Bangalore

Here's the good news—Bangalore's weather is pretty great year-round compared to most Indian cities. Sitting at 900 meters up on the Deccan Plateau means it never gets ridiculously hot or crazy cold. You can visit anytime and you'll be fine. But let's break down what each season actually feels like. **Winter (November to February): The Sweet Spot** If you're picking just one time to visit, this is it. November through February is when Bangalore is at its best. Daytime temps sit around 20-28°C, and nights can drop to 12-15°C. Locals will be in sweaters and jackets complaining about the 'cold,' while you're probably thinking this is perfect t-shirt weather. Mornings are crisp—great for hitting Lalbagh or Cubbon Park early. The weather is perfect for cafe hopping, brewery crawls, and actually walking around neighborhoods without sweating. Evenings are cool enough that outdoor dining is genuinely comfortable. You'll also catch some good events. The Literature Festival usually happens in December. New Year's Eve is huge here—book your restaurant or pub spot way in advance. Theater season is in full swing. Downsides? This is peak season, so popular spots get more crowded and hotel prices inch up slightly (though nowhere near the spike you see in Goa or Rajasthan). Sometimes morning fog delays flights. And if you're used to tropical heat, pack a light jacket for the evenings. **Summer (March to May): Hot but Totally Manageable** While the rest of India is melting (Delhi hits 45°C, Mumbai becomes a steam bath), Bangalore maxes out at 32-35°C. That's warm, sure, but compared to everywhere else, it feels like relief. Evenings still cool down nicely. This is actually a great time if you want to avoid crowds. School's in session until mid-April, so family tourism is low. Hotel prices stay reasonable. Plus, if you're escaping from northern India's brutal summer, Bangalore genuinely feels like a cool retreat. Mango season hits in summer—Karnataka's mangoes flood the markets. Alphonso, Banganapalle, Totapuri—they're all amazing. Sugarcane juice sellers are everywhere. The famous filter coffee gets replaced by cold coffee variants. The main issue is occasional water shortages. Bangalore depends on water pumped from far away, and summer strains the system. Some areas face restrictions. As a tourist, you'll rarely notice beyond maybe a hotel advisory, but it's something to know. Pre-monsoon thunderstorms roll in during late afternoons—dramatic, sudden downpours that cool things off briefly and absolutely wreck the traffic for an hour or two. **Monsoon (June to October): Green and Gorgeous** Monsoon turns Bangalore into its greenest version. It starts in early June and goes through September, with October getting some tail-end showers. Unlike Mumbai's intense deluge, Bangalore's monsoon is moderate—steady but not overwhelming. Rain usually hits in late afternoons and evenings, not all day. Temps hover in a comfortable 22-28°C range. The rain washes away summer dust, cleans the air, and makes all the parks and gardens bloom like crazy. Lalbagh turns seriously green. The hills around Bangalore transform into lush forests. There's something romantic about monsoon in Bangalore. That smell when rain hits dry earth—it's addictive. Street vendors sell hot pakoras and chai perfect for rainy evenings. Cafes set up cozy corners with window seats for rain watching. Breweries get packed with people gathering indoors. But yeah, rain means challenges. Heavy downpours cause serious traffic jams. Low-lying areas flood. Potholes appear everywhere. Lakes overflow sometimes. Your outdoor plans need to be flexible—that morning at Nandi Hills might get cancelled. For photographers and nature lovers though, monsoon is ideal. Nandi Hills gets wrapped in mist. Waterfalls near Coorg are at their best. The Western Ghats look incredible. **Festival Times** Whenever you come, timing it with festivals adds something special. Ugadi (Kannada New Year) falls in March/April with traditional celebrations. Ganesh Chaturthi in August/September sees big processions, especially in Basavanagudi. Dasara in October is spectacular, particularly in nearby Mysore. Diwali lights up the whole city. Christmas in December is beautiful with the Christian community decorating churches and homes. **What Should You Pick?** Honestly, Bangalore doesn't really have a bad season. Pick based on what else matters to you—festival timing, your work schedule, hotel deals, or when your friends can join. Here's my quick guide: - **First-timers wanting optimal everything**: November to February. Best weather, lots of cultural stuff happening. - **Budget travelers**: March to May. Slightly better deals, weather is still fine by Indian standards. - **Nature and photography people**: June to September. Everything's green, waterfalls are flowing. - **Festival lovers**: Time it around what you want to see—Dasara in October, Lit Fest in December, Ugadi in March/April. - **Outdoor activity fans**: October to March. Best for trekking, biking, exploring hills. - **Escaping hellish weather elsewhere**: Anytime. If you're fleeing Delhi's summer or Mumbai's floods, Bangalore feels like paradise. The flexibility is rare for Indian cities. Unlike Goa (only good Nov-Feb) or hill stations (avoid monsoon), Bangalore works year-round. Pick based on what you want to do, not just the weather.