Darjeeling Weather, Temperature, & Best Time To Visit

Darjeeling, the queen of hills, is a popular hill station among tourists throughout the year. While some prefer to visit Darjeeling during summer vacation because of the comfortable temperature, others like the winter season for cold weather with an expectation of snowfall. In this article, you will learn about the weather and temperature of Darjeeling in different seasons to find out the best time for your next visit.

Weather Forecast of Darjeeling For the Next 7 Days

If you are planning to visit the places near Darjeeling soon, this weather forecast can prove to be extremely handy for your trip. This forecast shows weather details and maximum and minimum temperatures for the next 7 days in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling Weather in Summer (May-June)

Summer is a peak time to visit Darjeeling due to the comfortable weather and pleasant temperature, even if the humidity is high. There is always a possibility of light rain at this time. The weather tends to get misty by June, and rain often comes in the second week of the month. Sometimes hailstorms also may occur.

In these summer months, the blissful weather, green tea garden, light blue sky, and the beauty of the hills attract every tourist. Rediscover yourself by strolling into the Japanese peace pagoda, walking amidst the locals at Darjeeling Chowrasta and experiencing their local culture, and finding the inner soul in the serene and calm environment of Ghoom monastery.

Because of summer vacations in schools, many parents also prefer to visit Darjeeling with their children at this time. If you want to escape from the hot and humid climate of your location, visiting Darjeeling in the months of May and June is ideal for you.

Darjeeling Weather in Monsoon (June-September)

During the monsoon, the sky remains cloudy and rains heavily from the 15th of June to the 15th of September. The average temperature remains around 21°C, and humidity increases above 90% saturation level. With average rainy days of 21/month, the sky can be barely seen for more than 9 days. Heavy rainfall makes the weather foggy and misty, decreasing road travel visibility.

If you plan for a Darjeeling tour in the monsoon, you might face some challenging situations. Due to heavy rainfall, landslides occur, closing the road and cutting off communication. As there are several routes to reach Darjeeling via Hill Cart Road, Rohini, Pankhabari, and Mirik, this is usually not a big problem.

Due to the adverse weather conditions, it is not advisable to visit Darjeeling this season. Still, some people prefer to enjoy the greenery, lush green tea plantations, misty roads, and the enchanting form of the wet mountains in the rain. You can also spend quality time relaxing in a cosy hotel room in Darjeeling and enjoying the rain outside.

Darjeeling Weather in Autumn (October-November)

After the monsoon dissipates in late September, the sky begins to clear. The average temperature drops slowly to 17°C in October and 14°C in November. During this time, the tourists can experience the clear blue sky with a majestic view of the Himalayan mountain range and exotic tea plantations.

Various adventurous activities like trekking, hiking, stargazing, rock climbing, and river rafting make this season most attractive to tourists. Overall, if you like clear and sunny weather with a comfortable temperature, low humidity, and less possibility of rain, June to September is your ideal time to visit Darjeeling.

You can also witness the breathtaking sunrise at Tiger hill when the peaks of Kanchenjunga are illuminated with sun rays. Taking a ride on the ropeway from Singamari, 3 km away from Darjeeling Chowk Bazaar, you can get a mind-blowing panoramic view of the valley and mountains only in this weather.

Apart from it, stargazing at Observatory Hill viewpoint, shopping for woollen garments at Bhutia market, visiting Barbotey rock garden, Zoo in Darjeeling, tea plantation, Batasia Loop, etc. in this pleasant weather can make your trip memorable.

Darjeeling Weather in Winter (December-February)

If you are the one who likes cold weather, then December to February is your ideal visiting time to Darjeeling. This time, the average temperature usually ranges from 10°C to 12°C. Sometimes, the temperature at night can even drop below zero degrees. So make sure to pack jackets, gloves, mufflers, and woollen innerwear in a spacious travel backpack.

The early mornings are freezing and foggy, and the snowy peaks are covered with white blankets of mist. With time, the natural scenic beauty and the clear view of Kanchenjunga have become very attractive to tourists. Sometimes the hill station becomes more beautiful with the snowfall. Historically, Darjeeling has a record of snowfall on the following dates from the year 2003:

• 1st January, 2003
• 23rd January, 2005
• 14th February, 2007
• 26th January, 2008
• 11th January, 2012
• 26th December, 2018
• 29th December, 2021

If you like cold weather, you can also visit Tinchuley, Lamahatta, Sandakphu, Dhotrey, Srikhola, Bara and Chota Mangwa, Tonglu, and Tumling, located in the Darjeeling district at a higher altitude. You can trek the whole route or hire a land rover from Manebhanjan – at the entrance of Singalila National Park.

During this time, you will see the streets and the shops decorated with colourful lights because of the New Year and Christmas celebrations. Bakeries like Glenary offers Christmas special plum cake, pudding, pies, etc. Overall, winter is a perfect time to visit Darjeeling if you prefer cold and clear weather.

Darjeeling Weather in Spring (March-April)

Spring is another great time to visit Darjeeling with balanced weather conditions like autumn. The sunny spring weather with an average temperature of 12-14°C is perfect for enjoying outdoor activities and sightseeing.

This is the only time in the year when the nights are pretty cold, but the days are comparatively hotter. The temperature gradually increases in the late springtime to welcome the summer. You can expect the lowest humidity with comfortable weather in this season.

The best thing about spring about visiting Darjeeling is that it becomes beautiful with fresh blossoms of Magnolia, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons of different colours- red, pink, wine, white, and purple. During this time, you can find thousands of Primula japonica ‘Violet Oriental’ flowers blooming all over Darjeeling.

As spring is a popular season with pleasant weather to visit Darjeeling, you can expect a rush of tourists. So, if you are planning a tour during this time, book hotels and buy train tickets in advance.

So, Which Is The Best Time To Visit Darjeeling?

While all the seasons- summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, and spring have distinct advantages, they also lack some benefits. It would be best to consider various factors like weather, temperature, humidity, rainfall, and sun hours to find the best time to visit Darjeeling.

Considering the pros and cons of all seasons, we highly recommend visiting Darjeeling during Autumn in the months of Oct-Nov. This is because you can get a pleasant temperature, comfortable humidity, and negligible rainfall with the clearest view of the Himalayan mountain range, especially the Kanchenjunga.

As an alternative, spring is also a fantastic time to visit Darjeeling. The weather, temperature, and humidity remain in the comfortable range. You can expect colourful flowers blooming all over Darjeeling and nearby areas only at this time. However, due to clouds, you might not be able to witness the Kanchenjunga clearly like you can in the autumn.

Apart from autumn and spring, summer and winter are also good times to visit Darjeeling for different tourists with different choices. However, we do not advise visiting the place during monsoon due to harsh weather and possible landslides.

Darjeeling Weather At a Glance

Tips to Remember

• If you are coming in peak season, book the hotel in advance. As the town becomes crowded, it isn’t easy to find a hotel of your choice. The fares of hotels and cars also increased this time.
• In the cold evenings of January and February, most shops and restaurants close by 7 PM. It would be best if you plan your dinner and shopping activities accordingly.
• If you are planning to visit Darjeeling in autumn or spring times, take warm clothes like long pants and down jackets as the nights in these seasons are pretty cold.
• Do not forget to carry your umbrella and raincoat during the monsoon. The weather becomes unpredictable at that time.