Places in India to Avoid During the Monsoon Season
For most parts, India remains hot for most of the year due to its tropical climate. This is why everyone in the country waits for the monsoon to arrive—to take away the heat and nurture the body and soul in a calm environment. While monsoon season is the most desirable season for many, travelling to certain parts of the country during this season is unsafe and should be avoided.
Places in India you should avoid visiting during the monsoon season
Kedarnath
Rainfall is scarce in the Kedarnath region, but when it does occur, it exceeds all bounds, making it an unpredictable place. Such torrential rainfall often leads to landslides, causing roadblocks and floods in extreme cases. It's best to avoid this place during the monsoon and instead visit in the summer.
Winter is also not a good time to visit the place unless you have the endurance and the zeal for adventure to withstand a rib-chilling temperature below the freezing point. The place often receives heavy snowfall in the winter, with roads ending up getting blocked.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer is the best season to visit Kedarnath, as the temperature remains moderate (between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius). You can enjoy the warm sunshine with a gentle, cool breeze moving past your body, making you feel like a part of nature.
The best time to visit is from April to June. The Holy Kedarnath Temple, Panch Kedar, and the Chota Char Dham are some highlighted places to visit.
Assam
Assam, known as the "Gateway to North East India," is a difficult state to visit during the monsoon season. This is because the entire state is interconnected with a vast network of rivers, including the great Brahmaputra River, Barak Rivers, and 50+ more tributaries that always cause natural disasters like floods every year. Flash floods from neighbouring states like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh exacerbate the flood situation.
Bank erosion is another major challenge during the monsoon, caused by the Brahmaputra, the Barak, and its tributaries, eroding almost 8000 hectares of land each year.
When is the best time to visit?
The ideal travelling time is from November to May, when the temperature is stable and the cool wind flowing from the mountains reduces the heat and humidity. You can also visit Assam between March and May to watch the blooming of orchids and celebrate the famous Bihu harvest festival with the locals.
Meghalaya
Also known as the "Adobe of Clouds," Meghalaya receives an average rainfall of 1150 cm annually. Areas in low-altitude regions close to the India-Bangladesh border often see flooding during the mega monsoon season, which starts in May, lasts till the end of September, and sometimes extends as far as mid-October.
You can, however, visit this Abode of Clouds at the start or end of the monsoon, when the rains are lighter and the greenery more ethereal, and mountains surround the terrain. The state itself is filled with vivid colours in the monsoon, but travellers are advised to avoid travelling during this season.
When is the best time to visit?
Do give it a visit between October and June, as the weather is perfect for heading outdoors and exploring the babbling brooks, hamlets, and waterfalls.
The average temperature in the state rarely goes above 30 degrees Celsius, making it a perfect escape from the scorching heat of the summer between March and June. It is also an ideal place to visit during autumn and winter, from October to February, for people visiting from high-temperature zones.
Spiti Valley
Spiti is a cold desert mountain valley, with the temperature dropping to -40 degrees Celsius and lower. Although the place rarely sees any rain (even during the monsoon), visiting Spiti Valley during the monsoon season is still inadvisable. This is because the roadways connecting the valley need to be fixed. Even though Spiti doesn't get any rainfall, you must cross some water crossings, such as the stretch from Batal to Gramphoo, which could be quite dangerous to travel during this season.
Consider visiting this place between March and June due to its pleasant weather and fewer crowds. If it's for your winter vacation, the months between October and February will be best for you.
Mumbai
The monsoon in Mumbai lasts from June to September and is the worst time to visit the city. Heavy rain can cause flooding in many parts of the city. However, you can order rain suit online to beat the Mumbai rains easily.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Mumbai is between October and February to enjoy its winter. This is the best time for traveling, sightseeing, and trying some of the spiciest Maharashtrian cuisines. The weather is moderate, and you can walk comfortably in the dry sand of the sea and enjoy the fresh breeze enveloping your body, but don't forget to bring along your winterwear essentials!
Odisha
Due to its proximity to the sea, a large section of the state experiences a tropical monsoon climate throughout the year. However, constant rain happens between July and September. As it is located on the eastern coastline, Odisha experiences the southwest monsoon and records a rainfall of 150 mm every year. It also encounters frequent cyclones during the peak monsoon season, making it practically a bad idea to visit during those months.
When is the best time to visit?
However, Odisha is at its best during the winter, which lasts from October to February. The nights are peaceful, and the skies are so clear you can literally count the stars. This makes it an ideal time to enjoy its sea beaches, waterfalls, lush greeneries, lakes, and several sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Sikkim
Sikkim has the most unpredictable rainfall pattern in the monsoon, ranging from average to heavy. Encountering a landslide during the peak monsoon season is not uncommon since unparalleled mountainous landscapes surround the state.
The average rainfall ranges from 60 to 70 cm per month in the monsoon, leading to an almost flood-like situation. The roads are blocked, and the chances of landslides increase. Lack of visibility is also a problem, as the whole area is obscured by fog, making everything unclear.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Sikkim is from March to May in the summer or from October to mid-December during the transition period from autumn to winter.
The summer is a great time to participate in adventurous sports such as trekking, mountain biking, mountaineering, paragliding, yak safari, etc. October and November are perfect for enjoying sightseeing while experiencing the cool wind and sunny mornings.
Goa
Occasional hurricanes and recurrent showers are common in the Goan monsoon. The peak monsoon is in June and July, while June and August experience heavy rainfall. Luckily, June is also the best month for enhancing the state's beauty. You can gear up with your Zeel raincoat to beat the rain.
The abundant rainfall in June increases the flow of Dudhsagar Waterfalls, which is a spectacular sight to behold. June also features the most important Sao Joao Festival in Goa, where people jump into streams, ponds, and wells to welcome the arrival of the rain. Plus, during the monsoon, the temperature remains relatively cooler, i.e., below 29 degrees Celsius, compared to the 35-degree Celsius average in other major parts of India.
The prices are lower, and the tourists are also few on the street. However, most stores and attractions shut down during heavy rains.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season, which runs from November to February, and the hot season, which runs from March to May, are the best times to visit Goa.
In the dry season, the temperature is almost comfortable, and the days are sunny. It is great for sightseeing and adventures like snorkelling and hiking.
The hot season in Goa is less crowded, making it suitable for enjoying water activities like swimming, sunbathing, and sightseeing.
