January in Rishikesh — reliably good (6th best month)
Good · 7.7/10Temperatures hover around 12°C (54°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 52 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.3 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 7.7/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Rishikesh — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.
February in Rishikesh — one of the year's strongest windows (2nd)
Best window · 8.9/10Temperatures hover around 15°C (60°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
With around 26 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.9 hours of daylight fill the rest.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Rishikesh at 8.9/10 (2nd of 12), just behind March at 9.4/10.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.
March: the best month of the year in Rishikesh
Best window · 9.4/10March averages 22°C (71°F) — warm for the outdoors: start trails early, use shaded routes at midday, and carry more water than you think you need.
Rainfall runs 47 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.8 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Rishikesh at 9.4/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Plan for peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
April holds up well in Rishikesh — 7th best month
Good · 7.4/10Days in April average 27°C (81°F) — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
With around 16 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.7 hours of daylight fill the rest.
That is 7.4/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Rishikesh — 2 points higher on the same scale.
May in Rishikesh: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.6/10May averages 31°C (87°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Rainfall runs 54 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.6/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? March scores 2.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
June in Rishikesh — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.4/10At 33°C (91°F), June is at its most extreme: early starts are not optional, and afternoons belong indoors.
123 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 5.4/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Rishikesh — 4 points higher on the same scale.
July in Rishikesh — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.3/10Days in July average 28°C (83°F) and humidity near 81% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 468 mm: only about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 3.3/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.4/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
If your dates are flexible, March is materially better in Rishikesh — 6.1 points higher on the same scale.
August in Rishikesh — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.8/10August averages 27°C (81°F) and humidity near 87%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
290 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 3.8/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? March scores 5.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in Rishikesh — off-season conditions
Hardest · 4/10September averages 26°C (79°F) and humidity near 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
239 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.
It scores 4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.
Flexible dates? March scores 5.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
October ranks 3rd of 12 for Rishikesh — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.9/10Trail conditions at 22°C (72°F) favour early starts and shaded routes in October; midday is for water breaks, not for exposed climbs.
With around 41 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.3 hours of daylight fill the rest.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Rishikesh at 8.9/10 (3rd of 12), just behind March at 9.4/10.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.
November ranks 4th of 12 for Rishikesh — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.8/10Temperatures hover around 19°C (65°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
At just 2 mm for the month, rain will not shape your plans; you get about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.5 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Rishikesh at 8.8/10 (4th of 12), just behind March at 9.4/10.
Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.
December holds up well in Rishikesh — 5th best month
Good · 8.4/10December averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rain is a non-issue at 12 mm for the month, with about 10 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.1 hours of daylight to work with.
It scores 8.4/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.4/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on peak pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.
