When to visit Rishikesh, month by month
4 min read · Updated October 16, 2026 · sources checked October 16, 2026
In short
For yoga, October-November and February-April are the most comfortable months in Rishikesh. Winter mornings are cold, May and June are hot, and the monsoon from June to September brings very heavy rain, landslide risk on mountain roads and a pause in rafting. March adds the International Yoga Festival; early 2027 adds the Haridwar Ardh Kumbh crowds.
There is no perfect month in Rishikesh, only trade-offs between cold mornings, heat, rain, crowds and festivals. This page uses the official records of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) rather than travel-site averages, and dates checked with the organisers on 16 October 2026.
The official weather records
Rishikesh has no IMD climate booklet of its own. The nearest is the IMD's Climate of Dehra Dun, published by its Meteorological Centre in Dehradun, about 45 km away, with normals for 1971-2010. Rishikesh lies lower in the valley, on the river, so take these figures as an order of magnitude rather than a forecast for your street.
| Month | Mean max (°C) | Mean min (°C) | Rain (mm) | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.8 | 6.0 | 43 | 4.8 |
| February | 22.1 | 8.0 | 58 | 5.9 |
| March | 26.8 | 12.2 | 53 | 5.9 |
| April | 32.4 | 16.9 | 31 | 4.5 |
| May | 34.9 | 20.5 | 55 | 7.2 |
| June | 33.9 | 22.5 | 248 | 13.6 |
| July | 30.6 | 22.9 | 659 | 24.5 |
| August | 29.9 | 22.4 | 702 | 25.3 |
| September | 29.9 | 20.5 | 318 | 16.1 |
| October | 28.9 | 15.7 | 43 | 3.1 |
| November | 25.6 | 10.7 | 9 | 1.3 |
| December | 21.6 | 7.1 | 22 | 2.2 |
Source: IMD, Climate of Dehra Dun, Tables 1, 3 and 4. The booklet adds that monsoon air reaches the region mainly in July, August and September, that the monsoon withdraws towards the end of September, that November is the driest month, and that winter brings mist and fog on some nights and early mornings, with a few days when the minimum falls to 1-2 °C.
Month by month, for a yoga stay
October and November
The rain stops, the air clears and the days are warm (around 29 °C in October, 26 °C in November at Dehradun). This is a favoured window for courses and teacher trainings, so book early. One caution if you fly through Delhi: the UK FCDO notes that severe air pollution is a major hazard "especially during the winter months from October to February", with North Indian cities most affected.
December and January
Clear, cool days and cold mornings: a January mean minimum of 6 °C at Dehradun. Halls and rooms are often unheated. If you practise at dawn or sit at the evening aarti, bring a shawl, socks and a warm layer. Fewer visitors, a good season for quiet study.
February to April
Days warm up quickly, from about 22 °C in February to 32 °C in April. This is the festival season:
- The International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan, every March. Its 2026 edition ran from 9 to 15 March. On 16 October 2026 the festival's official site showed a countdown to 2027 without dates; it listed related programmes at the ashram, "The Roots of Yoga" from 1 to 5 March 2027 and a Mahashivratri retreat from 5 to 7 March 2027.
- The International Yoga Festival of Uttarakhand Tourism and GMVN, a separate week-long event: according to the Governor of Uttarakhand's office, its 2026 edition closed on 22 March with more than 2,500 participants. No 2027 dates were published on 16 October 2026.
- The Haridwar Ardh Kumbh Mela in 2027. The Mela officer announced ten bathing dates from 14 January to 20 April 2027, with three "Amrit Snan" baths on 6 March (Mahashivratri), 8 March and 14 April (PTI, 15 April 2026). Haridwar is a short drive away: expect crowds, traffic restrictions and fuller guesthouses in Rishikesh too around those dates.
Details on both festivals are on our International Yoga Festival page.
May and June
The hottest months: a mean maximum of 34.9 °C in May at Dehradun, with occasional heat-wave days in May and June according to the IMD. Practise early and late, drink regularly and rest at midday. Domestic tourism is heavy. 21 June is the International Day of Yoga, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in resolution 69/131 of 11 December 2014; expect mass sessions on the ghats. Rain starts to build in late June.
July to September: the monsoon
July and August each bring around 650-700 mm of rain at Dehradun, with rain on most days. The river runs high and brown. Two practical consequences:
- Roads: France Diplomatie warns that monsoon rains can cause landslides in mountain regions and advises checking road and rail links before travelling; this matters if you plan trips beyond Rishikesh.
- Rafting: Uttarakhand Tourism gives September to June as the rafting months. Operations stop when the Ganga rises: on 24 June 2025, the Tehri district tourism officer suspended rafting at Muni ki Reti "until further notice" (PTI). We found no official text fixing the season's exact dates, so ask a licensed operator for the current situation.
For a long retreat, the monsoon can suit you: fewer visitors, green hills, rain on the roofs. Just keep away from the river's edge.
Festivals that move every year
Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates change: Mahashivratri (February or March), Holi (March), Ganga Dussehra (May or June), the Kanwar pilgrimage in the month of Shravan (July-August), Diwali (October or November). Check a current calendar for your dates; on the biggest days, ghats and roads are very crowded.
Our short answer
- For a first yoga stay: October-November or February-March.
- For quiet and study: December-January, with warm clothes.
- For the festival: March, booked well in advance; in 2027, mind the Kumbh bathing days.
- To avoid: the hottest weeks of May-June if you dislike heat, and riverside walks during the monsoon.
Once your month is chosen, see how to reach Rishikesh from Delhi, apply for the India e-Visa, and return to the Rishikesh guide for the rest.
Questions people ask
Is it too cold to do yoga in Rishikesh in December and January?
No, but plan for it. At the official Dehradun station, the mean minimum is 6 °C in January, and the India Meteorological Department notes fog on some winter mornings. Many rooms and halls are unheated: bring layers for early practice and the evening aarti.
Can I go during the monsoon?
Yes, it is quiet and green, but July and August are the wettest months by far, the river runs high and rafting is suspended when the Ganga rises. France Diplomatie warns that monsoon rains can cause landslides in mountain regions and advises checking road and rail links before travelling.
When is the International Yoga Festival?
Every March. In 2026, Parmarth Niketan's festival ran from 9 to 15 March and the Uttarakhand Tourism and GMVN festival closed on 22 March. No 2027 dates were published by either organiser on 16 October 2026.
When does the rafting season run?
Uttarakhand Tourism gives September to June as the months for rafting. In practice it stops when the Ganga rises: on 24 June 2025, for example, the Tehri district tourism officer suspended rafting at Muni ki Reti until further notice.
Sources
- Climate of Dehra Dun — India Meteorological Department (Tables 1, 3 and 4, normals 1971-2010) checked October 16, 2026
- Rishikesh — Uttarakhand Tourism (official site): rafting months, Triveni Ghat, access checked October 16, 2026
- River-rafting suspended in Rishikesh as Ganga nears warning level — The Tribune (PTI), 25 June 2025 checked October 16, 2026
- Governor participated in the closing ceremony of the International Yoga Festival 2026 — Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand, 22 March 2026 checked October 16, 2026
- Dates announced for bathing festivals during Ardh Kumbh Mela in Haridwar — The Week (PTI), 15 April 2026 checked October 16, 2026
- International Day of Yoga, 21 June — United Nations checked October 16, 2026
- Inde, conseils aux voyageurs : sécurité (moussons) — France Diplomatie, ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères checked October 16, 2026
- India travel advice: Health — UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office checked October 16, 2026
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