Weather & When To Go
Given India’s vast geographic scale and varied topography, making generalisations about the weather for the whole country is difficult. However, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) designates four climatological seasons: Winter, Summer or pre-monsoon, Monsoon or rainy, and Post-monsoon or autumn.
To make it easier for travellers planning to visit India, we have provided information based on travel seasons rather than climatological seasons.
High Season (Dec–Mar)
During the high season, which lasts from December to March, you will generally encounter pleasant weather. The days are warm and the nights are cooler. December and January do have chilly nights in the north but temperatures climb steadily from February. Temperatures average around 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) in the northwest and around 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) in mainland India as well as the southeast. During this time the number of tourists and prices are at their peak.
Shoulder Season (Jul–Nov)
During this time, Monsoon rain-showers persist through to September. The southeast coast and southern Kerala see heavy rain from October to early December.
In the north, passes to Ladakh and the high Himalaya are open from July to September.
Low Season (Apr–Jun)
April is hot; May and June are scorching. From June, the monsoon sweeps from south to north, bringing draining humidity. It is best to beat the heat (but not the crowds) by travelling to the cool hill-stations. Temperatures average around 32–40 °C (90–104 °F) in most of the interior.
Top Events & Festivals
Holi
(February or March)
One of India’s most ecstatic festivals; celebrated at the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar, in February or March, by throwing coloured water and gulal (coloured powder) at anyone within range.
Ganesh Chaturthi
(August or September)
Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day celebration of the birth of the much-loved elephant-headed god. Clay idols of Ganesh are paraded through the streets before being ceremonially immersed in water.
Onam
(August or September)
Onam is Kerala’s biggest cultural celebration, when the entire state celebrates the golden age of mythical King Mahabali for 10 days.
Navratri & Dussehra
(September or October)
This awe-inspiring ‘Festival of Nine Nights’ leading up to Dussehra celebrates the goddess Durga in all her incarnations. Colourful Dussehra celebrates the victory of the Hindu god Rama over the demon-king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil.
Diwali
(October or November)
One of India’s prettiest and noisiest festivals, Diwali, is celebrated for five days in the lunar month of Kartika. There’s massive build up to this, and on the day people exchange gifts, light fireworks, and light lamps to lead Lord Rama home from exile.
Christmas
(December)
Goa & Kerala come alive in the lead-up to Christmas, midnight Masses are held on 24 December, and Christmas Day is celebrated with feasting and fireworks.
Top Tips For Traveling To India
- India is vast on a geographic scale and varied topography thus make sure you plan your trip in advance and don’t try to cram too much in.
- India works differntly from western countries and thus it is important to take it slow here and factor in time to go off on tangents.
- Alternate cities and laid-back small towns, beaches or countryside to give yourself a chance to rejuvenate.
- Book long-distance journeys ahead, especially during festival times as tickets are not readily available.
- Avoid touts in touristy places or entry points. Some people may try ‘helpfully’ to direct you to local agents who’ll pay them commission.
- Dress to respect local culture. Many religious sites expect men & women to be dressed appropriately and shorts or sleeveless tops are considered offensive. Some religious sites expect heads to be covered by kerchiefs or cloth.
- Bargaining is a part of life in markets and many shops, but keep a sense of proportion.
- Take care of personal hygiene; use hand sanitiser, eat freshly cooked food, don’t drink tap water.
In larger cities, internet connectivity is widely available so if you have a smartphone, download all required maps as these can be helpful for navigation if you get stuck at a location with no network.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please check with your local general physician (GP) four weeks prior to travel.
Staying connected is fairly easy in larger cities with good networks but the same is not true for smaller towns and villages in India. The trend of providing wifi in hotels and other forms of accomodations is gaining momentum in larger cities but the same is still in nascent stages in the rest of the country.
Your existing nos. will generally work in India but we recommend you talk to your network provider about any charges associated with international roaming and calling.
If you intend to purchase a SIM card and handset in India, it is relatively simple to get but identification proofs such as a copy of your passport, a copy of your visa and a couple of passport size photographs are usually required. Once you purchase your SIM card, it may take a few hours for the same to be activated.
Most cafes (cyber cafes or otherwise) in tourist destinations provide wi-fi connectivity as well. These may be chargeable by the hour and the speed & reliability of connection may vary from place to place.
When travelling with Dreamazing Destinations, we make it extremely simple for you to procure an Indian SIM card so that you can stay connected with ease.
There are ATMs in most towns; carry cash as backup. Mastercard and Visa are the most widely accepted credit cards.
ATMs are widespread and Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, and Maestro are the most commonly accepted cards. ATMs at Axis Bank, Citibank, HDFC, HSBC, ICICI and State Bank of India recognise foreign cards. Other banks may accept major cards (Visa, Mastercard etc).
It is advisable to check whether your card can access banking networks in India and ask for details of charges before your trip.
Credit cards are accepted at a growing number of shops, upmarket restaurants, and midrange and top-end hotels, and they can usually be used to pay for flights and train tickets. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted cards. Cash advances on major credit cards are also possible at some banks.
Currency
The Indian rupee (₹) is divided into 100 paise (p), but only 50 paise coins are legal tender and these are rarely seen. Coins come in denominations of ₹1, ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 (the 1s and 2s look almost identical); notes come in ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹500 and ₹2000.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques are becoming harder and harder to change, as credit cards become more widely accepted. They are often more hassle than they are worth. All major brands are accepted, but some banks may only accept cheques from American Express (Amex) and Thomas Cook. Euros, pounds sterling and US dollars are the safest currencies, especially in smaller towns.
What to Take
- Well-concealed money belt
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Earplugs – essential for nuisance noise
- Sheet sleeping bag if you’re budgeteering
What to Wear
In bigger cities, especially in the bars, restaurants, malls, clubs and five-star hotels, people dress as they might in less conservative countries. However, elsewhere it’s important to wear non-revealing clothes (both sexes). This is respectful in view of local culture, and essential at holy sites. Cotton scarves are useful for covering the head at holy sites, and for covering up.
A pair of covered shoes/trainers are a good call for dirtier streets, while slip-on shoes are handy for visiting sacred sites. Warmer clothes will be necessary depending on the season and altitude of the region you’re planning to visit.
Travel with children in India is usually a delight, though you (and your kids) may have to get used to being the centre of attention. Locals will thrill at taking a photograph or two beside your bouncing baby. This may prove tiring and disconcerting, but you can always politely decline.
As a parent on the road in India, the key is to remain firm, even if you feel you may offend a well-meaning local by doing so. The attention your children will inevitably receive is almost always good-natured; kids are the centre of life in many Indian households, and your own will be treated just the same. Hotels will almost always come up with an extra bed or two, and restaurants with a familiar meal.
To enter India you need a valid passport and an onward/return ticket, and a visa. Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in India, with at least two blank pages. If your passport is lost or stolen, immediately contact your country’s representative. Keep photocopies of your airline ticket and the identity and visa pages of your passport in case of emergency.
Visas
Apart from citizens of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives (Nepali citizens are, however, required to get a visa if they enter via China), everyone needs to apply for a visa before arriving in India. Over 100 nationalities can obtain a 30-day e-Tourist visa/Visa on Arrival, applying online prior to arrival; this is valid from the day you arrive. For longer trips, you’ll need to obtain a six-month tourist visa, valid from the date of issue, not the date of arrival in India.
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
Citizens from over 100 countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe, can apply for a 30-day e-Tourist visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in a minimum of four and a maximum of 30 days before they are due to travel.
We at Dreamazing Destinations, can help you with all the procedures required for you to obtain a visa for your dream Indian holiday. Simply contact us to initiate your holiday.
Technically you’re supposed to declare Indian rupees in excess of ₹10,000, any amount of cash over US$5000, or a total amount of currency over US$10,000 on arrival.
You’re also prohibited from importing more than one laptop, two litres of alcohol, 100 cigarettes or equivalent, or gifts and souvenirs worth over ₹8000.
These regulations change periodically so please get in touch with us prior to travelling and we can inform you about the latest regulations.
If you have a physical disability or are vision impaired, the difficulties of travel in India can be exacerbated. If your mobility is considerably restricted, you may like to ease the stress by travelling with an able-bodied companion.
We at Dreamazing Destinations, do everything we can to make it easier to travel with a disability. This includes but is not limited to getting you access to employed assistance such as a car and driver to get around. If communicated in advance, our team can ensure your stay and travel are adequately prepared and you have assistance at hand whenever required.
Although local transport in India is frequent and inexpensive, it is prone to overcrowding and delays. Domestic flights, long-distance buses and trains connect most of the country quite well and are available at all times of day and night, though working out the time you will actually arrive at your destination after all the delays, traffic jams and mechancial faults can be a challenge. Urban transport is cheap and frequent, and although you’ll never struggle to find a taxi, rickshaw or autorickshaw, haggling for the final price may be a bit more than you bargained for.
We at Dreamazing Destinations take care of all your inter-city and intra-city travel requirements so that you can focus on enjoying all the sights and sounds while we workout the cumbersome details for you.
Although India is a country that is becoming more familiar with western ways, it still is a melting pot of older, formal traditions and younger, adaptive ideas. Though forgiving of foreigners who don’t understand the local customs, it could be immensely helpful for travellers to follow the points mentioned below.
- Dress modestly – Avoid offence by avoiding tight, sheer, and skimpy clothes.
- Shoes – It’s polite to remove shoes before entering homes and places of worship.
- Photos – Best to ask before snapping people, sacred sites or ceremonies.
- Bad vibes – Avoid pointing soles of feet towards people or deities, or touching anyone with your feet.
- Hello Saying – ‘namaste’ with hands together in a prayer gesture is a respectful Hindu greeting; for muslims say ‘salaam alaikum’ (‘peace be with you’; response: ‘alaikum salaam’).
- Head wobble – Can mean ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘I have no idea’.
- Pure touch – The right hand is for eating and shaking hands, the left is the ‘toilet’ hand.
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