Best Time to Visit Jaipur

November to February: the sweet spot

These are the months to come if you want to walk around a lot. Days are warm and dry, and the sun stays out. December and January nights get properly cold, down to about 8°C in January, so you'll want a jacket for sunrise at Amber Fort or an evening on a rooftop in the Pink City, the old walled centre.

This is also high season, and it feels like it. Hotels in the old city fill up, and the City Palace and Hawa Mahal get busy by mid-morning. Travelling with kids? School holidays around Diwali (October or November, depending on the year) and over Christmas bring Indian families too. January has the Jaipur Literature Festival, one of the biggest book events in Asia. It's fun, but rooms get scarce and pricey that week.

March and October: shoulder months

October is still warm but dry, and the rain is long gone. Diwali lights up the bazaars of Johari and Bapu Bazaar, and the crowds build as the month goes on. March brings Holi, the colour festival, which is loud, messy and joyful. It's a great reason to visit, but wear clothes you don't mind ruining. Gangaur, a spring festival honouring the goddess Parvati, also falls around March or April, with processions through the old city.

Afternoons in both months can reach 33°C. Plan forts and palaces for the morning, then rest or shop indoors.

April to June: the hot stretch

Be honest with yourself here. April is 38°C, and May is the hottest month at 41°C, with June right behind at 40°C. Nights stay warm too, so there's little relief. The air is dry, though, which makes it feel less sticky than the coast.

If you're on a tight budget, this is low season, and hotel deals are easy to find. You'll have the Jantar Mantar, the old stone observatory, almost to yourself. But it has no shade at midday. Stick to early mornings and long lunches in air-conditioned cafés.

July to September: monsoon

July and August are the wettest, with rain on most days and humidity up to 76%. It's grey and muggy, but the hills around Amber turn green, and Teej, a monsoon festival in July or August, fills the city with swings and songs. Some outdoor sights get muddy, and sunshine is rare. September is drier but still damp. If you hate crowds and don't mind showers, it's quiet and cheaper.