Best Time to Visit Jodhpur

November to February: the sweet spot

This is when Jodhpur works best. Days are warm and dry, and the sun shines for around nine hours a day. You can walk up to Mehrangarh Fort without feeling cooked, and wander the blue-painted lanes of Brahmpuri below it in comfort. Evenings get cool. In December and January the nights drop to single digits, so you'll want a jacket on a rooftop dinner overlooking the fort.

It's also high season, so expect more people at Mehrangarh and Umaid Bhawan Palace, and higher hotel rates. Travelling with kids? The school holidays around Christmas and New Year are the busiest stretch. November is a good compromise, as it's just as pleasant and a bit quieter early in the month.

Two events are worth planning around. Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) fills the fort with music, usually in October. World Sacred Spirit Festival is held in February. Check exact dates before you book, as both can shift.

March and October: shoulder months

Both months are rated Fair. March climbs to 34°C, which is fine in the morning but heavy by mid-afternoon. October is dry and still hot, with highs of 36°C. Plan fort visits for the early hours and spend afternoons in a shaded café or a museum. If you hate crowds and don't mind the heat, these months give you more space. Holi, the colour festival, usually lands in March, and the old city gets loud and messy in the best way.

April to June: very hot

May is the hottest month, with highs of 42°C and nights that stay at 27°C. June is close behind at 41°C, and its lows are higher, at 29°C. Honestly, sightseeing is hard. Streets empty out by midday and hotels cut their prices. If you come anyway, stick to the early morning and rest through the afternoon. Hit the Sardar Market and clock tower area at dusk, when things come back to life.

July to September: monsoon

Rain here is short, heavy and mostly in July and August, with 113 mm and 121 mm. August is the wettest. It's also the most humid at 69%. Skies are cloudy, with only about four hours of sun a day. The desert around the city turns green, which is a nice surprise, but muggy days make walking tiring. September is drier but still sticky. This is the quietest time for visitors, so it suits you only if you want low prices and don't mind the weather.