Best time to visit Dehradun — heat, monsoon and cool winters
Dehradun has a humid subtropical climate in the Köppen scheme: hot summers, a fairly dry winter and a heavy monsoon. Wikipedia gives the broad pattern but no monthly table, so we describe the seasons without monthly figures.
March to June
The heat builds from March and peaks in May and June, when it can touch about 40 °C. Plan outdoor stops such as Robber's Cave for the morning and keep the afternoon for the museum at the Forest Research Institute.
June to September
The monsoon. Most of the year's rain, about 2,073.3 mm in total, falls between June and September, and July and August are the wettest months. Heavy rain can flood low-lying parts of the city. Keep spare time and skip the gorge after heavy rain.
October and November
The rains have gone, and it is a good time for the walking sights: the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib, the Mindrolling Monastery and Tapkeshwar.
December to February
Winters are cool, from about 6 °C to 20 °C, with December and January the coldest. Fog can form on some mornings after a western disturbance, so start a little later.
Plans for the season
The one-day plan works year-round except after heavy rain, and the two-day plan with Mussoorie is best in the cooler months. Read how to reach Dehradun and things to do in Dehradun.
Places around Dehradun
The Dehradun guide →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Dehradun?
Outside the hottest and wettest months. Wikipedia says the heat builds from March and peaks in May and June at about 40 °C, and that most of the year's rain falls from June to September. The cooler months, with winter days of about 6 to 20 °C, suit sightseeing on foot.
How hot does Dehradun get?
Up to about 40 °C in May and June, by Wikipedia's account. Winters are cooler, ranging from about 6 °C to 20 °C, with December and January the coldest. Wikipedia gives only these broad ranges and an annual rainfall figure, not a month-by-month table, so we do not quote monthly numbers.
Is Dehradun good in the monsoon?
Wet. About 2,073.3 mm of rain falls in a year, most of it between June and September, with July and August the wettest. Wikipedia notes that heavy rain can cause flooding in low-lying parts. Robber's Cave in particular is best avoided after heavy rain, so keep an indoor option such as the museum in reserve.