India Weather and Climate

Geographical location

According to COUNTRYAAH, India is located in South Asia, is divided into 29 federal states and at the same time represents a subcontinent. The countries Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh border the state. In the north the Himalayas represent a natural border, in the south it is the Indian Ocean that delimits the mainland.

The fertile plains of the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers lie south of the Himalayas and represent important agricultural areas. Over 1.2 billion people live in an area of ​​around 3.3 million square kilometers.

This results in a population density of 368 inhabitants per square kilometer. This makes India the second most populous country and, in terms of land area, the seventh largest country in the world.

The capital New Delhi is part of the metropolis Delhi and is located in the north of India. The island state of Sri Lanka is 237 kilometers off the south coast of India and has a population of almost 22 million.

New Delhi can be reached in around 7.5 hours by flight from Frankfurt.

• Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about India.

Climate in India

Due to the enormous size of India, the climate cannot be generalized. In the south there is a tropical climate, in central and northern India a subtropical climate and in the mountain regions a moderate to alpine climate. There can even be snowfalls and freezing temperatures in winter.

In summer, the monsoons have a strong influence on the weather. In most parts of the country there is enormous rainfall here in the months of June to September. These are particularly pronounced in Mumbai and can be up to 730 millimeters in July. During this time, the humidity rises and brings with it humid, uncomfortable air.

The rainy season is followed by the dry season, in which there is no precipitation at all in Mumbai to the west, and isolated showers in New Delhi. India heats up a lot during this phase. Temperatures rise to 40 degrees in April and May. Northeast winds bring little moisture with them during this time.

When to go to India

In our experience, the best travel time for India is between October and the end of March. At this time the temperatures are bearable and at night it cools down pleasantly in many regions. North India and the west coast in particular are easy to travel to in October and November.

In the south, the best travel time begins around the beginning of December. Especially at the turn of the year, India’s climate shows its pleasant side. Up to 10 hours of sunshine a day and temperatures of 21 to 30 degrees offer a great basis for a successful trip.

The infinite number of sights in India are best discovered on a round trip. The rainy season does not offer good conditions for this. Many traffic routes are flooded during this time and some of them cannot be used. If you plan to tour the Himalaya Mountains, you should do so in the months between May and September.

Outside of this time it is very cold there and heavy snowfalls limit travel options. A combination of beach vacation, cultural program and active vacation in the Himalayas would be possible in the marginal months of April / May and September / October. Nevertheless, the best travel time in the Himalayas is quite rainy in all other parts of the country.

Optimal travel time for the regions

In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (India).

Place	Best travel time
Mumbai	January, February, March and December
New Delhi	January, February, March, October, November and December
Bangalore	January, February, March, May and December
Calcutta	January, February, March and December
Panjim	January, February, March, April, November and December

Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Mumbai (India)

	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daytime temperature	30 ° C	30 ° C	31 ° C	32 ° C	33 ° C	32 ° C	30 ° C	30 ° C	31 ° C	33 ° C	33 ° C	32 ° C
Night temperature	19 ° C	20 ° C	23 ° C	25 ° C	27 ° C	26 ° C	25 ° C	25 ° C	25 ° C	25 ° C	23 ° C	21 ° C
Water temperature	25 ° C	26 ° C	26 ° C	27 ° C	28 ° C	29 ° C	28 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	26 ° C
Precipitation in mm	0	0	0	2	12	586	731	480	275	67	14	3
Hours of sunshine	9	9	9	10	10	5	2	2	6	8	8	8
Sunrise	7:15	7:05	6:50	6:20	6:05	6:00	6:10	6:20	6:25	6:35	6:45	7:05
Sunset	18:20	18:40	18:50	18:55	19:05	19:15	19:20	19:05	18:40	18:15	18:00	18:05

Temperatures

The annual average temperature in Mumbai is 27.5 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is May (30.1 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 24.4 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Mumbai is 29 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 2170 mm. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The months of June, July, August and September are considered the rainy season, as more than 175 mm of precipitation can be expected per month. Overall, about 2072 mm of precipitation can be expected in the rainy season. You cannot expect snow in any month in Mumbai.

Sunshine

As our climate table shows, May is the sunniest month with an average of 9.6 hours of sunshine per day. In the annual mean, the sun shines an average of 7.1 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.

Cities nearby

The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Thane, Dombivli, Bhiwandi, Borivali, Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, Bandra, Ambernath, Virar, Panvel, Badlapur and Airoli.

Highlights and attractions

World famous and a real highlight of any trip to India is the visit to the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum is in the city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The structure was built in 1631 and took 17 years to build. In Amritsar, in the far north of the country, you will find the golden temple Hari Mandri as a must-see attraction.

On Havelock Island, Radhanagar Beach is an outstanding place for a relaxing day at the beach. The island can be reached by ferry from Port Blair. Here you can enjoy the good weather in a special atmosphere. Other highlights in India are the Mehrangarh Fortress in Jodhpur, Pangong Lake and Akshardham Park in New Delhi.