Tirth Blog

Varanasi is a key landmark for spiritually inclined travelers visiting the banks of the Holy Ganges. Varanasi’s climate is an integral part of every visit, influencing everything from early morning boat rides to evening aartis. This guide, which breaks down monthly temperature variations, will help travelers make better and stress free plans to focus on the sacred experience visit.

Weather Patterns

• The climate here is a typical example of VBR’s subtropical nature. The dry, hot summers, the wet monsoons and the milder winters. The extremes of the summer heat to the winter cool is ca 40C to 20C. The winter months, like Dec and Jan, will experience much colder temps with lows dropping significantly at night.
• The temps will dictate the travel metas. The winter months will attract the crowds. The summer and monsoon months will attract the few. 0 to 90 degree is used the measure the rain. This will dictate what Outside activities are available.
• Travelers will need to endure and tolerate the heat and step rain which, amongst others, will dictate the stamina for walking the narrow lanes and the intense standing that will need to be done at the ghats. It is a 0 guess work to know the det selves months days and steer the plans.

Winter Months Dec to Feb

The winter months can experienced the ideal conditions for visiting. The winter forecasts tout the clear blue, open skies, with the optimize the chilly and refreshing temps.

December Weather Conditions

• December Daytime temperatures sit in the 23 to 26degree range, while nighttime temps drop to 10 to 13 degrees.
• During this month, morning mists may appear, but render nothing to worry about as they clear quickly. 
• For predawn boat rides and evening celebrations, light sweaters or jackets will suffice. With the dry conditions, long walks are easy and nonfatiguing.

January Weather Conditions

• January is the peak of winter with the lowest temperatures.
• Nighttime temps are around 8 to 11 degrees, while the day reaches 20 to 24 degrees in the peak sun of the day. 
• There may be frost, but early morning layers will be satisfyingly warm. This allows comfort for the Ganga Aarti or Temple explorations.

February Weather Conditions

• February begins to warm up, with evening temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees, and highs of 26 to 29 degrees. The month is marked with a sufficient cool to be crossed with comfort of warmth.
• These months bring together the best weather. The daytime temperatures are warm enough to be comfortable while spending extended hours outdoors, taking in the views and even visited the markets.

Spring Transition March to May

• Spring begins gentle, with an intensity building to sweet, sweet heat.
• This will be evident by temperatures as they go up, up and away.

March Weather Overview

• In March, temperatures are usually between the 30s and low 20s degrees Celcius. 
• Its hot and sunny, and it will work best to wear a lightweight cotton longsleeve shirt to protect yourself from the sun. 
• Morning and late afternoon activities will be the most pleasant.

April Weather Overview

• In April, the average temperatures jump to 3539 degrees Celcius. Nights are a bit cooler, 2125 degrees Celcius. 
• The sun is strong, put on lots of sunscreen and drink water. 
• Try to do activities in in the malelas are tunneled, shaded indoor areas.

May Weather Overview

• May is when the summer peaks, and temperatures can be over 40 degrees Celcius. The lows for this month are in the mid 20s to upper 20s. 
• It’s hot and intense, especially around noon. Try to schedule activities for the early mornings when the temperatures are low and the sun isn’t harsh.
• Here the heat is the most intense and travellers tend to get tired from constant exposure to the sun.

Monsoon Period is from June to September

• With the road to monsoon, comes rain and high levels of humidity, which means your outdoor plans will have to be altered frequently to to the rain.

June Weather Overview

• In June the temperature highs are 3840 degrees Celcius. By the end of the month, expect bursts of rain.

July and August Weather Overview

• For the months of July and August, Rainfall records stunning numbers of over 250300 millimeters daily. 
• With daytime temperatures calming down to 3035 degrees Celsius make sure to be prepared to get wet. 
• The downpours can cause flooding to the low ghats. The inner city museums and temples can provide refuge.

September Weather Overview

• September The excessive rain finally starts to decrease, but the humidity will be high. The temperatures will sit at 3236 degrees Celsius. By the end of the month, the skies open up and improve greatly for the outdoors.
• Boat rides and riverside rituals will be interrupted. Schedule flexibility will be needed to do activities indoors when necessary. 
• Light Covered seating at the ghats will help during light rain.

Autumn Recovery October and November

• Autumn restores perfect weather and signals the peak season.

October Weather Overview

• October temperatures are now ranging from 3034 degrees Celsius and then 1923 degrees at night.
• The weather is perfect, and the festivities are there to compliments the celebration. This is the time for longer walks and pictures.

November Weather Overview

• November 2630 degrees Celsius during the days and then 1317 degrees at night. The clear skies provide great sunsets. These range really can be added to the temperature swings.
• These months are the final transition from autumn to winter. The culture and daily routine are in full swing.

Operational Strategies for Year round Preparation

• When traveling, bring flexible, adaptable clothes. Suit made of breathable cotton is good for warm, summer months and lightweight wool is good for winter/ colder months. Bring walking shoes for ghats (stepped paths) and hiking in case there are walking/ driving restrictions.
• All year round, water is essential. Drink regularly and bring water. Drink regularly. Bring sunscreen, and a hat is it is sunny. In case of rain, bring rain gear like compact umbrellas and ponchos.
• When booking hotels, select ones that have climate control ( heating or cooling systems). In summer, air conditioning is helpful and in winter/ colder months, blankets suffices. Choose hotels located at the center near the ghats to minimize walking in the unpredictable weather.
• When planning activities, choose the order of tasks/ activities carefully. During the dawn there is good lighting and its a good time to take pictures. The evening aartis (evening worship programs) are magical when the sky is clear and its cold/ winter season.
• Keep an eye on the forecast for the week leading to the travel dates. During the rain season there are many changes, so pay attention to the final preparations, especially to the last minut changes.

Planning with Weather Awareness

Being able to anticipate and plan for Varanasi’s various weather patterns is a true blessing. Annually, Varanasi is able to provide something different to tourists. Weather patterns vary from winter’s cold and dry air, and the inclusive nature of the festivals in fall.

Personalized Weather Based Itineraries

In order to best weather travel itineraries, Tirth’s local specialists blend weather patterns. Current weather is used, complemented with travel date weather forecasts, for personalized itineraries.

Next Steps for Planning

Ready to plan a visit that aligns perfectly with the best weather? Tirth can give personalized itineraries based on your travel dates and travel preferences.

Visiting Varanasi for the first time? Find everything you need on Tirth.com.