Best Time to Visit Kolkata

Winter: the easy months

November to February is when Kolkata is at its best. Days are sunny and dry, and evenings are cool enough for a light jacket. December and January are the pick, with highs around 25°C and nights near 11°C. February warms up fast but still rates Excellent.

This is the season for walking. You can wander College Street's book stalls, cross Howrah Bridge at dusk, and sit on the Maidan (the big city park) without melting. Travelling with kids? The Indian Museum and Victoria Memorial are far more fun in this weather. Winter is also high season, so hotels fill up and the city feels busier. Christmas on Park Street is lit up and lively, and the Kolkata Book Fair runs from late January into February.

March to May: hot and heavy

March is warm and Fair. April is the hardest month, with highs near 39°C and humid, sticky afternoons. May stays hot, and the first big storms arrive, with rain on 18 days. Expect plenty of indoor time in cafés and museums.

On the plus side, crowds are thin and rooms are easier to find. Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year in mid-April, fills the streets with sweets and new clothes. It's a good reason to come if you can handle the heat. Plan sightseeing for early morning or late evening.

June to October: monsoon

The monsoon runs from June to September, and it's properly wet. July has the most rain, at 348 mm, with rain on 28 days. August is close behind, and humidity sits near 89% in August and September. Skies stay grey, and streets in low areas can flood, which slows down taxis and buses.

October is still rated Poor, but it's the month that matters most. Durga Puja, Kolkata's biggest festival, usually falls in late September or October. Giant clay statues of the goddess Durga sit in pandals (temporary decorated shelters) all over the city. Neighbourhoods like Kumartuli, where the idols are made, are worth seeing. The streets are packed and prices climb, but the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else.

If you hate crowds and heat, aim for late November. If you want the city at its most alive, accept the rain and come for Puja.