Agra's four seasons, in plain words
First visit: come between October and March.
- Golden season
- October to November
- Foggy winter
- December to January
- Bright spring
- February to March
- Hot season
- April to June
- Monsoon
- July to September
- Quieter, with dramatic light: consider the monsoon.
- May and June: avoid them unless your dates are fixed. If they are, plan every outing for dawn and dusk.
- The wider region: our pages on weather and climate and the best time to visit Rajasthan cover it.
The golden season, October to November
Washed air: the monsoon has cleared the dust, the river is still full and the light is clear and warm.
- Temperatures: warm to hot in early October, pleasantly mild by late November, with cool evenings.
- Our guests' favourite: for most, the best time to be in Agra.
- High season begins: Dussehra, Diwali and the wedding season fill the calendar.
The foggy winter, December to January
Days and nights: cool sunny days, often in the low twenties Celsius, and cold nights, sometimes near freezing in the countryside.
- Fog: the plains often lie under thick fog at dawn. The Taj may be invisible at sunrise, then appear slowly as the mist lifts.
- Delays: trains and flights can run late.
- The verdict: beautiful, atmospheric and unpredictable.
The bright spring, February to March
Clear and yellow: the fog clears, the sun strengthens and the mustard fields turn yellow.
- Warm days, cool nights: with bright, clean light at the Taj.
- Festivals: the Taj Mahotsav in February, and Holi, celebrated for days across Braj, in February or March.
- Late March: it is getting hot.
The hot season, April to June
The heat: it climbs steadily, and in May and June afternoons often pass 40°C, with hot dry winds and dust.
- Hot marble: the Taj's terraces are too hot for bare feet by mid-morning.
- The upside: crowds thin and hotel prices fall.
- Doable: with early mornings, long rests and a good pool, but not for everyone.
The monsoon, July to September
Arrival: usually around the start of July, with heavy showers, high humidity, green fields and dramatic skies.
- The river: the Yamuna rises and sometimes floods the plain below Mehtab Bagh.
- Few crowds: and the Taj against storm clouds is one of India's great sights.
- The catch: rain can disrupt plans, and the heat between showers is sticky.
Agra month by month
- Coldest
- January
- Hottest
- May and June
- Monsoon arrives
- Early July
- Busiest
- Christmas and New Year
- Our favourite
- November
January
Weather: the coldest month. Sunny and pleasant once the fog lifts, cold at night, and dawn at the Taj often a soft white silence.
Pack: warm layers for the early starts.
- Festivals: Makar Sankranti, on 14 January, brings kites over the rooftops. In recent years Shah Jahan's Urs has fallen in winter, when the Taj's crypt opens for three days.
- Crowds: high around New Year and the Republic Day holiday on 26 January.
- Trains: fog can delay the Delhi trains, so keep plans flexible. See Rajasthan in January.
- In the bazaars: gajak, a brittle sweet of sesame and jaggery, and hot saffron milk from huge iron pans in the evening.
February
Weather: one of the loveliest months. The fog is mostly gone, days are warm and bright, evenings cool.
Taj Mahotsav: crafts, folk music, dance and food from across India at Shilpgram near the eastern gate, for about ten days in the second half of the month.
- Basant Panchami: marks the start of spring.
- Holi, sometimes: in some years it falls at the end of February, and the Braj celebrations begin.
- Good for: photography, the Chambal and Bharatpur. See Rajasthan in February.
March
Weather: warm and bright, getting hot by the end.
- Holi in Braj: in most years it falls in March. The towns an hour north celebrate for a week or more, with lathmar Holi at Barsana and processions at Mathura and Vrindavan.
- Holi in Agra: joyful and messy, and monuments may be quiet until the afternoon.
- Early March: one of the best times of the year for the Taj. Our Holi guide and Rajasthan in March explain more.
April
Weather: the heat arrives in earnest, with afternoons in the high thirties and rising.
Mornings: still pleasant. The Taj at sunrise is lovely, with soft haze and far fewer visitors than in winter. By ten, the marble is hot.
- The rhythm: Taj and fort early, rest at midday, out again late afternoon.
- Rates: hotel rates begin to fall. See Rajasthan in April.
- Harvest: on the drive to Fatehpur Sikri, families thresh wheat and stack golden straw by the road.
May
Weather: one of the two hottest months, often above 40°C, with hot dusty winds called loo.
- At the Taj: quiet except for domestic holiday visitors, and the light hazy and harsh by mid-morning.
- If you must: stay at a hotel with a good pool, see the Taj at first opening and Mehtab Bagh at dusk, and stay indoors between.
- Water: drink far more than you think you need. See Rajasthan in May.
June
Weather: intensely hot for most of the month, then humid as the monsoon approaches from the east.
First storms: usually towards the end of June, with dramatic skies and sudden relief.
- Crowds: school holidays bring domestic family groups to the monuments.
- The least comfortable month: our note on summer in Rajasthan has heat tips, and Rajasthan in June covers the region.
- Skip nature: the Chambal and Bharatpur are too hot. Monuments at dawn, hotel by day, river garden at dusk.
July
Weather: the monsoon arrives, usually in the first days. Heavy showers alternate with sun and heavy humidity.
The look: green fields, a rising Yamuna and the Taj against dark clouds.
- Jhulan: in Vrindavan, the season of swings for Krishna fills the temples.
- Crowds: light. The Taj is wonderfully quiet on weekday mornings, and the reflection is often perfect after overnight rain.
- Pack: a light rain jacket and quick-drying shoes. See Rajasthan in July.
August
Weather: the heart of the monsoon. Heavy rain, but rarely all day, and brilliant clean light between showers.
- The river: at its fullest, and it may flood parts of Mehtab Bagh.
- Janmashtami: in some years Krishna's birthday falls in August, celebrated at midnight in Mathura and Vrindavan with enormous crowds.
- Holidays: Raksha Bandhan, when sisters tie a rakhi thread on their brothers' wrists, and Independence Day on 15 August. See Rajasthan in August.
September
Weather: the monsoon fades, usually by the middle or end of the month. Still warm and humid, but clearing.
Greenest countryside: of the year.
- Janmashtami, sometimes: in some years it falls in early September.
- For flexible travellers: low crowds and gentle hotel rates make late September a good choice. See Rajasthan in September.
- Late in the month: the first clear mornings, and the Taj across a full, brown Yamuna from Mehtab Bagh at its most dramatic.
October
Weather: the golden season begins. Clear air, warm to hot early in the month, pleasant by the end.
Light: beautiful on the Taj at both ends of the day.
- Festivals: Navratri and Dussehra usually, and in some years Diwali.
- Sharad Purnima: Agra families say this autumn full moon is the brightest of the year, and come out to see the marble glow. Many leave a bowl of kheer, rice pudding, out in the moonlight to eat at dawn.
- Crowds: building steadily. See Rajasthan in October.
November
Our favourite month: mild sunny days, cool evenings and clear skies.
Diwali: often in late October or November, when homes and shops are lit with lamps. See Diwali.
- Bateshwar: in the month of Kartik, this Yamuna town, known for its long row of Shiva temples on the river, holds its great livestock fair.
- Weddings and birds: the wedding season begins, and migrant birds reach Bharatpur and the Chambal.
- Book early: it is busy. See Rajasthan in November.
December
Weather: cool sunny days and cold nights, with dawn fog returning by mid-month. The Taj at sunrise is hidden or magical.
Peak crowds: Christmas and New Year bring the year's biggest crowds and highest rates, so book Amarvilas months ahead.
- Early December: quieter and lovely. Pack a warm jacket for the early mornings.
- Read more: our Christmas and New Year page and Rajasthan in December.
- Winter street food: hot jalebi in the fog, roasted sweet potatoes and peanuts from carts, and steaming tea on every corner.
The festivals worth planning around
- Taj Mahotsav
- February, about ten days
- Shah Jahan's Urs
- Winter, for now
- Holi in Braj
- February or March
- Janmashtami
- August or September
- Dussehra, Diwali
- October or November
Taj Mahotsav, February
Where: Shilpgram near the eastern gate, for ten days.
- What: artisans from across India selling directly, with folk music, classical dance and food stalls in the evenings.
- The mood: busy and cheerful rather than refined.
- Shopping: one of Agra's best places to buy textiles, metalwork and pottery from the people who made them.
The Urs of Shah Jahan, in winter for now
Three days: the emperor's death anniversary is marked at the Taj.
- The crypt opens: the real graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal can be seen, qawwali singers perform, and a long, many-coloured chadar, a cloth offering, is carried to the tomb.
- A moving date: it follows the Islamic lunar calendar, about eleven days earlier each year.
- Very crowded: entry arrangements change, so we check them for every journey.
Holi in Braj, February or March
Krishna's country: nowhere in North India celebrates with more abandon than Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon.
A week or more: flowers, colour, music and the playful lathmar Holi of Barsana before the main day.
- Lathmar Holi: the women of Barsana chase off the men of Nandgaon with sticks, lathis, while the men shelter behind shields, all in fun.
- An hour from Agra: one of the great spectacles of India.
- Go prepared: with a guide, in old clothes, and with your camera protected.
Janmashtami, August or September
- At midnight: Krishna's birthday in the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan, with devotional singing, fasting and huge crowds.
- How to see it: from a quiet temple with a local host, not the main crush. It is profoundly moving for believers.
Dussehra and Diwali, October or November
Dussehra: Rama's victory over Ravana, with effigies burned in public grounds.
- Diwali: about three weeks later. Homes, shops and sweet sellers glow with lamps and fairy lights, and sweet shops work through the night.
- Note: some shops close on Diwali day itself.
Eid, at the Jama Masjid
The prayers: at the end of Ramadan, thousands gather at Agra's Jama Masjid.
- The lanes: families in new clothes, vermicelli sweets and celebration.
- Lunar too: like the Urs, Eid moves each year. During Ramadan, the Taj's night viewing is suspended.
Fitting Agra into a Rajasthan journey
October to March: Agra combines perfectly with Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and the desert.
The Thar in winter: mild days and nights cold enough for a campfire.
- Winter pairs
- Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, the Thar
- Ranthambore opens
- October
- Bharatpur birds
- From November
- Monsoon pair
- Udaipur and Mewar
- Wildlife: Ranthambore opens from October, and the birds reach Bharatpur from November.
- A classic winter route: Delhi, the fast train to Agra for two nights, then the drive to Jaipur through Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri, and on west.
- In the monsoon: pair Agra with Udaipur, whose lakes fill and hills turn green, and Mewar's forts under storm clouds. Our monsoon in Mewar is built for it.
- In the hot months: a short Golden Triangle with early mornings, or the hill town of Mount Abu, rather than a long road trip.
- Help choosing: our Golden Triangle or Rajasthan piece.
The light on the Taj through the year
After the monsoon: October to early December has the cleanest air of the year. Sunrise light is warm and directional, shadows crisp, and the marble moves clearly from pink to gold under a pale blue sky.
Fog season: from mid-December to January the Taj may be invisible at dawn. The reward for patience is the dome appearing out of white air, sometimes not until mid-morning.
- Post-monsoon
- Oct to early Dec, the classic photograph
- Fog season
- Mid-Dec to Jan, soft and quiet
- Spring
- Feb and Mar, stronger, whiter light
- Hot season
- Apr to Jun, flat by mid-morning
- Monsoon
- Jul to Sep, the most dramatic skies
- Not a brochure picture: fog photographs are soft, quiet and unlike anything you have seen.
- February and March: stronger, whiter light and occasional dust haze by midday.
- April to June: haze and heat soften the distance. The first half hour of sunrise is still good.
- The monsoon: towering clouds, sudden shafts of sun on wet marble and occasional rainbows.
- By moonlight: on the nights around each full moon, the dome shows silver against the dark, unforgettable on a clear autumn or winter night.
- Lenses and timing: our photography tips go into both.
Crowds, holidays and the day of the week
Fridays: the Taj is closed to sightseers every Friday. Use the day for Agra Fort, the east bank and Fatehpur Sikri. Our note on why the Taj closes on Fridays explains more.
Weekends and holidays: large numbers of domestic visitors, especially around Diwali, Christmas, New Year and the summer school holidays.
- Closed
- The Taj, every Friday
- Calmest
- Weekday dawns
- Coaches arrive
- By nine in the morning
- Night viewing
- Five nights around the full moon
- Wedding season
- Roughly November to February
- Sunrise: quieter than any other hour, in every season.
- Night viewing: only on the five nights around each full moon, never on Fridays or in Ramadan. Plan your dates around the moon.
- The Urs: it moves earlier each year. Busy, but when the Taj feels most like a living shrine.
- Wedding season: hotel lawns are often booked for celebrations. Ask us which dates are busy.
Birds and wildlife around Agra, by season
Keoladeo National Park: in Bharatpur, about an hour and a half west of Agra. In winter migrant ducks, geese, cranes, pelicans and storks gather on the wetlands, and resident birds nest.
The best weeks: our guide to birdwatching at Bharatpur covers them.
- Bharatpur birds
- November to February
- Chambal gharials
- November to March
- Ranthambore tigers
- About October to June
- Sur Sarovar
- Winter waterbirds
- Sur Sarovar: near Agra, it also fills with waterbirds in winter.
- The Chambal: the National Chambal Sanctuary, about two hours away, is best from November to March, when gharials and crocodiles bask on sandbanks and Indian skimmers are present.
- Chambal off-season: in summer the river is low and the heat fierce. In the monsoon, river trips are usually suspended.
- Ranthambore: from about October to June, with April to June giving the best sightings as tigers come to water.
- Closed for the rains: Ranthambore shuts for the monsoon. Our note on the best time for tigers explains the choices.
What to pack for each season
October to November, February to March: light cotton by day, a light sweater or shawl for evenings and early mornings, a hat and sunglasses.
December to January: warm layers, a proper jacket and a scarf for the cold, damp dawn at the Taj. Gloves are welcome in the fog.
- Shoes
- Easy to slip on and off
- Clothes
- Modest, for mosques and temples
- Torch
- Small, for the inlay
- Bag
- Very small, for Taj security
- April to June: loose, light, long-sleeved cotton, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, electrolyte sachets and a refillable bottle. Socks for the hot marble.
- July to September: a light rain jacket or umbrella, quick-drying shoes and insect repellent, especially for Mehtab Bagh at dusk.
- In every season: slip-on shoes, modest clothes, a small torch and a very small bag for the Taj. Our full packing guide has more.
Our pick for different travellers
First visit, best all-round: November or February.
Photographers: late October to early December for clean light, the monsoon for drama, or January for fog if you are patient.
- First visit
- November or February
- Fewer people
- The monsoon
- Festivals
- February, March, October
- Birders
- December to February
- Families with children: October, November, February or early March, when midday is comfortable and evenings mild.
- Festival lovers: February for the Taj Mahotsav, March for Holi in Braj, and October or November for Dussehra and Diwali.
- Birders and nature lovers: December to February, with Bharatpur and the Chambal.
- The Taj with fewer people: the monsoon months, or the very first entry on a weekday morning at any time of year.
- Our journeys: winter in Rajasthan and Rajasthan with the Taj Mahal are timed for the best months, and our Agra itinerary shows how to use each day.
