kathie is talking about me re Sikkim, no the ex Royal Guesthouses are not luxury hotels but with the exception of one, not clean either and it is all buffets, mainly vegetarian.

My son and I spent the first two weeks of June last year in India. The first portion of the trip was in Delhi, Jaipur, and Amritsar - all quite hot. The second part of the trip was in McCleod Ganj, Simla, Ranikhet (all cool), and Haridwar (hot). We had at least 36 hours of rain in Ranikhet during a three-day period.

Simla and Ranikhet were the least interesting destinations on our itinerary.