Nestled on the banks of the holy Ganges, Varanasi is an ancient city of Uttar Pradesh. The city is also known as Benares or Kashi and has an array of Hindu temples right by the river. Whether it is the summer heat or the rainy monsoons, the weather in Varanasi is such that people always flock here to attain blessings from the Gods and Goddesses of the various places of worship. Lying 80 m above sea level, Varanasi is pretty hot and humid in the summers and winters are mildly cold with a lot of fog. Although summers are the peak season, the best time to visit Varanasi are winters as the climate is cool and you can go sightseeing without breaking a sweat. Don’t know when to visit? Let’s have a look at some of the seasons in Varanasi.

Summers in Varanasi start from the last week of March and finally set in during the month of April. As summer comes in, temperatures start to rise and the climate becomes hot and humid. The temperature during the day time peaks to a soaring 45ᵒC and reduces in the nighttime to an average low of 30ᵒC. This is the peak time to go to Varanasi, as most pilgrims prefer summers to visit the temples as well as take a dip in the holy waters of Ganga. It is the traditional custom of some to have a Bath in the river, as it is believed to wash away all the sins; hence a lot of people visit in the summers due to the water being suitable for a dip.

The Ganga River flowing right by the city brings in some heavy rains in the region of Varanasi. The months from July onwards up until September see frequent showers accompanied by storms. Temperatures during this time go up to 32ᵒC in the day while they drop down to 24ᵒC in the night, making it quite cool. This may not be the best season to visit as the roads and lanes of the city are always wet and quite slippery, which can cause accidents. Even though there are regular showers during these months, the climate is quite humid as well.

If you are fond of the cold and don’t prefer crowds, winters are the best season to visit Varanasi. The onset of winter begins in October with cool winds and dropping temperature. By November, temperatures start to drop drastically and hours of sunlight start to decrease. Temperatures during winter range from 15ᵒC in the day time to 5ᵒC in the night and sometimes even lower. The region sees a lot of fog in the winter with no snowfall. This is one of the best times to visit as you can go on a boat ride on the Ganges and enjoy a beautiful winter afternoon, unlike the other seasons. The array of temples on the banks of the river amidst some fog is a site to experience.