India during November is an amazing time to visit, when the monsoon starts bidding the country goodbye. This is the best India weather, when neither summer heat nor winter snow are on the horizon – a perfect time to visit.
To help you plan your trip to this incredible country, we have collected some of these best places to visit in November in India. You’ll find them grouped them by region, along with suggested activities. You’re guaranteed to have a memorable time!
Where to visit in North India during November
If you’re heading to northern India, you’re in luck. We have found a few places that are perfect for a November visit!
ⓘ TIP: When visiting India, we recommend hiring a private guide. He or she will put the location into historical context, help you understand the rituals and give you deeper insights into the culture.
1. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Year-round, Varanasi is well known for the religious ceremonies that are held on the ghats along the banks of the Ganges River.
Dev Deepawali is one of India’s biggest holidays, when glittering lamps and grand worship takes place on the banks of the Ganges River, which is known as Ganga.
Over five days toward the end of November, a well-known festival of Indian classical music and dance takes place on the banks of the Ganges. Ganga Mahotsav honors the river’s importance to Indian culture and religion. Many celebrated artists, like Kailash Kher and Pandit Birju Maharaj, perform during this holy occasion.
Best places to stay in Varanasi
2. Amritsar
Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. It’s also the home of the Golden Temple, the holiest place of worship for Sikhs and a highlight of any Amritsar city tour.
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born in November, so Amritsar celebrates its biggest event during this time. Gurpurab is considered the epitome of celebration and devotion, with sparkling lights and a grand festive atmosphere throughout the city.
While in Amritsar, many visitors also take an excursion to watch the Indo-Pak Beating Retreat ceremony at the Wagah Border. The daily ceremonial closing of gates and lowering of flags of India and Pakistan is a spectacle you won’t forget.
Best places to stay in Amritsar
3. Sikkim
Sikkim is a northern state with Nepal to the west, Bhutan to the northeast and Tibet to the north. Most know Mt. Everest as the highest in the world, but Sikkim hosts the third highest peak, Kanchenjunga at 28,169 feet. Sikkim also is the least populated state in India and well known for its biodiversity.
Located in the beautiful Himalayan mountains, there are fascinating natural settings the bring outdoor lovers around the world to experience Sikkim Tourism firsthand. One of the must see sights is a visit to Tsomgo Lake or Yumthang Valley to take in stunning landscapes. It’s perfect for a trip to India in November.
Best places to stay in Sikkim
4. Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Among all Buddhist pilgrimage centers around the world, Bodh Gaya in Bihar is believed to be the most sacred one. All the trees in this particular town are believed to be descendants of Mahabodhi tree, under which Buddha achieved his enlightenment.
If you visit Bodh Gaya, India during November, you will experience pleasant weather and an especially warm welcome for all pilgrims. You’ll also have the chance to see monks from Dharamsala celebrating their many rituals here.
Best places to stay in Bihar
5. Sanasar, Jammu, and Kashmir
If you get the chance to visit Sanasar Lake and Dal Lake during November, you will find rolling hills and luminous skies.
Situated in the middle of Kashmir, the Sanasar valley offers paragliding, trekking, rock climbing, golf playing and many more activities. You can enjoy a peaceful environment as well as adventure according to your own preference.
Best places to stay in Kashmir
Places to visit in South India during November
November is a fantastic time to be in the southern part of India. Visitors can enjoy amazing views and great weather conditions to accompany their stay.
6. Kerala
The best time to visit Kerala is between November and March, when the state offers the greenest scenery. The weather is perfect for boat rides in backwaters, tea plantation trips and festivals. Multi-day holiday packages are also available.
Every November, the people of Kerala participate in Sabarimala pilgrimage, when they visit the famous Ayyappa temple through forests of Pathanamthitta district. During this time, almost every temple in the village gets into a festive mood.
Best places to stay in Kerala
7. Sundarbans, West Bengal
As winter creeps in during November, the forest gates open. You can enjoy pleasant weather and excellent natural beauty within the woods. Enjoy lush green nature where you will feel brave throughout your boat ride in the midst of mangroves.
Best places to stay in Sundarbans
Places to visit in Rajasthan in November
And then ther’e Rajasthan, arguably one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. During much of the year, the summer heat makes Rajasthan a very unfavorable destination for spending your vacation. But during November, Rajasthan possesses a pleasant weather, which can be good for enjoying your holidays.
8. Udaipur
Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Prepare yourself to be enchanted by its outstanding architecture, monuments, royal palaces, and lakes.
Best places to stay in Udaipur
9. Jaisalmer
In the heart of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer was once a medieval trading center. These days, it is known as the “Golden City,” thanks to its yellow sandstone buildings.
Be sure to see Jaisalmer Fort, with intricately-carved Jain temples and an ornate maharaja’s palace.
- You can take a desert safari on cooler sands and visit other magnificent forts.
- Try out the Rajasthani meals and enjoy visiting excellent lakes like Gadisar Lake.
10. Pushkar
Take a short day trip to Pushkar and enjoy well-known Pushkar fair. This annual multi-day livestock fair and cultural festival is not to be missed.
11. Khuri
Famous for its sand dunes, Khuri is situated in middle of desert, just 50 kms away from Jaisalmer. If your time is limited it can be done as a day trip, but it is definitely worth an overnight stay.
Best places to stay in Jaisalmer
Best places in India for a November honeymoon
Newlyweds can visit either of these destinations and enjoy a memorable honeymoon.
12. Goa
If you want to avoid crowds, we believe Goa is one of the best tourist destinations for November in India. Goa’s tourist season begins slowly in November, and events start warming up after monsoons due to all the festivities.
If you can stretch your vacation a little longer, you can experience the December Goa Magic festival during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Honeymooners can take a full day private tour to see the city’s highlights, then relax and explore this authentic Indian coastal area on a scooter, stopping at any stretch of white sand that grabs their attention.
You can enjoy nightlife and parties, or combine various adventure water sports activities on a party boat trip in Goa.
Best places to stay in Goa
13. Andaman Islands
November is one of the best times to visit India’s Andaman Islands. This archipelago, over 1000 km off the coast of India, is the perfect tropical beach destination. The warm, clear Indian ocean water is perfect for honeymooners looking to escape the crowds and relax in a pristine natural paradise.
Most impressive is the islands’ pallet of colors. The lush green mangroves, snow white sand and turquoise water reflect the sun’s warm glow beautifully. Although it is made up of over 500 islands, just 12 are open to visitors. This reflects the remoteness of the area, which helps the area maintain its natural condition.
Spend your time lying together on the beach, lapping up the sun beside the warm Indian ocean. You could also head out to explore life underwater, as the area is well-known for fantastic scuba diving.
Best places to stay in the Andaman Islands
Best places to visit for a Diwali vacation
If you’re visiting during Diwali, there are two definite places you want to add to your itinerary. Yes, we mentioned them before, but these locations will give you the best feel for this wonderful celebratory time.
Varanasi
On Dev Deepavali, Varanasi’s devotees dressed in their festive best crowd Varanasi’s ghats. They come here for a divine meeting, believing that the gods arrive on this day for a dip in the Ganga.
This city celebrates Diwali for a whole fortnight. Priests perform sacred rituals in the river to welcome the gods who descend each year to bath in these holy waters. The usual fireworks and myriad of lights reflect beautifully off the river water all
Amritsar
Amritsar is a Sikh area in the state of Punjab. This means that Diwali is also celebrated as the day Guru Hargobind Sahib returned from the Mughals. The day is celebrated much the same, just with a little extra pep.
The fireworks and fantastically beautiful array of lights that are commonly seen throughout the country during Diwali are always special. However, visitors can look forward to an even greater sight here. A highlight of the festivities is the way the Golden Temple is illuminated by what seems like thousands of lamps.
If you are planning to visit India during November, these are some of the best places you can count on. Can you suggest any others?
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Plan your trip
Here are some resources to help you plan your trip.
- India has many useful trip planning resources on their official tourist website.
- Lodging – For sleeping options, we use and recommend Booking.com.
- Transportation – This website shows how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry and car.
Where to stay in India
We’d tell you where to stay in each of these places, but budgets and travel styles differ. So here are two of our favorite hotel booking sites:
Book a tour
Get Your Guide offers thousands of unmissable activities and skip-the-line tickets with no booking fees and easy cancellation if your plans change. We use them ourselves, which is why we recommend them.
Take a look at their current list of India tours and tickets here.
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Online
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Great recommendations! I’d like to add Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to the list. It’s quiet and beautiful in November.
Thanks for the tip, Renuka!
Hi, It was a great piece of Information. I would add on by saying Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are other states to visit in India. They are also Known as Himalayan States and they have lots and lots of treks to offer, Snow covered peaks and lots of adventures. If you visit India try not to miss these states.
We’ve seen photos and they both look beautiful. Perhaps someday we’ll have a chance to visit. Thanks for the tip!
I’ve never been to India, and, wow, these ALL sound like places I’d love to visit! Thank you!
Hi thanks for the information .Very nice information. Tamil Nadu state is another one place to visit in India in November. Places like OOTY, KODAIKANAL and other nature scene places is their to visit. Don’t miss it if you visit in india..
Thank you for the additional ideas of places to visit. I have heard that Tamil Nadu is a worthy tour destination and it’s nice to know of good destinations to focus on.