India, Asia
The best time to visit Rajasthan
India's land of forts, palaces, and desert, where the season is short and the summer is genuinely dangerous.
- Best months
- Nov to Feb
- Think twice
- May and Jun
- Quietest
- May
- Cheapest
- May
The straight answer
The best time to visit Rajasthan is October through March, and ideally November to February, when days are warm and sunny and desert nights are cool.
Go from October through March, and aim for November through February if you can. Days in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur sit in the 70s F, skies are clear, and the Thar Desert around Jaisalmer is comfortable enough for camel rides and nights under the stars. Bring a jacket: January nights in the desert can drop into the 40s F.
The summer is not a tradeoff; it is a reason to stay away. From April to June temperatures regularly hit 105F to 115F (40C to 46C), with hot winds and dust storms. Sightseeing in open forts and desert towns becomes exhausting and risky.
The monsoon, roughly July to September, brings less rain to Rajasthan than to most of India. Udaipur's lakes fill and the Aravalli hills turn green, which some travelers love, but it is humid and Ranthambore's core zones close. The festival season makes the good window even better, with the Pushkar Camel Fair and Diwali in autumn and Holi in March.
Rajasthan, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryBestSunny, Jaipur highs near 72F (22C), nights near 46F (8C)Cool, clear, and peak season. The Jaipur Literature Festival draws a crowd late in the month.Hotels for January →CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryBestWarm days, highs near 77F (25C), cool nightsExcellent weather everywhere. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival often falls in late January or February.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchGoodWarming, highs near 88F (31C)Holi turns cities into color fights. Heat builds through the month, so early March is better.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilTradeoffsHot, highs near 99F (37C)Heat arrives in force. Ranthambore tiger sightings improve as animals gather at water, but midday is brutal.CrowdsPrice
- 05MayThink twiceExtreme heat, highs near 106F (41C), often higherThe hottest month, with dust storms and hot winds. Many heritage hotels offer steep discounts for good reason.CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneThink twiceExtreme heat then humid, highs near 104F (40C)Heat until the monsoon arrives late in the month. Ranthambore closes its core zones from July.CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsMonsoon, highs near 93F (34C), humidRain cools things a little and turns the land green. Humid and sticky; Teej festival brings color to Jaipur.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsMonsoon, highs near 90F (32C)Udaipur's lakes are at their fullest and prettiest. Humid, with occasional heavy rain.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberQuiet valueDrying out, highs near 91F (33C)Monsoon eases, landscapes are green, and prices are still low. Heat can be heavy.CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberGoodWarm, highs near 91F (33C) early, cooling laterThe season opens. Diwali often falls in late October or November, lighting up palaces and forts.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberBestPleasant, highs near 84F (29C), cool nightsSuperb weather and the Pushkar Camel Fair. Diwali week is peak domestic travel; book well ahead.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberBestCool and clear, highs near 75F (24C), nights near 50F (10C)Ideal sightseeing weather. Christmas to New Year is the busiest and most expensive stretch.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book Rajasthan for November.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for November
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in RajasthanOpens a hotel search for Rajasthan in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in RajasthanWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in RajasthanTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Rajasthan for November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Rajasthan
Forts and palaces on a grand scale
Amber Fort above Jaipur, Mehrangarh towering over the blue city of Jodhpur, the living fort of Jaisalmer, and the lake palaces of Udaipur.
The Thar Desert
Sand dunes near Jaisalmer, camel treks, and desert camps under huge night skies, best in the cool winter months.
Tigers at Ranthambore
One of India's best parks for seeing wild tigers, set around the ruins of a 10th-century fort.
Stay in history
Rajasthan's heritage hotels include former palaces, havelis, and forts at every budget level.
Things to do, and when to do them
Amber Fort, Jaipur
Go at opening to beat the heat and the tour buses. Walk up or take a jeep rather than an elephant ride.
City Palace, Jaipur
The royal family still lives in part of it. Combine with the Jantar Mantar observatory and Hawa Mahal next door.
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
One of India's most impressive forts, with an excellent audio guide. Sunset from the ramparts over the blue city is unforgettable.
Udaipur and Lake Pichola
Take a sunset boat ride and visit the City Palace. The lakes are fullest after a good monsoon.
Jaisalmer Fort and the Thar dunes
A living fort with homes and shops inside, and desert camps at the Sam or Khuri dunes. Best from November to February.
Ranthambore National Park
Book safari permits well ahead in peak season. Core zones close during the monsoon, roughly July to September.
Pushkar
A holy lake town with ghats and temples. Busiest during the camel fair; peaceful and hippie-ish the rest of the season.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Jaipur Literature Festival
Late January
One of the world's biggest free literature festivals. Jaipur hotels fill that week.
Jaisalmer Desert Festival
Late January or February, around the full moon of the month of Magh
Camel races, folk music, and turban-tying contests in the desert near Jaisalmer.
Holi
March, the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna
Color throwing in every town, with celebrations in Jaipur, Pushkar, and Udaipur's royal Holika bonfire.
Diwali
Late October or November, set by the lunar calendar
The festival of lights, with forts, palaces, and bazaars illuminated. Peak domestic travel week.
Pushkar Camel Fair
October or November, around the Kartik Purnima full moon
Thousands of camels and livestock traders, pilgrims bathing in the holy lake, and a carnival atmosphere. Book camps and hotels months ahead.
Teej
July or August, during the monsoon
A women's festival welcoming the monsoon, with processions in Jaipur.
Beat the crowds
- Hit Amber Fort, Mehrangarh, and City Palace at opening time. By 10am in season the tour buses from Delhi have arrived.
- February and early March have excellent weather with fewer crowds than December's holiday rush.
- Avoid Diwali week and Christmas to New Year for the big cities unless you book months ahead. Domestic travel peaks and prices can double.
- Stay in smaller towns such as Bundi, Chittorgarh, or Kumbhalgarh to break up the circuit and see forts without crowds.
Open or closed
- Ranthambore's core safari zones close for the monsoon from roughly July 1 to September 30. Some buffer zones stay open.
- Many desert camps near Jaisalmer close from about April to September because of heat.
- Some heritage hotels reduce services or close wings in the summer low season.
- During Holi, many shops close in the morning and the streets can be rowdy. Wear old clothes and keep your valuables safe.
With kids in tow
- Kids tend to love the forts, the camels, and the desert camps. Keep sightseeing days short and plan pool time at the hotel.
- Avoid April to June with children. The heat is dangerous, and dehydration comes on quickly.
- Long drives between cities are tiring. Consider trains or domestic flights for the longer hops, such as Jaipur to Udaipur.
- For homeschool families: Rajasthan brings the Rajput kingdoms, the Mughal era, and the British Raj to life, and Jaipur's Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO-listed astronomy lesson.
Getting there
- Most visitors fly into Delhi (DEL). Air India has flown nonstop from several US hubs, but routes have changed with airspace closures, so check current schedules; one-stop options via the Gulf or Europe are plentiful.
- From Delhi, Jaipur is about a one-hour flight, a four to five hour drive, or a fast train ride. Udaipur and Jodhpur have their own airports with domestic connections.
- Many itineraries combine Rajasthan with Agra and the Taj Mahal in the Golden Triangle route (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur).
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Rajasthan timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Rajasthan?
December or February. Both have warm, sunny days and cool nights. February avoids the Christmas crowds, while November adds the Pushkar Camel Fair and Diwali.
How hot is Rajasthan in summer?
Extremely hot. From April to June, highs regularly reach 105F to 115F (40C to 46C), especially in the desert around Jaisalmer and Bikaner. It is not a good time for sightseeing.
Is monsoon a good time to visit Rajasthan?
It can be. The rain is lighter than in much of India, Udaipur's lakes fill, and prices are low. But it is humid, and Ranthambore's core zones close from July to September.
What is the cheapest time to visit Rajasthan?
May to September. Heritage hotels offer deep discounts, but May and June are dangerously hot.
When is the Pushkar Camel Fair?
In October or November each year, around the Kartik Purnima full moon. Dates shift with the lunar calendar, and the main livestock trading happens in the days before the full moon.
When is Rajasthan most crowded?
Diwali week, Christmas to New Year, and the Pushkar Camel Fair. Book hotels several months ahead for those periods.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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