The Best Time to Visit Bengaluru, India

India › Best Time to Visit Bengaluru
Updated: January 13, 2022
By Santorini Dave

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When is the Best Time to Visit Bengaluru?

The best time to visit Bengaluru is between November-end and March. These months are the coolest and driest, and temperatures range between 16°C and 30°C. Since the city is more commercial than touristy, airfares and hotel rates peak only during exhibitions and events.

Close up, exterior photo of Bengalore Palace

Bangalore Palace in Bengaluru, India. The best months to visit Bengaluru are December through March.

  • Best Time for Sightseeing: Unlike other cities in southern India, the average daytime temperatures are comparatively pleasant, avoiding the oppressive heat and humidity of elsewhere and the sort of monsoon that pummels coastal regions like Mumbai, Goa, and Chennai. It does, however, rain for more months per year than these places, peaking in September and October, so the best months for outdoors are December to March.
  • Best Time for Weather: Unlike coastal cities such as Mumbai and Chennai, Bengaluru is less affected by the monsoon and the extreme heat that would precede the rains. The temperature here is renowned to be the most pleasant among Indian cities, but soothing sea breezes are lacking and the pollution levels can be very high. The mildest and driest months are November to April.
  • Best Time for Honeymoons: December to April. During these months, the weather is warm, without being uncomfortable, and it’s rarely wet.
  • Best Time for Nightlife: December to April. The prime time to enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife is the dry season when rain is rare and the temperatures are mild after dark – at times, even a little chilly.
  • Best Time for Saving Money: May to November. Bengaluru is not a major tourist destination with a peak season, but hotel rates and airfares are likely to be most affordable during the months when it is hottest and wettest.

Bengaluru Travel Seasons

  • High Season (December to March): These 4 months offer day after day of warm weather, without being too hot or humid, and even a little chilly after dark, when a light jumper may be needed. Bengaluru is not a tourist destination, so it is unaffected by large numbers of visitors and higher hotel rates over the Christmas/New Year period.
  • Shoulder Season (April, June, and November): Good time to come when daytime and overnight temperatures are warm and rarely unpleasant. During these changeable months between the hot and wet seasons, it does rain, but not as heavy as other times.
  • Low Season (May, and July to October): These are the months of heaviest rainfall. Nothing like the downpours of Mumbai or Chennai, but water-logging in the city streets is still possible. Temperatures remain consistently pleasant, although a little higher than usual in May.

Bengaluru Weather by Month

  • Bengaluru Weather in January: One of several consecutive months perfect for visiting. Average temperatures are a mild 28°C and a coolish 16°C overnight (this equals the lowest temperature for the year, which locals will complain about). Almost no rain is recorded, so many outdoor events are organized during the month.
  • Bengaluru Weather in February: Average temperatures during the day and night rise by a few degrees from the previous month, but with negligible rain, it’s still ideal for traveling.
  • Bengaluru Weather in March: For the first time in the year, average daytime temperatures exceed 30°C, but are still mild overnight at about 20°C. Slight increase in humidity and rain, but neither as uncomfortable as later in the year.
  • Bengaluru Weather in April: The end of the winter is marked by more rainfall on average than the previous 4 months. Continuing the trend of slightly higher temperatures every month since the start of the year, this is the hottest month, but still only about 34°C. Noticeably more humid, however, as the wetter months loom.
  • Bengaluru Weather in May: Spike in average monthly rainfall as the brief pre-monsoon comes and goes, but being inland by some distance, the city avoids most of the mid-year monsoon that affects the state’s coastal regions. Nothing too heavy this month, and locals are pleased. Not overly hot, though the humidity is more evident.
  • Bengaluru Weather in June: Average rainfall drops a little between the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. Temperatures fall markedly to an average of 29°C and a pleasant 20°C overnight. However, the humidity remains constant.
  • Bengaluru Weather in July: More-or-less the same daytime and overnight temperatures as June, but a slight increase in rainfall from the averages experienced in May. By now, rain has been falling off-and-on for over 3 months, so some streets may get water-logged.
  • Bengaluru Weather in August: Daytime and overnight temperatures remain stable, but the humidity and rain linger in the build-up to the coming wettest months. Third-highest amount of rain this month.
  • Bengaluru Weather in September: Peak month for rainfall at 185mm on average, but nothing compared to Mumbai in July (700-800mm). Temperatures remain mild, but humidity is among the worst for the year, though not nearly as bad as Chennai.
  • Bengaluru Weather in October: Fifth successive month of almost identical temperatures: 28-29°C during the day and about 20°C overnight. Slight decrease in average rainfall, but flooding caused by several months of rain may affect bus and train travel.
  • Bengaluru Weather in November: Rainfall has reduced by almost two-thirds from the previous month as the cool and dry winter – the prime time for traveling – starts. Same sort of daytime temperatures as the previous 5 months, i.e. 27-29°C, but noticeably cooler overnight.
  • Bengaluru Weather in December: The mild, dry days continue with plenty of sunshine, negligible rain, and the lowest temperatures of the year: about 27°C during the day and a comparatively chilly 16°C after dark.

Bengaluru Holidays, Events, and Festivals

India has the world’s second-largest population of Muslims (after Indonesia). Dates for these 4 major festivals change each year according to the Islamic calendar. Each is a public holiday when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

  • Eid-al-Fitr – The end of Ramadan is celebrated with up to 3 days of feasts, music, and dance at mosques and homes.
  • Eid Mulid-un-Nabi (Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday) – Celebrated with prayers and parades.
  • Muharram/Ashura – Start of the Islamic New Year.
  • Eid al-Adha/Zuha (Bakr-Id) – Celebrates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Animals, mostly goats, are slaughtered and shared with families and the poor.

Bengaluru in January

  • New Year’s Day (1st) – Celebrated by families and friends. Usually some concerts.
  • Lohri (13th) – Traditional harvest festival dedicated to fire and the Sun God and celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close. “Til rice” or sweet rice mixed with jaggery and sesame seeds is the traditional dish of the festival.
  • Chitra Santhe Art Fair (early January) – Held over several days at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath gallery.
  • Makara Sankranthi/Pongal (14th or 15th) – Makara Sankranthi is celebrated more in Western India, while Pongal is celebrated in South India. Both festivals mark the end of winter. Makara Sankranthi features lots of kite-flying, while Pongal involves 3-4 days of house cleaning and decorating, paying respect to farm animals, exchanging gifts, and visiting families and friends. Sweet rice pudding is consumed during Pongal.
  • Vasant Panchami (changeable, January/February) – Hindu ceremony where devotees dressed in yellow place books and instruments in front of Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, for blessing, and to celebrate the coming of spring.
  • Republic Day (26th) – Commemorates the adoption of the country’s constitution on January 26, 1950. Huge parades in Delhi, less restrained elsewhere. National holiday, when all government offices and many tourist attractions close. Check out the amazing flower show at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens on and around this date.

Bengaluru in February

  • (Maha) Shivaratri (changeable, February/March) – Day of fasting as a dedication to Lord Shiva and ceremonies in temples. Public holiday when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.
  • Holi (changeable, February/March) – Vibrant commemoration of the start of spring. Almost everyone – including unsuspecting foreigners – is doused with colored water and/or powder.

Bengaluru in March

  • Chaitra Navratri (changeable, September/October) – The beginning of the new year as per the Hindu calendar. The 9th night is celebrated as Rama Navami.
  • Rama Navami (changeable, March/April) – Celebrates Lord Rama’s birth. 9 days of music, dance, fasts, and feasts, and reading of the Ramayana (epic). One day is a public holiday when most government offices and some tourist attractions may close.
  • Bengaluru Karaga (changeable, March/April) – 9-10 days of traditional music and dance, and parades of men dressed as women. Based mostly around the 800-year-old Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.
  • Mahavir Jayanti (changeable, March/April) – Celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the most revered teacher of Jainism. Colorful festivities in temples and offerings to the poor. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.
  • Easter (changeable, March/April) – Celebrated by the Christian minority. A few businesses may close on Good Friday.
  • Gudi Padwa (changeable, March/April) – Traditional start of the Hindu New Year, marked by family visits, flying of a special flag, and spring-cleaning.

Bengaluru in April

  • Vaisakhi (usually 13th or 14th) – Another festival related to the onset of spring, as well as the start of the New Year according to the Sikh calendar. Abundant music, dance, wrestling, and the wearing of traditional costumes.
  • Ambedkar Jayanti/Bhim Jayanti (14th) – Celebrates the birth of late Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, a leading historical figure. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

Bengaluru in May

  • Vesak/Buddha Purnima (changeable, April/May) – Solemn festivals at temples marking the birth and death of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

Bengaluru in June

  • Nothing notable, and the weather across this part of India precludes outdoor events.

Bengaluru in July

  • Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi (changeable, July/August) – Hindu festival marking the importance of families, especially siblings. Commonly called Brother and Sister Day, where sisters tie colorful strings (Rakhis) on their brothers’ hands, and brothers give gifts in return.

Bengaluru in August

  • Independence Day (15th) – Celebrates India’s independence from Britain in 1947. Patriotic time, with government buildings suitably decorated and ceremonies held, especially in Delhi. Also, a time for families to get together. National public holiday when all government offices and many tourist attractions close. Check out the amazing flower show at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens on and around this date.
  • Parsi New Year (17th August) – Celebrated by Parsis who follow the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Bengaluru has an almost century-old Fire Temple on Queens Road.
  • Janmashtami (changeable, August/September) – Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna with offerings, fasting, and decorations on buildings. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.
  • Varamahalakshmi (changeable) – Ancient celebration throughout the state when married women provide offerings and pray for their husbands and families to Goddess Lakshmi.
  • Ganesh Chaturthi (changeable, August/September) – Up to 10 days of celebrations for the birth of the highly-revered elephant-headed God, Ganesha. Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava, 11-12 days of musical events featuring renowned national artistes and bands, is held in the city every year.
  • (Haryali/Hartalika) Teej (changeable, August/September) – 2-day celebrations for the arrival of the monsoon and marriage of Goddess Parvati to Lord Shiva. Lots of dancing and praying, mostly by women and girls.

Bengaluru in September

  • Navaratri (changeable, September/October) – Nine days of passionately celebrating the battle of Goddess Durga over a demon, or Lord Rama over Ravana. The 9th day is Dussehra.
  • Dussehra (changeable, September/October) – Celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, and the general battle of good over evil. Praying at temples, offerings of special food, and burning of Ravana’s effigies. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

Bengaluru in October

  • Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2nd) – Sombre occasion commemorating the birthday of the country’s founding father, Mahatma Gandhi. National holiday, when all government offices and many tourist attractions close.
  • Karaka Chaturthi/Karva Chauth (changeable, October/November) – Venerating Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati, it’s a social occasion for families and friends. Also, fasting and other special ceremonies among married women to wish for long and healthy lives for their husbands.
  • Diwali/Deepavali (changeable, October/November) – Major 5-day festival of lights, candles, and fireworks. Busy time for travel because it’s celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. One day is a public holiday when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.

Bengaluru in November

  • Bangalore Literature Festival (early November) – Weekend of readings and writings for book-lovers. Authors come from across India and the globe.
  • Guru Nank Jayanti (changeable) – Celebrates the birth of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, and is marked by prayers and parades. Public holiday.

Bengaluru in December

  • Christmas Day (25th) – Celebrated by all Christians and most tourists. Public holiday, when some government offices and tourist attractions may close.
  • New Year’s Eve (31st) – Celebrated by most Indians, and all tourists, but perhaps not as boisterously as in the West.
  • Kadalekal Parishe (changeable, December/January) – Also known as the Peanut or Groundnut Fair, this traditional festival celebrates the (hoped for) harvest of these popular nuts. At the 16th-century Bull Temple.

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Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.