Plan your trip · Varanasi
Best time to visit Varanasi
October to March is the easy season in Varanasi, but it is not one season. October and November are warm and full of festivals, midwinter brings cold dawns and fog, and by the end of March the heat is building again.
❄️ Winter
RecommendedOct – Mar
Warm in October and March, cool and mostly dry from November to February — the comfortable peak season, with crisp mornings and evenings.
Pack: light layers with a jacket or shawl for early mornings and after dark.
Plan a winter day →☀️ Summer
Apr – Jun
Very hot and dry, often 40 °C+ by midday — the off-season on the plains. Best explored at dawn and dusk, resting through the afternoon.
Pack: loose light cottons, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Plan a summer day →🌧️ Monsoon
Jul – Sep
Warm and humid with on-and-off showers that cool the air and green the gardens — rain rarely lasts all day.
Pack: a compact umbrella or light rain shell, quick-dry clothes and grippy footwear.
Plan a monsoon day →October and November
This is the best stretch. The river has dropped after the monsoon, the ghats reopen along their full length, and the boats run again. Days are warm and evenings pleasant. It is also festival season: Ramlila in Ramnagar, Diwali, Chhath and then Dev Deepawali, when the whole riverfront is lit with lamps. Rooms for Dev Deepawali go months ahead. See the festivals page.
December to February
Days are mild and sunny, but nights and dawns are cold, sometimes close to 5 °C. Dense fog is common in December and January. It makes for soft, moody photos on the river, but it can hide the sunrise completely and it often delays trains and flights by hours. Leave slack in your plans and bring a warm jacket.
March
Warm days, clear skies and Holi. Mahashivratri falls in February or March and fills Kashi Vishwanath. By late March the midday heat starts to build, so plan early starts.
April to June
Hot, often above 40 °C and higher in May and June. The ghats are bearable at dawn and after sunset, and almost empty in between. Hotels are cheaper, and the river is at its lowest, which is when the leaning Ratneshwar temple near Manikarnika is most exposed.
July to September
The monsoon usually reaches Varanasi in late June. Rain is heavy and humid rather than cooling, and the Ganga rises over the lower ghats. When it passes the warning level, the police suspend boats; in 2026 they did so from mid-August. The walk along the ghats is cut off, and the aarti moves up to higher steps or rooftops. The month of Shravan (July–August) packs the Shiva temples. Come in these months only if you want the city at its most local and can live with changed plans.
Questions
Varanasi — FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Varanasi?
Yes, if you pack warm clothes and keep your plans flexible. Days are pleasant, but dawn fog can hide the sunrise and delay trains and flights.
Do boat rides run during the monsoon?
Often not. When the Ganga rises past the warning level, usually in August or September, the police suspend boats until the water falls. Ask locally before you plan around one.
What is the hottest month in Varanasi?
May, closely followed by June. Midday temperatures often pass 40 °C, so plan to be out at dawn and after sunset.
When is Dev Deepawali in 2026?
It falls on Kartik Purnima, the full moon after Diwali, which is expected on 24 November 2026. Confirm the date locally before you book.