The climate in India does not fall just under one category. Since it is a very large country, the Indian subcontinent occupies a large part of South Asia and is divided into four climatic zones, categorized into arid, alpine, subtropical and tropical. Even if there are distinct climatic zones, different areas still experience a mixture of climatic conditions and varied temperatures. The arid zone has quite a high temperature and a very low rainfall rate. This climatic zone can be found in the western portion of the country where the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa are located. In this region the temperatures can reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius during the summertime. The alpine zone can be found in the highest altitudes in the Himalayas. However, the entire region included in the alpine zone does not only experience the alpine climate. For instance, at the foot of the Himalayas, a subtropical climate is dominant. As the altitude goes higher, the temperature also changes. The Himalayan mountain range, the Kush mountain range as well as the Thar Desert prevent the lower sections of the northern region from getting overly cold in the winter.

Sub-tropical climate is also experienced in most parts of the northern and northeastern portions of the country but more dominant in the western region of Rajashtan toward Haryana, Kathiawar and Punjab, regions east of the desert that are predominantly tropical and sub-tropical plains. Like most cities of India that experience this type of climate, it gets very hot during the summer months and wet during the monsoon season and when winter sets in. Karnataka; the western section of Andhra Pradesh; the central section of Maharashtra and the western parts and the inner sections of Tamil Nadu fall under the tropical and semi-arid zone. This is characterized by undependable rainfall. Some areas on the other hand can have excess rainfall on the other hand.

Seasons in India do change every so often, but can still be categorized into four distinct seasons. Travelers to India should take the climatic zones and the seasons of the country because it will affect the general tone of your travel and allow you to schedule the perfect time to visit this exotic and mysterious country. India experiences summer, two monsoon seasons and believe it or not, even winter. The months of March through June are the summer months in India. During these months, temperature in parts of the country averages about 32 degrees Celsius but it can go much higher than that at certain times. So, if you intend to go to the northern part of India during summer, make sure you pack very comfortable clothes that are breathable and light. Monsoon season starts in June and it gets very rainy during this time of the year. The wet season lasts until September, where retreating monsoon season will be experienced. On the upside, it gets to be quite comfortable during this season since temperatures drop to very cool levels.

Finally, between December to January, India experiences the winter season. In the higher parts of the country, it can get very chilly since temperatures can reach zero degrees Celsius. On the other hand, most parts of the country experience lows of only up to 10 degrees Celsius. So, if you are going to travel during these months to India, a light jacket will suffice. Of course, that really depends on how much you can tolerate cold weather, so it will be best to prepare for the sudden changes in temperature and pack a thicker jacket. Travelers should make sure that they check weather conditions and the season when they make their travel itinerary. If it is inevitable that you have to travel to India during seasons that are not quite favorable, be sure to pack the right clothes to wear.