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Best time to visit Varanasi
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Best time to visit Varanasi, India
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10-24°C, dry and sunny | moderate | moderate |
| |
| February | 15-30°C, dry and sunny | moderate | moderate |
| |
| March | 20-35°C, dry with increasing warmth | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Holi can cause temporary disruptions to transport and services. | |
| April | 25-40°C, hot and humid with occasional storms | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Heat can be intense, especially midday. | |
| May | 30-45°C, very hot and humid | low | low |
⚠ Extreme heat wave conditions are common. | |
| June | 28-40°C, hot and humid with pre-monsoon showers | low | low |
⚠ Monsoon rains can disrupt travel and ghat access. | |
| July | 25-35°C, heavy monsoon rains | low | low |
⚠ Heavy monsoons cause flooding, making ghats impassable and travel difficult. | |
| August | 25-33°C, monsoon rains continue | low | low |
⚠ Monsoon persists, impacting outdoor activities and transport. | |
| September | 24-32°C, post-monsoon showers tapering off | low | low |
| |
| October | 20-32°C, pleasant with occasional light showers | moderate | moderate |
| |
| November | 15-28°C, dry and sunny | moderate | moderate |
| |
| December | 10-25°C, dry and sunny | moderate | moderate |
|
Annual events worth timing your trip around
Celebrates the arrival of spring and honors the goddess Saraswati.
The festival of colors, celebrated with vibrant displays and joyous gatherings.
Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama with religious processions and prayers.
Commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna with fasting and midnight celebrations.
A nine-night festival dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine.
A major festival honoring Goddess Durga, marked by elaborate pandals and rituals.
The festival of lights, with diyas, fireworks, and family gatherings.
Insider timing tips
- •The monsoon season (July-August) brings heavy rains that can flood the ghats, making boat travel impossible and some areas inaccessible.
- •May and June are extremely hot and humid, making daytime exploration challenging, though prices are at their lowest.
- •While winter (December-January) is pleasant, mornings can be foggy, occasionally delaying boat tours on the Ganges.
- •Major festivals like Holi and Diwali can lead to significant crowds and temporary disruptions, but offer unique cultural experiences.
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