Best time to visit Dārjiling
The best time to visit Dārjiling is November–January, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Dārjiling, West Bengal, India
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.6 °C / 62 °F | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | 26 mm / 1 in | best month |
| February | 18.7 °C / 66 °F | 8.2 °C / 47 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| March | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 145 mm / 5.7 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 24.6 °C / 76 °F | 14.6 °C / 58 °F | 223 mm / 8.8 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 25.4 °C / 78 °F | 17.5 °C / 64 °F | 400 mm / 15.7 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 26.1 °C / 79 °F | 20.3 °C / 69 °F | 611 mm / 24.1 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 25.7 °C / 78 °F | 21 °C / 70 °F | 831 mm / 32.7 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 26 °C / 79 °F | 20.9 °C / 70 °F | 561 mm / 22.1 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 25.8 °C / 78 °F | 19.9 °C / 68 °F | 429 mm / 16.9 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 24.6 °C / 76 °F | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 187 mm / 7.4 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 21.6 °C / 71 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 29 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| December | 18.2 °C / 65 °F | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | 13 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–January
- Good
- February
January, November and December are dry, mild and sunny and best for exploring; February is still good as rain picks up, but March through October bring the monsoon's heavy, often afternoon rain, high humidity and (June–August) duller skies that make sightseeing hard.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 26 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, wet days 6.8 days, average daily low 6.2 °C / 43 °F.
Against: relative humidity 82%.
February · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, average daily low 8.2 °C / 47 °F.
Against: wet days 12.3 days, relative humidity 81%, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.9 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.6 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, wet days 6.3 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%.
Also on: Diwali, Kali Puja.
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.2 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 3.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–January
- Good
- February
The dry, cool, sunny stretch from November through January, and a still-workable February, suit trekking best; from March the monsoon brings persistent heavy afternoon rain, muddy trails and high humidity, with duller skies from June to August, lasting through October.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 26 mm / 1 in, wet days 6.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 6.2 °C / 43 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 10.7 h.
Against: relative humidity 82%.
February · good
In its favour: average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 8.2 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 7 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: wet days 12.3 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, relative humidity 81%.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 21.6 °C / 71 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 6.3 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, feels like (high) 21.9 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph.
Against: relative humidity 81%.
Also on: Diwali, Kali Puja.
December · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.2 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 3.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 10.5 h.
Against: relative humidity 81%.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is 933 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 15.5 °C | 18.2 °C | 22.9 °C | 26.9 °C | 29.3 °C | 30.8 °C | 30.3 °C | 30.7 °C | 30.2 °C | 27.5 °C | 21.9 °C | 17.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.1 days | 2.1 days | 4.8 days | 8.3 days | 14.4 days | 18.5 days | 18.4 days | 15.2 days | 11.7 days | 4.2 days | 0.6 days | 0.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 11 am | 11 am | 11 am | 12 pm | 12 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.8 h | 11.1 h | 10.7 h | 8.1 h | 5.6 h | 6.4 h | 8 h | 9.7 h | 9.7 h | 9.5 h |
| Relative humidity | 82% | 81% | 78% | 80% | 85% | 89% | 90% | 90% | 89% | 85% | 81% | 81% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 49.4 µg/m³ | 51.9 µg/m³ | 42.9 µg/m³ | 34.9 µg/m³ | 25.5 µg/m³ | 19.4 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 13.9 µg/m³ | 18.7 µg/m³ | 27.6 µg/m³ | 40.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 68.4 µg/m³ | 70.6 µg/m³ | 59.2 µg/m³ | 51.5 µg/m³ | 38.8 µg/m³ | 32 µg/m³ | 20.3 µg/m³ | 19.5 µg/m³ | 21.3 µg/m³ | 27.8 µg/m³ | 40.8 µg/m³ | 59.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Holi
March, dates vary from year to year
- Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
14–15 April
- Durga Puja
September and October, dates vary from year to year
- Kali Puja
October and November, dates vary from year to year
- Diwali
October and November, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- Singalila National Park closure
1 July–15 September