Best Time to Visit Khulna

Winter: the best time to go

From November to February, Khulna is at its easiest. Days are sunny and dry, and rain is rare. December and January are our top picks. Highs sit in the mid-20s, and nights drop to a cool 11°C to 13°C. You'll want a light jacket for early mornings on the river.

This is the season for the Sundarbans, the huge mangrove forest south of the city. Boat trips usually start from Mongla or Khulna, and the cooler, drier days make the creeks far more pleasant. You have the best chance of spotting spotted deer, kingfishers and monitor lizards. Tigers are very shy, so don't count on one. Winter is also when date-palm sap is collected and sold across the region. Try it fresh in the morning, or look for pitha, the rice cakes made in cold weather.

This is also high season. Bangladeshi families travel in the winter holidays, and Sundarbans boats can fill up. If you hate crowds, aim for early November or February.

March and April: hot and dry

Heat builds fast. March is already 36°C, and April hits 39°C with warm nights around 25°C. Afternoons feel heavy, and the city slows down. Short, sharp storms start to show up in April.

It works for a quick city stop, but not for long boat days. Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year, falls in mid-April. Expect fairs, music and street food, and a lively mood in town. If you go, do your walking in the morning and rest through the afternoon.

May to October: the monsoon

This is the wet season, and it's properly wet. July and August are the wettest, with rain on 29 days each month and barely two hours of sun a day. Humidity sits around 90%. Roads flood, and river travel can be bumpy.

The upside is green rice fields, full rivers and almost no other visitors. The Sundarbans is also quieter, though the forest is often closed or restricted in parts during the monsoon. Check with a local operator before you plan anything. Cyclones can hit the coast, mostly in May and from October into November.

Travelling in October? It's still wet, but the sun starts to return. By November, the skies are clear again.