Is It Monsoon in Darjeeling, India? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Darjeeling, India JANUARY
6Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
2Β° to 11Β°
Cold & Clear
The coldest month of the year, dry and often clear, with a real chance of snow at higher elevations nearby.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow possible nearby
8Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
3Β° to 12Β°
Still Cold
Nearly as cold as January, dry, and one of the better months for spotting snow on nearby peaks.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow possible nearby
11Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
6Β° to 16Β°
Driest Month
The least humid month of the year, mild and increasingly clear as spring begins.
πŸ§₯ Warm layersβ˜€οΈ Clearest views
14Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
9Β° to 18Β°
Mild Spring
Pleasantly mild, though rain and thunderstorms start becoming more frequent.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ˜” Light rain jacket
15Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
11Β° to 19Β°
Rains Build
Still mild, but rain grows noticeably more frequent as the monsoon approaches.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ˜” Umbrella handy
16Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
13Β° to 20Β°
Monsoon Breaks
Cool, cloudy, and wet, with rain becoming a near-daily event.
β˜” Umbrella essential🌫️ Fog likely
16Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
13Β° to 19Β°
Peak Monsoon
The wettest month of the year, overcast and rainy, with the least sunshine of the whole year.
β˜” Heavy rain gear🌫️ Fog likely
17Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
13Β° to 20Β°
Deep Monsoon
Nearly as wet as July, cool and heavily clouded most days.
β˜” Heavy rain gear⚠️ Landslide risk
16Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
13Β° to 19Β°
Monsoon Lingers
Rain remains frequent, though it starts easing as the month goes on.
β˜” Umbrella handy🌫️ Fog likely
15Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
10Β° to 19Β°
Rains Clear
The last of the monsoon rain usually clears by mid-month, giving way to dry, mild weather.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ˜€οΈ Clear mountain views
12Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
6Β° to 17Β°
The Best Month
Dry, clear, and milder than the winter months, widely considered the single best time to visit.
πŸ§₯ Warm layers✨ Best sightseeing weather
9Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
3Β° to 14Β°
Cold & Dry
Cold and dry, with genuinely good odds of catching snow on a clear day at higher elevations.
πŸ§₯ Heavy layers❄️ Snow possible nearby
Drag through the year Jan
⭐️
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
⭐️
Nov
⭐️
Dec
This month
Rainfall
15 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
60%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
50%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
30 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
43%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
76 mm
7 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
55%
Comfortably humid
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
137 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5 hrs/day
38% of daylight hours
Humidity
68%
Comfortably humid
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
465 mm
19 rainy days this month
Sunshine
2.5 hrs/day
19% of daylight hours
Humidity
93%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
658 mm
23 rainy days this month
Sunshine
2.5 hrs/day
19% of daylight hours
Humidity
94%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
528 mm
22 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3.5 hrs/day
27% of daylight hours
Humidity
93%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
381 mm
15 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3 hrs/day
23% of daylight hours
Humidity
90%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
12 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
58 mm
3 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
72%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
62%
Comfortably humid
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
3 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
58%
Comfortably humid
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
β˜…β˜…β˜… peak season, β˜…β˜…β˜† decent shoulder months, β˜…β˜†β˜† true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Jan, Nov, Dec
Darjeeling's driest, clearest stretch, dominated by cold but stable weather. November is the single best month, dry and milder than the depths of winter, while December and January bring the best odds of a rare Himalayan snowfall, alongside genuinely cold nights that can dip below freezing.
🌀️
Shoulder season: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct
This tier spans real variety. February and March are still fairly dry and cool, with March the least humid month of the whole year. April and May are mild, but rain becomes steadily more frequent as the monsoon approaches. September is still deep in the rains, while October usually sees the last of the monsoon clear by mid-month, becoming one of the more pleasant shoulder months.
β˜”
Off-peak season: Jun, Jul, Aug
The heart of the monsoon, cool, cloudy, and wet, with July alone averaging over 650mm of rain. Landslides can occasionally cut off road access to the town during the heaviest spells.
Good to know
✈️
No airport in Darjeeling itself
The nearest airport is Bagdogra, about 90km and three hours away by road; the New Jalpaiguri railway station serves as the other main gateway into town.
πŸš‚
A UNESCO World Heritage railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, better known as the Toy Train, is a narrow-gauge line that winds through the hills and tea gardens on its way into town.
🍡
Home to some of the world's most prized tea
The hills around Darjeeling are covered in tea estates, several of which, like Happy Valley and Glenburn, offer tours of the picking and processing process.
🌫️
Fog can hide the mountains year-round
Cloud cover can obscure Himalayan views at any time of year, especially during the rainy season, so it is worth budgeting extra days for a clear sunrise at a viewpoint like Tiger Hill.
⚠️
Landslide risk during the monsoon
Heavy rain from June to September can trigger landslides that temporarily cut off road access to the town.
Top attractions
1
Tiger Hill
A popular sunrise viewpoint reached before dawn through old tea estates, with views of Kanchenjunga and, on exceptionally clear days, Everest in the distance.
2
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
A UNESCO World Heritage narrow-gauge railway, nicknamed the Toy Train, that winds through the hills and tea gardens on scenic short rides from the town.
3
Tea Gardens
Estates like Happy Valley and Makaibari offer guided tours through the tea-making process, from plucking to drying, in the hills surrounding the town.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Darjeeling?
Darjeeling's monsoon season runs roughly from June through September, with July historically the wettest, averaging over 650mm of rain across 23 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Darjeeling?
November is widely considered Darjeeling's single best month: dry, clear, and milder than deep winter. December and January bring the best odds of a rare Himalayan snowfall, alongside genuinely cold nights that can dip below freezing.
What is the least favorable time to visit Darjeeling?
June through September make up the heart of the monsoon, cool, cloudy, and wet, with landslides occasionally cutting off road access to the town during the heaviest spells.
Which month has the most rain in Darjeeling?
July is historically the wettest month, averaging over 650mm of rain across 23 days.
Which month is the driest in Darjeeling?
December is historically the driest month, averaging around 3mm of rain.
How cold does Darjeeling get in winter?
January is historically the coldest month, and nights can dip below freezing, especially at higher elevations nearby.
What should I pack for Darjeeling during the rainy season?
Rain gear is worth having from around June through September, and warm layers are worth packing year-round given the altitude.
Can I see snow in Darjeeling?
Snow itself is rare in town, but the odds are historically best from late December to late February or early March, particularly at higher elevations nearby like Tiger Hill or Sandakphu.
How many hours of sunshine does Darjeeling get per day on average?
It ranges from around 2.5 hours a day in June and July up to about 6.5 hours a day in November.
Does fog affect the mountain views in Darjeeling?
Cloud cover can obscure Himalayan views at any time of year, especially during the rainy season, so it's worth budgeting extra days for a clear sunrise at a viewpoint like Tiger Hill.