When to Go to Mumbai
Mumbai by Season
Mumbai experiences a tropical climate, bringing hot and humid weather year round, with fairly constant temperatures. That doesn’t stop it experiencing the four seasons though, which we’ve listed below. The best time to visit depends on what you plan to do in the city – it can be visited at any time of year, even during the monsoon.
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December to February
Winter is a lovely time to visit Mumbai. Temperatures are cool but not cold, with sea breezes keeping them in the low teens, although cold winds from the north can reduce this down to around 10°C or so, so do bring a jumper. Pleasant, sunny days are great for sightseeing without breaking a sweat, while plenty of festivals and events take place at this time.
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Christmas: Mumbai has a significant Christian population, many of whom celebrate the festive season at one of the city’s churches, or at various Christmassy parties and events.
Elephanta Festival: held in February or March, this cultural celebration takes place on Elephanta Island, home to the famous Elephanta Caves, and features music, art and dance performances.
March to May
As summer begins, both humidity levels and temperatures start to rise. By May, middle-of-the-day temperatures can be as high as 40°C, making sunglasses, sunhats and sunscreen essential. If you can deal with the heat (drink plenty of water) then summer is a fine time to go – many attractions and hotels will be less busy than usual as visitors stay indoors with the air conditioning on.
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Gudhi Padava: in March or April, the beginning of the new Hindu solar year is celebrated with spring cleaning, decorations and bamboo staffs topped with brass goblets, which ward away evil spirits.
Rama Navami: in April, Mumbai’s Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple becomes the venue for this Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the god Rama with offerings, prayers and fasting.
June to September
The rains begin in June and are at their heaviest by July and August. Puddles and flooding can make travel difficult, but the city bursts into life at this time, filling with lush greenery and flowers. To escape the worst of the showers you can head out of town, perhaps to one of the nearby hill stations, or simply embrace it and enjoy exploring without the crowds.
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Ganesh Chaturthi: in August or September, locals celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh with singing, orchestral performances and good deeds such as blood donating and free medical check-ups.
Nariyal Poornima: otherwise known as Coconut Day, Nariyal Poornima occurs in August and marks the end of the monsoon season. Coconuts are broken against painted boats and thrown into the sea along with garlands of flowers.
October to December
As the rainfall intensity reduces, temperatures hover between 20°C and 30°C and nights are cool. Occasional showers, sometimes accompanied by thunder and lighting, may occur, so bring an umbrella, just in case. By December, humidity is low, with daytime temperatures in the high 20s and nights down in the low teens, making this a pleasant time to travel.
Go for…
Diwali: the Festival of Lights is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India, but Mumbai is one of the best places to witness it. Look out for candles and illuminations, plus the mother of all fireworks displays.
Chhath Puja: in November, get yourself down to Mumbai’s Juhu Beach to watch the Bihar people sing songs and pray to the sun god at sunset as part of this north Indian festival, also celebrated on the banks of the Ganges.
