Summer in India runs from about March to June, before the monsoon arrives, and on the northern and central plains it is fierce: daytime temperatures above 40°C are common in May, and heatwaves push some cities past 44°C. That does not make it a bad time to travel. It is the one season when the high Himalaya opens up, when Ladakh, Spiti and the Kashmir valley are at their best, and when the monsoon turns Kerala and the Western Ghats green and quiet. The trick is to go up or go south-west, and to stay off the plains in the afternoon.
This guide is part of our wider guide to the best places to visit in India.
This guide explains how the Indian summer and monsoon move across the country month by month, where to go in April, May and June (and which places to avoid), a two-week high-altitude route, and how to stay safe in the heat. For classic cool-air towns such as Shimla or Ooty, see the wider guide to the best places to visit in India; this article focuses on the summer-only destinations.
Summer in India: essential facts
- Hot season: March to June, peaking in May on the plains
- Monsoon onset: Kerala around 1 June in a normal year; it reached Kerala a few days late in 2026
- Best summer region: Ladakh, Spiti, Kashmir and the high Himalaya
- Valley of Flowers: open from 1 June to 31 October in 2026
- Hemis festival: 24–25 June 2026 at Hemis Monastery, Ladakh
- Entry: depends on your passport; apply via the official Indian e-Visa portal
- Permits: foreign nationals need protected area permits for parts of Ladakh and upper Kinnaur
- Getting there: international flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Kolkata
When is summer in India and how hot does it get?
India's hot season builds from March and peaks in May and early June, when most of the north and centre is dry, dusty and very hot. Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Deccan plateau regularly see temperatures in the 40s, and the India Meteorological Department issues heatwave warnings in most years. Nights stay warm, which is what wears travellers down.
The southwest monsoon then sweeps the heat away from south to north. Its long-term normal arrival date in Kerala is 1 June; in 2026 it arrived a few days later than that. From Kerala the rains move up the west coast and across the Bay of Bengal into the Northeast in June, reaching Delhi and the northwest by late June or July. Coastal cities such as Mumbai and Chennai are humid more than scorching, which can feel just as tiring.
Where to go in India, March to June
| Month | Plains and cities | Go to | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Warm, still comfortable in the north | Rajasthan early in the month, Goa, Kerala, the Northeast | High passes, still under snow |
| April | Hot, especially in the afternoons | Kashmir valley, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Himachal hill towns | Rajasthan and central India by midday |
| May | Peak heat across the north | Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand hills, early Ladakh by air | The northern plains, Golden Triangle sightseeing |
| June | Heat breaks as monsoon moves north | Ladakh, Spiti, Valley of Flowers, Kerala for Ayurveda | Goa beaches (rough seas), low-lying monsoon areas |
Best places to visit in India in summer
These five destinations are at their best in summer and hard or impossible to reach in winter, which is why they belong on a warm-weather itinerary.
Ladakh: the high-desert summer classic
Ladakh is the summer destination in India, best from June to September. Leh, the main town, sits well above 3,000 metres among Buddhist monasteries such as Thiksey and Hemis, with the turquoise lake of Pangong Tso, the sand dunes and double-humped camels of Nubra Valley and the road over the Khardung La pass within reach. Days are sunny and dry; nights stay cool. Give it 7 to 10 days if road trips, monasteries and big landscapes are what you are after.
Flying into Leh is the fastest route, but it drops you at altitude with no time to adjust. Plan two full rest days in Leh before going higher, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol early on; altitude sickness is the main health risk here. Foreigners need a protected area permit for Nubra and Pangong. The overland roads from Manali and from Srinagar are seasonal, usually open from around June to mid-October, and the Manali route crosses several very high passes. The Hemis festival, with masked cham dances in the monastery courtyard, falls on 24 and 25 June in 2026.
Spiti Valley and Lahaul: the quieter Himalaya
Smaller and less visited than Ladakh, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh has the monasteries of Key and Tabo, the fossil village of Langza and the village of Kibber. Lahaul, on the other side of the Kunzum Pass, is greener and easier to reach since the Atal Tunnel opened under the Rohtang range in October 2020. June to September is the season, and a loop takes 7 to 9 days. It rewards slow travel, photography and homestays.
There are two ways in. The southern route from Shimla through Kinnaur is longer but opens earlier in the season. The northern route from Manali through the Atal Tunnel and over Kunzum depends on snow clearance and is usually open from early summer. Indian citizens need no permit; foreign nationals need an inner line permit for the restricted stretch of upper Kinnaur near the Tibet border, issued by the district administration.
Kashmir Valley: gardens, lakes and meadows
From April to June the Kashmir Valley is at its greenest, when the Mughal gardens in Srinagar flower and the meadows of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam thaw. A night on a houseboat on Dal or Nigeen Lake and an early-morning shikara ride to the floating vegetable market are the classic experiences. Five to six days suits couples and families who come for the gardens.
Srinagar's airport has direct flights from Delhi and other major Indian cities. Security in Jammu and Kashmir changes quickly, so check your government's current travel advice before booking, and expect checkpoints. The pilgrimage season in July and August brings heavy traffic around Pahalgam, so May and June are calmer for leisure trips.
Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand: a monsoon-season trek
In Chamoli district, the Valley of Flowers National Park is a high glacial valley covered in wild flowers through the monsoon. It opened for the 2026 season on 1 June and closes on 31 October. Visitors stay at Ghangaria, the base village, and walk about 4 km into the valley for the day on a moderate trek; overnight stays inside the park are not allowed, and an entry permit is required. Trekkers, botanists and photographers should allow 5 to 6 days from Rishikesh.
Flowers start in June but the fullest bloom is usually July and August, which is also the rainiest time. Many trekkers combine the valley with the climb to the Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib above Ghangaria. Monsoon landslides on the road from Rishikesh are a real risk, so keep two buffer days.
Kerala in the monsoon: Ayurveda and green backwaters
When the monsoon reaches Kerala in June, the state turns deep green and hotel rates fall, which suits wellness and budget travellers alike. Kerala's Ayurveda tradition treats the wet months, especially Karkidakam (which falls in July and August), as the ideal time for rejuvenation therapies, and many resorts offer programmes of one to three weeks. June to August is the time for a treatment of 7 to 14 days, based at an Ayurveda resort or a backwater homestay.
Expect daily heavy rain, rough seas that close beaches for swimming, and occasional flooding in low-lying areas. Backwater houseboat trips from Alappuzha and drives up to the tea hills still run on most days. Fly into Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram.
Heat and altitude safety: Heatstroke is a real danger on the plains in May and June. Plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon, rest indoors from about noon to 4 pm, drink water and oral rehydration salts through the day, and wear a hat and loose cotton clothing.
At altitude in Ladakh and Spiti the risk flips to altitude sickness. Headache, nausea and breathlessness at rest are warning signs; the cure is to stop climbing or go down. Check that your travel insurance covers high-altitude evacuation before you go.
Two-week summer itinerary for northern India
This route uses the summer opening of the high roads and lets the body adjust to altitude gradually, going up by road and flying out from Leh.
14 days: Delhi, Spiti, Lahaul and Ladakh (late June to September)
- Day 1–2, Delhi to Shimla: Arrive in Delhi, then take the train or road to Shimla to escape the heat on day two.
- Day 3–4, Kinnaur: Drive through the Sutlej gorge to Sangla or Kalpa, with apple orchards and views of the Kinner Kailash range.
- Day 5–7, Spiti Valley: Cross into Spiti via Nako and Tabo, then base in Kaza for Key, Kibber and Langza.
- Day 8–9, Kunzum Pass to Lahaul: Cross Kunzum and Chandra Taal lake (road conditions permitting) and rest in Sissu or Keylong.
- Day 10–13, Leh and Ladakh: Continue to Leh, acclimatised by now, for Nubra and Pangong with permits arranged.
- Day 14, Fly out of Leh: Direct flights to Delhi connect with international departures.
Shorter on time? Fly straight to Srinagar for five days in Kashmir in May, or to Kochi for a week of Kerala rain and Ayurveda in July. Both avoid the heat of the plains completely.
Practical tips for travelling in India in summer
- Visa and entry. Rules depend on your passport. Check the official Indian e-Visa portal before booking, and see our visa page for help.
- Book trains early. Indian school holidays in May and June fill trains and hill-town hotels. Book AC classes on long journeys; non-AC carriages are very hot.
- Dress for sun and modesty. Loose, light cotton covering shoulders and knees works in both heat and temples. Pack a warm layer for altitude and air-conditioned trains.
- Drink safely. Use sealed bottled water or a filter bottle, and avoid ice of unknown origin. Fresh coconut water is everywhere and rehydrates well.
- Fly the long legs. Domestic flights save long hot days on the road. Leh, Srinagar and Kochi all have direct services from Delhi.
- Watch the monsoon. From late June, check road and landslide reports daily in the hills, and keep buffer days around flights.
Compare flights into Delhi, Kochi or Srinagar and line up your summer route. Search flights
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