India
India’s country-wide cool and dry season – between November and March – is the best time to visit, though temperatures between north and south vary hugely. While Delhi can be pretty chilly during December and January, Tamil Nadu’s temperatures remain tropical. Generally, though, this is the most comfortable time to experience Rajasthan, Delhi, Varanasi and Madhya Pradesh, while the ‘winter’ also coincides with Goa and Kerala (and, indeed, Tamil Nadu) being at their most pleasant.
Things really start to heat up in May and June, to the extent that travel isn’t recommended to any of India’s low-lying destinations. This is the start of trekking season, though, with the Himalayas offering respite from the heat – and the subsequent rains – until September.
The monsoon arrives on the coast of Kerala in the latter half of May, taking approximately six weeks to travel north-east across the rest of the subcontinent. The north experiences its final monsoon downpours in September, though clouds can linger in the south for a few more weeks. A second smaller monsoon hits southern Kerala and the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from October to early December.
Average low and high annual temperatures (degrees C) range from:
- 10 to 17 in Shimla
- 19 to 29 in Bangalore
- 19 to 31 in Delhi
- 23 to 31 in Kerala
- 24 to 31 in Mumbai
- 19 to 32 in Jaipur and Varanasi
- 22 to 32 in Kolkata
- 23 to 32 in Goa
- 24 to 33 in Chennai
- 24 to 34 in Madurai
Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is complicated by their being two monsoons: Yala, which strikes the west and south-west coasts – in addition to the hill country – between May and September; and Maha, which arrives on the east coast in November before petering out by March. Downpours can also occur pretty much anywhere on the island nation during October. December to March, then, is the ideal time to visit the south and west coasts – and the hill country – while the east coast is best experienced between April and September.
Sri Lanka has little variation in temperature owing to its proximity to the Equator. The coast and low-lying regions typically average between 26 and 30 degrees C during the day, though Kandy, at an altitude of 1,600 ft, averages between 18 and 22 degrees C. In Nuwara Eliya – positioned more than 6,000 ft above sea level – temperatures are cooler still; generally between 14 and 17 degrees C.
Nepal
From late September till the end of November, Nepal’s days are warm and the skies clear – making this the most popular time to visit. With dust having been washed away by the monsoon, mountain views tend to be crystal clear.
The period between February and the middle of April – characterised by longer days and warm temperatures – is regarded as the ‘second’ tourist season. While haze can compromise mountain views from lower altitudes, this is the ideal time to spot Nepal’s wildlife.
Temperatures peak towards the end of April until early June. Travelling during this time is not recommended owing to the heat, increased cloud cover and pre-monsoon showers.
The monsoon typically begins during the middle of June before gradually dying out by the end of September. While travel disruption is more likely, the rains – which usually occur in the evening – bring much of the country to life. Fresh produce is everywhere – as are butterflies – while the air is especially clean. Mountain views are few and far between, though.
The weather is generally clear during December and January, though the cold can put paid to any trekking. The winter is a good time to visit Nepal’s warmer lower-altitude regions.
Because of the low-lying Terai plains and the high-altitude Himalayas, temperatures in Nepal vary wildly. In Kathmandu – which is approximately 4,600 ft above sea level – temperatures tend to range between 15 and 24 degrees C in autumn, 16 and 23 degrees C in spring and 23 to 25 degrees C during summer. In winter, temperatures usually hover between 9 and 12 degrees C.
Bhutan
Like Nepal, the skies are clear and the temperatures warm between late September and late November, making this the best period for visitors and trekkers to experience stunning mountain views.
Mid-March to May is another excellent time to visit – magnolias, rhododendrons and other wildflowers are in bloom, while birdlife is abundant. Clear skies are regular, but there may be more cloud cover and rain.
Bhutan experiences its winter from December to early March. While the skies are generally clear and the sun shines brightly, temperatures plummet once it retreats behind the mountains.
The monsoon arrives early in June and stays until the beginning of September, resulting in light to heavy rain, though mainly in the afternoons and evenings.
Between mid-May and September, temperatures typically reach between 22 and 26 degrees C in the day and 17 to 18 degrees C at night. In March and April, and October and November, minimum temperatures fall into single figures.