Best Time to Visit Najafgarh

November to February: the best stretch

Najafgarh is on the western edge of Delhi, and the cool months are when it's easiest to be outdoors. Days are sunny and dry. December and January mornings can be properly cold, with lows of 9°C and 7°C, so you'll want a jacket until the sun is up. By afternoon it's pleasant enough for a long walk.

This is the time for the area's open spaces. Najafgarh Jheel (a large wetland on the Delhi–Haryana border) and the nearby Sultanpur bird sanctuary in Haryana draw migratory birds in winter. Is birdwatching your thing? Go on a clear January morning. Keep in mind that Delhi's winter air can turn smoggy, especially around November. Check the air quality before you plan a long day outside.

March and October: the shoulder months

March and October both rate Good. Days are warm, at 33°C, but the nights are still comfortable. October is the drier of the two, with only two rainy days and the sunniest skies of the year. It also lines up with Dussehra, when Ramlila plays (a retelling of the Ramayana) are staged across Delhi's neighbourhoods, and with Diwali, usually in October or November. Expect traffic and busy markets around both.

March brings Holi, the festival of colours. Streets get loud and messy, so wear clothes you don't mind ruining. February is also a good bet for a calmer visit, with highs of 26°C.

April to June: heat

These months are hard going. April hits 39°C, and May and June both reach 42°C. June is also the warmest month for nights, at 30°C, so there's little relief after dark. Do your sightseeing indoors or very early, and save the afternoons for rest. If you're travelling with kids or elderly relatives, skip these months if you can. Summer school holidays also push families to travel, mostly to the hills, so Delhi itself is quieter.

July to September: monsoon

July is the wettest month, with 198 mm over 20 days. August is close behind. It's humid and cloudy, and sun drops to under four hours a day in July. Heavy downpours can flood low-lying roads on the Najafgarh side, and traffic slows to a crawl. September is still wet, but the sun returns.

The upside is green fields and lower crowds. Just keep your plans loose, and don't count on a tight schedule.