Best time to visit Northeast India, month by month
Planning5 min read
The short answer
October to April is the best time for most of Northeast India: clear skies, open roads and Kaziranga open. December to February is cold, with snow around Tawang. March to May is green and mild. June to September is the monsoon, wonderful for Meghalaya's waterfalls but hard on hill roads, and Kaziranga is closed.
October and November
The best months overall. The rain has gone, the air is clear and the views are long. Kaziranga reopens, Tawang is crisp but not yet snowed in, and festivals like Wangala in the Garo Hills fall in November.
December to February
Cold, dry and bright. Snow falls around Sela Pass and Tawang, beautiful but sometimes closing roads. Shillong is chilly at night. Kaziranga is at its best for wildlife, and Nagaland's Hornbill Festival runs from 1 to 10 December.
March to May
Spring: rhododendrons in Arunachal, fresh green hills and mild days. Kaziranga stays open until about April or May. Pre-monsoon showers start in Meghalaya from April.
June to September
The monsoon. Meghalaya is at its most dramatic, with the waterfalls of Sohra in full flow, and prices are lower. But landslides can close hill roads, the Umngot at Dawki turns muddy, and Kaziranga is closed. Travel with buffer days.
Last updated 18 October 2026. Roads, permits and opening dates change; check official sources before you travel.
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