City

Highlights

Climate

Industry

Festivals

Agra

Taj Mahal, white marble memorial built by Emperor Shah Jahan for Queen Mumtaz Mahal over 22 years (1630 652). Massive red sandstone Agra Fort. Deserted city of atehpur Sikri.

Hot and dry March-June
Average daily temp ranges
January max 22.1C, min 7.2C May max 41.8C, min 26.6C Driest April 3mm Wettest August 283.4mm

Tourism, Generators, Leather goods, Jewellery, Dhurrie weaving, Marble

Taj Mahotsav,

February

Amritsar

Sikh Golden Temple
Amritsar means 'pool of nectar' which refers to the sacred tank around
which the temple is built Jallianwala Bagh
Ram Bagh
Taran Taran

Hot and dry March-June
Average daily temp ranges
January max 19.3C, min 3.9C June max 40.1C, min 25.1C Driest November 6.2mm Wettest July/August 186.2mm

Woollen blankets, Shawls, Clothing at Katra Jaimal Singh market

Baisakhi, April

Bangalore

City markets Bull Temple Vidhan Soudha
Cubbon Park & useums
Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Ulsoor Lake Fort & Tipu Sultan's Palace

Mild & moist summer Average daily temp ranges
January max 27C, min 15.1C
April max 33.6, min 21.5C
Driest January 2.7mm Wettest September194.8mm

'silicon valley' of India, (India is 2nd largest exporter of computer software after U.S.), Silk, Sandalwood, Rosewood

Humpi Dance

Festival November

Bhopal

The huge pink Mosque of Taj-ul-Masjid Upper Lake covers 6sq km & has many craft for hire
Bharat Bhavan Arts Centre Ttribal Habitat Museum

Pleasant weather October/November/December
Hot and dry March-June
Average daily temp ranges
January max 25.3, min 10.2CMay max 40.7C, min 25.5CDriest April 4.5mm
Wettest August 388.4mm

Heavy electricals, Bead work, Gold & silver jewellery, Saris, Applique objects

Lokrang (Republic Day) January

Kolkata

Botanical Gardens Kali Temple Indian Museum
Howrah Bridge Birla Planetarium Victoria Memorial Eden Gardens
Nehru Children's Museum

Pleasant weather November-March Subtropical; hot & humid Southwest monsoon June-September January max 26.6C, min 13.9C
April max 36.3C, min 25.1C
Driest December 4.4mm
Wettest July 331.8mm

Jute, Processed foods (especially teas), Films

Durga Puja October

Chennai

Kanchipuram Mahabalipuram
Fort St George & useum
George Town High Court
Valluvar Kottam Memorial Parthasarathi Temple National Museum

Coastal city, hot March-October Southwest monsoon June-September Northeast monsoon October-December
January max 28.4C, min 20.6C June max 36.6C, min 27.2C Driest March 3mm
Wettest November 350.3mm

Major transport hub of the south, Engineering parts, Silk saris, Thriving film centre

Chennai Festival December/January
500 music & dance events

New Delhi

Red Fort Chandni Chowk Jama Masjid
Nizamuddin Shrine
walk around old Delhi
Rajpath & Lutyens’ Parlimentary Buildings
Lodi Gardens
Qutab Minar

Pleasant weather October-March Hot & dry March-September Winter December-February January max 21.1C, min 7.3C
May max 39.6C, min 25.9C
Driest November 5mm
Wettest August 258 mm

Electronic & electrical equipment, Textiles, Jewellery, Printing

Republic Day January

Guwahati

Umananda, Navagrah & Kamakhya Temples
State Museum Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Shankardev Cultural Centre Madan Kamdev Archaeological Site

Summer March-May Southwest monsoon June-September January max 20.6C, min 10C April max 31.5C, min 20C Driest December 5.1 mm Wettest July 353.6 mm

World’s largest tea auctions, Oil centre

Bihu January & April
Ambuchi July

Jaipur

Old ‘Pink City’
Hawa Mahal (palace of the winds) City Palace
Jantar Mantar Observatory Central Museum Ram Niwas Gardens Mmuseum of Indology

Hot & dry March-July Winter December-February Average daily temp January max 22.5C, min 7.8C May max 40.3C, min 25.4C Driest November 3.2 mm Wettest August 231.2 mm

Tourism, Precious stones, Carved furniture, Printing

Pushkar Fair November
Jaisalmer Desert Festival February

Jammu

Raghunath Temple Sanskrit Library Rambiresvar Temple
Bahu Fort Kali Temple
High Court Amar Mahal Museum

Hot &dry March-June Southwest monsoon July-August Average daily temp ranges January max 18.8C, min 7.4C June max 40.6C, min 26.8C Driest November 11.9mm Wettest August 344.5mm

Handmade carpets, Pashmina shawls, Pherans, Wood carvings

Lohri Havan Yagnas January
Baisakhi Harvest April

Cochin

World-famous Kathakali dance theatre based on stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata 500 yr old Portuguese houses
Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets Mattancherry Palace

Coastal city, hot March-May
Southwest monsoon June-September Northeast monsoon October-November
January max 31.4C, min 23.1C April max 32.7C, min 25.4C Driest January 31 mm
Wettest June 720.7 mm

Tourism, Petrochemicals

Ulsavam November/December
Onam August/September

Lucknow

The Residency The Bara & Chhota Imambaras, Shah Najaf Imambara & Constantia Rumi Darwaza Macchi Bhavan

Hot & dry March-June
Southwest monsoon July-September Winter December-February January max 22.4C, min 8.8C May max 40.3C, min 25.5C Driest November 2.7mm Wettest August 316.6mm

Chikan embroidery, Silversmiths, Gold zari

Music & dance November/December
National kite flying October/November

Mumbai

The gateway of India
National Gallery Crawford & Kalbadevi Bazaars Chowpatty beach at night Ferry to Elephanta Island to see triple-headed carving of Siva Bollywood - India’s masala-movie capital

Coastal city, hot March-June
Southwest monsoon June-September Average daily temp ranges January max 29.5C, min 19.3C May max 33.4C, min 26.9C Driest March 0.3mm Wettest July 750mm

35 % of India’s GNP diamonds, Textiles, Petrochemicals

Elephanta in February

Mysore

Maharaja’s Palace
Jaganmohan Palace
Jayachamarajendra Gallery Chamundi Hill
Godly Museum
Ashok Road & Sayaji Rao Road markets

Hot March-May
Southwest monsoon June-September Northeast moonsoon October-November January max 28.2C, min 16.4C
April max 34C, min 21.5C
Driest January 1.9mm
Wettest October 166.5mm

Tourism, silk, Sandalwood, Incense, Wooden toys

Dussehra 10-day September/October
Magnificent procession of guardsmen, chariots & elephants

Panaji

Gateway to 107km of golden beaches
Archaeological museum
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Se Cathedral
Saint Francis of Assisi
Convent of Santa Monica

Coastal city Hot March-June, October-November Southwest monsoon June-September
January max 31.6C, min 19.6C May max 33C, min 26.3C Driest February 0.1mm
Wettest July 994.8mm

Tourism, Iron ore mining

Carnival February/March
Shigmotsav (holiday) March
Ganesh August
Diwali October/November
Food & culture November

Patna

Mahatma Gandhi Seti 7.5 km bridge crosses Ganga
Patna Museum
Kumrahar Excavations
Har Mandir Sahib
Gila House (Jalan Museum)
Khuda Baksh Oriental Library

Hot & dry March-June
Southwest monsoon June-September Winter December-January
January max 23.6C, min 10.8C May max 39.6C, min 26.2C Driest December 3.4mm Wettest July 253.1mm

Agricultural centre

Buddha-Mahotsov November
Vaishali Dance April

Port Blair

Birdwatchers paradise - 242 species recorded
58 species of mammals; 83 of reptiles; 3000 species of plants
Boat trips, cellular jail, Sippighat farm

Island station, hot March-May Monsoon May-December
average daily temps
February max 30.7C, min 21.6C April max 32.7C, min 23.9C Driest February 9.9mm
Wettest September 469.4mm

Tourism, Local crafts

Tourism Festival 10-days February

Shimla

Early morning walk to Jakhu temple dedicated to Hanuman the monkey
God & inhabited by monkeys
Superb panomaramic views
State Museum
Scandal Corner

Hill station Dry & cold winters November-March Southwest monsoon July-December
January max 8.9C, min 1.7C
June max 24.1C, min 15.6C
Driest November 13.8mm
Wettest July 376.5mm

Tourism, Carved wooden objects, Puttoos (colourful blankets)

Summer Festival June

Varansi

Long line of ghats, stone steps which line the west bank of the Ganges
Most for bathing, but some for cremations
Hindu temples,
Gyan Kupor Well (of knowledge)

Hot & dry March-June
Southwest monsoon July-December Winter December-February January max 23.1C, min 9.6C May max 41.1C, min 26.4C Driest November 3.4mm Wettest July 303.4mm

Silk brocades, World-famous Glass beads

Ganga Festivals May, October/November
Music Festivals December/February