Best Time to Visit Bengaluru

December to February: the sweet spot

If you want easy days, come now. December and January are the best months here. Days are warm but not heavy, and nights are cool enough for a light jacket. Mornings in Cubbon Park or Lalbagh Botanical Garden are lovely. Skies are mostly clear and rain is rare.

By February it's getting hotter, though it's still pleasant. This is the best window for walking, cafe-hopping in Indiranagar and day trips to Nandi Hills for sunrise. Hotels cost more around Christmas and New Year, and weekends in the pubs of Koramangala get busy. Lalbagh's Republic Day flower show, held around late January, draws big crowds. Go on a weekday if you can.

March to May: hot, then stormy

March and April are the hottest months, with highs of 35°C. Afternoons feel dry and strong, so plan museum visits, Bangalore Palace or a long lunch of dosa at a classic spot like Vidyarthi Bhavan for the middle of the day. Evenings cool off nicely.

April brings the first thunderstorms. May is wetter, with rain on about half the days. Showers are often short but can flood roads and snarl traffic. Ugadi, the Kannada new year, falls around March or April and brings festival food and family gatherings. Hotels are quieter than in winter, and school holidays push up domestic travel to the hills.

June to October: the monsoon

Bengaluru gets less dramatic monsoon rain than the coast, but it's grey and damp. August, September and October each get around 142 to 146 mm, with rain on 17 or 18 days. September is the wettest by a small margin. Sunshine is low, so views from Nandi Hills often vanish into cloud.

On the plus side, the city turns green and prices dip. It's a good time for cafes, bookshops, Cubbon Park walks between showers and the city's microbreweries. Allow extra time for any trip by road, since rain slows traffic badly. Dasara, usually in October, brings lights and processions. The grand royal celebrations are in nearby Mysuru, a few hours away.

November: a gentle reset

Rain eases to 69 mm, and the city feels fresh. It's rated Good, and it's a smart pick if you want lower prices before the winter crowds arrive. Diwali, the festival of lights, often falls in this window or in late October. Expect fireworks, sweets and busy markets around KR Market.