Best time to visit Uttarakhand

Month by month: weather, snow, roads, treks and Char Dham status

These are typical seasonal patterns, not forecasts. For current weather use the India Meteorological Department and local advisories. Temperatures are described in general terms; no figures are quoted.

January

Weather: Cold in the hills, with freezing nights above about 2,000 m; plains are cool and foggy.
Snow: Snow likely in higher areas such as Auli, Chopta and Dhanaulti; Mukteshwar and Nainital may see some.
Roads: Some high roads may be closed after snowfall.
Trekking: Winter treks like Kedarkantha, Brahmatal and Dayara Bugyal.
Char Dham: Closed.
Wildlife: Corbett is open in some zones; birdwatching is good.
Festivals: Makar Sankranti and Uttarayani fairs. The Haridwar Ardh Kumbh is reported to begin on 14 January 2027.
Crowds: Low except around Auli and winter holidays.
Good picks: Auli, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar

February

Weather: Cold, with gradually warming days.
Snow: Snow remains in higher areas.
Roads: Mostly open; some high roads closed.
Trekking: Winter treks continue.
Char Dham: Closed.
Wildlife: Good for birds.
Festivals: Basant Panchami.
Crowds: Low to moderate.
Good picks: Rishikesh, Haridwar, Auli, Jim Corbett National Park

March

Weather: Spring begins; rhododendrons begin to bloom in the mid-hills.
Snow: Snow melts at mid altitudes.
Roads: Open.
Trekking: Spring treks begin.
Char Dham: Closed; preparations underway.
Wildlife: Good for most parks.
Festivals: Holi, including Kumaoni Baithaki Holi; the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh is typically held around this time.
Crowds: Moderate.
Good picks: Rishikesh, Nainital, Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal, Sattal

April

Weather: Pleasant in the hills, hot in the plains.
Snow: Higher passes retain snow.
Roads: Open; Char Dham roads are readied.
Trekking: Many treks are in season.
Char Dham: Yamunotri and Gangotri typically open around Akshaya Tritiya; Kedarnath and Badrinath open late April or May.
Wildlife: Good.
Festivals: Baisakhi.
Crowds: Rising.
Good picks: Mussoorie, Nainital, Chopta and Tungnath, Kausani

May

Weather: Warm; cool in the high hills.
Snow: Snow at high altitude.
Roads: Open; heavy traffic on Char Dham routes.
Trekking: High season for many treks.
Char Dham: All four open; peak crowds.
Wildlife: Corbett is hot but active.
Festivals: Pilgrim season.
Crowds: Very high at hill stations and Char Dham.
Good picks: Mussoorie, Nainital, Kanatal, Dhanaulti, Kedarnath

June

Weather: Hot in the plains; monsoon arrives in the second half.
Snow: Snow remains only at high altitude.
Roads: Landslide risk increases at month end.
Trekking: Valley of Flowers opens; high-altitude treks.
Char Dham: Open; heavy crowds early.
Wildlife: Corbett: Dhikala and the other core zones close 15 June and Bijrani on 30 June; Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia stay open.
Festivals: Ganga Dussehra.
Crowds: Very high early; drops with monsoon.
Good picks: Chopta and Tungnath, Dhanaulti, Munsiyari, Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib

July

Weather: Monsoon, with heavy rain.
Snow: None except at the highest altitudes.
Roads: Landslides and closures are frequent.
Trekking: Valley of Flowers in bloom; many other treks are unsafe.
Char Dham: Open but risky because of landslides and flooding.
Wildlife: Only Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia at Corbett stay open.
Festivals: Harela (Kumaon); the Kanwar Yatra brings heavy crowds and traffic restrictions to Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Crowds: Low at hill stations; high at Haridwar during Kanwar.
Good picks: Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib

August

Weather: Monsoon continues.
Snow: None.
Roads: Landslides and washouts are common.
Trekking: Valley of Flowers; avoid most others.
Char Dham: Open but risky.
Wildlife: Only Jhirna, Dhela and Garjia at Corbett stay open.
Festivals: Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami.
Crowds: Low.
Good picks: Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib

September

Weather: Monsoon retreats; skies begin to clear.
Snow: Early snow at the highest altitudes.
Roads: Improving, though landslides are still possible.
Trekking: Many treks reopen late in the month.
Char Dham: Open; quieter than May-June.
Wildlife: Bijrani reopens 15 October; Dhikala and other core zones reopen 15 November.
Festivals: Nanda Devi fairs.
Crowds: Low to moderate.
Good picks: Chopta and Tungnath, Ranikhet, Kausani

October

Weather: Clear, dry and cool; excellent visibility.
Snow: Snow begins at high altitude.
Roads: Good.
Trekking: Prime season for most treks.
Char Dham: Open until closing in late October or November.
Wildlife: Bijrani reopens 15 October; Dhikala and other core zones reopen 15 November.
Festivals: Dussehra, Diwali (October or November).
Crowds: High around Diwali.
Good picks: Chopta and Tungnath, Kausani, Nainital, Mukteshwar

November

Weather: Cool to cold, clear.
Snow: First snow in higher areas.
Roads: Good; high roads may close later.
Trekking: Good until snowfall.
Char Dham: Closes; dates are announced each year.
Wildlife: Dhikala and other Corbett core zones reopen 15 November.
Festivals: Kartik Purnima ritual bathing at Haridwar.
Crowds: Moderate, then low.
Good picks: Jim Corbett National Park, Rishikesh, Binsar

December

Weather: Cold; clear days.
Snow: Snow in higher areas; Dhanaulti and Chopta may see snow.
Roads: Some high roads close.
Trekking: Winter treks begin.
Char Dham: Closed.
Wildlife: Good for birds and some zones.
Festivals: Christmas and New Year crowds in hill stations.
Crowds: High around Christmas and New Year.
Good picks: Auli, Chopta and Tungnath, Dhanaulti, Nainital

By travel theme

Theme	When	Where
Family holidays	March-June and September-November	Mussoorie, Nainital, Haridwar, Jim Corbett National Park
Snow trips	December-February	Auli, Chopta and Tungnath, Dhanaulti, Mukteshwar
Trekking	April-June and September-November; winter treks December-March	Chopta and Tungnath, Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib
Spiritual travel	May-June and September-October for Char Dham; year-round for Haridwar and Rishikesh	Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath
Photography	October-February for clear Himalayan views	Kausani, Munsiyari, Chopta and Tungnath
Peaceful retreats	March-June and September-November, weekdays	Khirsu and Pauri, Kanatal, Chaukori, Binsar
Adventure activities	Rafting roughly late September to June (dates set locally, and stopped when rivers are high); skiing at Auli January-March, snow permitting	Rishikesh, Auli, Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal
Budget travel	Off-season weekdays; avoid May-June and holidays	Almora, Ranikhet, Rishikesh, Haridwar

Sources and verification

Last reviewed 2026-10-25. Prices, opening dates, road status and permits change often. Confirm with an official source before you travel.