This is the prime window and by far the most popular. Cool, dry, settled weather spreads across most of the country, with daytime temperatures in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur between about 15°C and 25°C, ideal for the forts and palaces of the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan. The south stays warm and dry too, at its best for the Kerala backwaters and the temples of Tamil Nadu from December to February. January, February and March are the busiest months, so book the headline sights and departures ahead.

Summer is intense across the plains, with temperatures topping 40°C in the north and centre, so low altitude sightseeing becomes hard going by day. This is the season to go up rather than across. The Himalayan foothills and hill stations offer cool relief, and the high mountain desert of Ladakh, dry and clear while the rest of the country bakes, opens up for high altitude road trips from June. If you travel the plains in summer, keep to early mornings and expect fierce afternoon heat.

The monsoon sweeps up from the southwest, bringing heavy rain that turns the countryside lush and green, fills the waterfalls and cools the air. Travel across much of the country is harder in the wet, and many wildlife parks close, but the landscapes are at their most beautiful and the crowds are thin. Ladakh, shielded by the Himalayas, stays dry and is at its best now. For most of India the monsoon is the season to plan around, though the western coast and the hills have a green, atmospheric appeal.

The north, taking in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and the deserts of Rajasthan, is firmly a winter destination. October to March brings mild, dry days of around 15°C to 25°C, ideal for the fortresses and palaces, with clear skies and comfortable evenings. April to June is extreme, often above 40°C, and July to September brings the monsoon rains. If the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan are the heart of your trip, plan for the cool months and you will see them at their best.

The tropical south runs a little differently, staying warm all year. Its best window is December to February, when the humidity drops and the heaviest rains have passed, ideal for the backwaters around Alleppey, the tea hills of Munnar and the temple towns of Tamil Nadu. The southwest monsoon soaks the region from June, and the southeast coast around Tamil Nadu catches a second burst of rain later in the year. For the classic Kerala trip, the cooler, drier winter months are the ones to aim for.

India's wildlife parks follow the dry season. The cool, dry months from December to March, into April, are best for tracking animals, as thinning foliage and shrinking waterholes bring them into the open. In Gujarat, the optimal window for the Asiatic lions of Sasan Gir runs from December to March, and the central tiger reserves are also at their best before the summer heat. Many parks close during the monsoon, so a wildlife focused trip belongs firmly in the dry season, ideally February or March for peak activity.

India's festivals are among the most vivid on earth, and the right date can define a trip. Holi, the festival of colours, arrives in March to mark the coming of spring, when the northern cities erupt in clouds of coloured powder. Diwali, the festival of lights, falls between October and November, when homes, temples and markets glow with oil lamps and fireworks nationwide. Autumn also brings the Pushkar Camel Fair to Rajasthan. The dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year, so check them early and book ahead, since the popular festivals fill their cities fast.