Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, is the heartland of the Ganges plain and home to the Taj Mahal in Agra, the ghats of Varanasi, the Buddhist site of Sarnath and the Nawabi culture of Lucknow. Its cities hold some of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, Mughal-era monuments, major Hindu pilgrimage towns such as Ayodhya and Mathura, and a distinctive food tradition of kebabs, chaat and sweets.
Uttar Pradesh has a humid subtropical climate across the Indo-Gangetic plain with three main seasons: a hot dry summer from April to June, a monsoon from late June to September, and a cool winter from November to February. The state is large, so conditions vary; the Himalayan foothills in the north (Terai) are wetter and more humid, while the west (Agra, Mathura) is drier and hotter. Winter fog is frequent from mid-December to January, and air quality on the Gangetic plain is often poor from November to January. Annual rainfall averages roughly 900-1,000 mm in Lucknow and 650-700 mm in Agra, with most falling between July and September.
Best time to visit
Best: October to March
Best Reason: Days are mild to warm (20-32°C), skies are clearer than in summer, and Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj are comfortable for walking tours. December and January mornings can be foggy, which affects views of the Taj Mahal and delays trains and flights.
Peak Season: November to February
Avoid: May to June, and July-August for river activities
Avoid Reason: May and June bring heatwaves with highs of 42-47°C and hot dry winds known as loo. July-August brings heavy monsoon rain, humidity, and high river levels at the Varanasi ghats.
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
13°C/55°F avg; 21°C day, 7°C night
Cold mornings, dense fog, and clear afternoons; Magh Mela at Prayagraj and Makar Sankranti kite festivals; trains and flights can run late
February
17°C/63°F avg; 25°C day, 10°C night
Warming and sunny; Taj Mahotsav in Agra and the end of Magh Mela; excellent for sightseeing
March
23°C/73°F avg; 32°C day, 15°C night
Warm and dry; Holi celebrations in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana; afternoons begin to get hot
April
29°C/84°F avg; 38°C day, 21°C night
Hot and dry with rising heat; early starts are essential; lower crowds and prices
May
33°C/91°F avg; 42°C day, 26°C night
Heatwave conditions are common with hot winds; not recommended for outdoor sightseeing
June
33°C/91°F avg; 40°C day, 27°C night
Extreme heat and humidity build before the monsoon arrives in late June; dust storms possible
July
30°C/86°F avg; 34°C day, 26°C night
Monsoon begins with heavy rain and humidity; greener landscapes; Kanwar Yatra traffic on western highways
August
29°C/84°F avg; 33°C day, 26°C night
Wet and humid with river levels rising; Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan
September
28°C/82°F avg; 33°C day, 24°C night
Monsoon retreats; humid but greener, with floods possible early in the month
October
25°C/77°F avg; 33°C day, 18°C night
Clear skies and falling humidity; Dussehra, Ramlila, and Navratri; the season reopens with moderate crowds
November
19°C/66°F avg; 28°C day, 11°C night
Comfortable days and cool nights; Diwali, Deepotsav in Ayodhya, and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi; air quality starts to worsen
December
14°C/57°F avg; 23°C day, 7°C night
Cool and often foggy; busy holiday period; pollution and fog can affect Taj views and travel
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Feb-Mar
Temperatures rise from about 25°C to 33°C with clear skies and mild nights. Holi in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Barsana brings the season's biggest festival. Taj Mahotsav in Agra usually runs in February.
Summer
Months: Apr-Jun
Very hot, with highs of 38-45°C and heatwaves, especially in May and June. Dust storms are common before the monsoon.
Monsoon
Months: Jul-Sep
Warm, humid, and wet, with 30-35°C days and heavy rain bursts. Rivers rise and the Ganga floods the Varanasi ghats in August and September. Landscapes turn green and hotel rates drop.
Winter
Months: Oct-Jan
Dry and clear in October and November, then cool in December-January with highs of 21-25°C and nights of 6-9°C. Morning fog can disrupt trains, flights, and highway driving. Peak tourist and festival season falls here.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- November to February
- Shoulder Season
- October and March
- Low Season
- April to September
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Magh Mela, Prayagraj
A month-long riverside pilgrimage at the Sangam where millions bathe on auspicious dates
Dev Deepawali, Varanasi
Hundreds of thousands of oil lamps light the Varanasi ghats, with Ganga aarti and boat processions about 15 days after Diwali
Deepotsav, Ayodhya
A large lamp-lighting festival on the Saryu ghats on the eve of Diwali
Holi and Lathmar Holi, Mathura-Vrindavan-Barsana
A week of colour festivals, with Lathmar Holi at Barsana and Nandgaon involving playful stick-and-shield rituals
Taj Mahotsav, Agra
A ten-day cultural festival with crafts, food, music, and dance near the Taj Mahal
Janmashtami, Mathura and Vrindavan
Celebrates Krishna's birth with midnight prayers, decorated temples, and large crowds
Lucknow Mahotsav
A cultural fair with Awadhi food, crafts, music, and kathak performances
Ramlila and Dussehra, Varanasi and Ayodhya
Ramlila performances run for weeks, with the Ramnagar Ramlila near Varanasi being especially notable