India in December

The vastness and geographically diversity of India make generalizing about the weather a fool’s errand, though we shall try. The northern Himalayan parts of the nation can be covered in snow while the southern beaches be mired in monsoonal winds and rain. Northern India is considered generally cooler, though outside the highest mountain peaks never really cold, while the south is tropical, the central interior hot and dry. The ‘winter’ is generally considered the best time to visit India for most regions.

December to March in Northern India is cool and mainly dry. The year's coldest months are December and January, when temperatures average around 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) in the northwest. In January to February, certain regions such as Himachal Pradesh in the far north can see heavy bursts of rain, and heavy snowfall at elevations over 2,000 meters. Winter highs in New Delhi, the nation’s capital, range from 16 to 21 °C (61 to 70 °F), with a light rainfall of under 20 mm per day. Without the searing heat of summer it is one of the best times to visit. Delhi serving as an excellent starting base to explore the diverse surrounding northern regions, from the dusty deserts of Rajasthan in the west to the snowcapped Himalayan mountains to the north.

Winter in Southern India sees January as the coldest month.  It is the best time to visit the country due to the cool(er) temperatures and relative dryness. Again, the weather varies significantly depending on where you are. Temperatures get higher towards the equator, peaking around 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) in mainland India's southeast. Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are cooler states. Minimum temperatures in western Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh hover around 10 °C (50 °F). The much visited states of Goa and Kerala on the Malabar Coast see highs of 30 °C  (86 °F) and lows of 22 (72 °F), with almost zero rain in winter. Many head to the coastal areas here as the cool breeze off the Indian Ocean moderates the weather.
 

 

Suggested Itineraries

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A Naturalist’s Trip Through the National Parks of Madhya Pradesh

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Celebrating Dev Deepawali and Other Gems of Madhya Pradesh

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Extravagant India: An Engagement in Regal Rajasthan

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Recommended Festivals For India in December

Hornbill Festival

December

This 10-day annual festival in India’s northeastern region of Nagaland brings together a wide variety of local tribes, who perform their traditional dances and folk songs for all to see, wearing traditional dress. Held at Naga Heritage Village, constructed for the event, there are also fun competitions, a large market, and more. 

Location Nagaland, India

Sonepur Elephant Fair

November-December

Also known as the Sonepur Cattle Fair, this fall event is one of the largest cattle fairs in the world. Visitors from all over Asia make their way to Sonepur, Bihar, on the banks of the River Ganges, for the ancient festival that can stretch from 15 days to one month. Farm animals from dogs, to rabbits and Persian horses are sold at the event.

Location Sonepur, India

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