Where to go in India in August

Where not to go in August

• DelhiMonsoon humidity and downpours; many sights are less pleasantGo instead: Oct-Mar
• AgraMonsoon humidity and downpours; many sights are less pleasantGo instead: Oct-Mar
• JaisalmerDesert heat: 40-45 °C; desert camps mostly closedGo instead: Oct-Mar
• RanthamboreCore safari zones closed for the monsoonGo instead: Oct-May
• VaranasiMonsoon floods can submerge the ghats and stop boat ridesGo instead: Oct-Mar
• RishikeshMonsoon: rafting suspended and landslides on hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Feb-May
• ManaliMonsoon landslides and road closuresGo instead: Oct-Jan, Mar-Jun
• ShimlaMonsoon landslides and road closuresGo instead: Sep-Dec, Mar-Jun
• Dharamshala & McLeod GanjVery heavy monsoon rain: Dharamshala is one of India’s wettest townsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• MussoorieMonsoon landslides and fogGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• NainitalMonsoon landslides and fogGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Jim Corbett National ParkMost safari zones closed for the monsoonGo instead: Nov-Jun
• KolkataHeavy monsoon rain and waterloggingGo instead: Oct-Mar
• DarjeelingMonsoon: landslides, leeches and clouds hiding the mountainsGo instead: Oct-Nov, Mar-May
• Gangtok & SikkimMonsoon landslides often block roadsGo instead: Oct-Dec, Mar-May
• Kaziranga National ParkThe park is closed (usually May to October)Go instead: Nov-Apr
• MumbaiPeak monsoon: flooding and disrupted transportGo instead: Nov-Feb
• GoaMonsoon: rough seas, no swimming and most beach shacks closedGo instead: Nov-Mar
• MahabaleshwarExtremely heavy rain; most viewpoints and boating closeGo instead: Oct-May
• Kutch & the RannThe Rann floods in the monsoon and there is no salt desert to seeGo instead: Nov-Feb
• GokarnaMonsoon: rough seas, no swimming and most beach shacks closedGo instead: Oct-Mar
• MunnarHeavy monsoon rain, landslide risk and no viewsGo instead: Sep-May
• VarkalaMonsoon: rough seas, no swimming and most beach shacks closedGo instead: Nov-Mar
• WayanadVery heavy monsoon rain and landslide riskGo instead: Oct-May
• OotyMonsoon rain and fogGo instead: Oct-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Andaman IslandsMonsoon: rough seas, cancelled ferries and limited divingGo instead: Nov-Apr
• Srinagar and Kashmir ValleyBusiest season, with Amarnath Yatra traffic on the Pahalgam and Sonamarg roadsGo instead: Sep-Oct, Apr-Jun
• Katra and Vaishno DeviMonsoon rain can make the track slippery and stop helicoptersGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-May
• Kasol and Parvati ValleyHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Tirthan Valley and JibhiHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Dalhousie and KhajjiarHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• KasauliHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Dec, Mar-Jun
• ChandigarhHot and humid monsoonGo instead: Oct-Mar
• Naina Devi and Anandpur SahibMonsoon rain and Shravan Navratri crowdsGo instead: Oct-Apr
• HaridwarMonsoon and Kanwar Yatra crowds; the river runs highGo instead: Oct-Nov, Feb-Apr
• Kedarnath and BadrinathMonsoon landslides often block the roadsGo instead: Sep-Oct, May-Jun
• Chopta and TungnathHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Apr-Jun
• AuliHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Oct-Jun
• LansdowneHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Dec, Mar-Jun
• Kainchi Dham and KumaonHeavy monsoon rain; landslides can close hill roadsGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Vrindavan and MathuraHot, humid monsoon; Janmashtami crowdsGo instead: Oct-Mar
• AyodhyaHot, humid monsoonGo instead: Oct-Mar
• Ujjain and OmkareshwarMonsoon; the Narmada runs high at OmkareshwarGo instead: Oct-Mar
• PachmarhiMonsoon: Satpura safaris closed and some trails shutGo instead: Oct-Jun
• Kanha and BandhavgarhCore zones closed for the monsoonGo instead: Oct-Jun
• Bodh GayaHot and humid monsoonGo instead: Oct-Mar
• Puri and KonarkMonsoon and cyclone risk on the coastGo instead: Oct-Mar
• SundarbansHeavy monsoon rain and rough waterGo instead: Oct-Mar
• TawangHeavy monsoon rain and landslidesGo instead: Sep-Nov, Mar-Jun
• Mount AbuMonsoon fog and rain on the plateauGo instead: Oct-Jun
• Dwarka and SomnathMonsoon on the coastGo instead: Oct-Mar
• MatheranVery heavy monsoon rain; some paths closedGo instead: Oct-May
• AlibaugMonsoon: ferries stop and the sea is roughGo instead: Oct-Mar
• DiuMonsoon; rough seaGo instead: Oct-Mar
• CoonoorSouthwest monsoon rain and fogGo instead: Oct-Jun
• Udupi, Murudeshwar and the Temple CoastVery heavy monsoon rain on the coastGo instead: Oct-Mar
• LakshadweepSouthwest monsoon: rough seas, many trips cancelledGo instead: Oct-Apr

Possible, with caveats

JaipurUdaipurJodhpurPushkarAmritsarKhajurahoAjanta & Ellora CavesBengaluruMysuruChikmagalurHampiKochiAlleppey (Alappuzha) BackwatersKodaikanalPuducherry (Pondicherry)Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)MaduraiHyderabadOrchhaStatue of Unity (Ekta Nagar)Tirupati and TirumalaRameswaram and Kanyakumari

Shoulder season means mixed weather or just outside the peak months. Expect fewer crowds and lower prices.