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India is a vast peninsular mainland, where Asian Monsoon dominates the climatic condition. It covers diverse forms of topography comprising vast plains and huge mountains, thus responsible for a large variation in climatic condition of the country. India does not enjoy some general climate, but instead has been categorized into six major climatic subtypes. It experience arid desert in the west, glacier and alpine tundra in the North, and humid tropical regions supporting rain forests in the southwest and the island territories. On the basis of annual calendar, India climate has been subdivided into four seasons, summers, winters, monsoon and rainy seasons. Summers last from March to May, winters from January to February, rainy season from June till September and post monsoon from October to December.
Unique Geography and Geology of India are the main factors influencing its climate. Thar Desert in the Northwest and Himalayas in the North are the main factors responsible for its uniqueness. The Katabatic wind flowing from Central Asia is interrupted by the Himalayas, thus, resulting in warm or mild cooled winters in North India and its vice versa makes India relatively hot during summers. India occupies a name in the list of Tropical country as the boundary between tropics and subtropics, so called Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country. Southwest monsoon prevails from June to October, thus, bringing rain and cloud as they blow from Southwest. This wind reverses its direction from December to January, thus, bringing cool and dry weather to most part of the country. These months have little rains with clear sky. Then, in the month of March till May, hot weather prevails till southwest wind turns up again.
Climatic conditions of South India generally face some variation. It experiences southwest monsoon, with rains in the period of late May till early June. The rains are only six weeks late than in North India. Some year, there can be torrential rainfall while in other it can be light. Thus, weather and monsoonal conditions are unstable in India like other tropical areas.
It is beyond any doubt that it is hard to generalize climate of such a large country like India, which runs from Himalayas in the North to beaches in the South. The best time to visit India is from October to March, when weather conditions are considered pleasant as it is relatively dry and cool. If you are planning to visit far south, the best time for you is between January and September. If in the mood to visit north eastern areas, the best time is between March to August. July to September months should be chosen for a trip to Rajasthan or in North Western regions and in case of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir from May to September. |
