Darjeeling weather has created a separate following for itself. It is not for nothing that tourists often refer to Darjeeling as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’.
Popular for its picturesque landscape, charming weather conditions and sprawling tea estates, Darjeeling lies very close to the tourist’s heart that has been here once or more. The name is a combination of two words that mean ‘Dorje’ or Thunderbolt and ‘Ling’ or Place.
This naturally beautiful hill station has a long history that dates back to the time of the British ViceRoys who would move there in the hot and humid summers of India. Darjeeling weather is that pleasant and comforting.
It covers an area of 1,200 sq miles and is a stunning sight surrounded by the majestic peaks of Himalaya. On a clear and sunny morning, you can view the mighty snow-capped peaks of Kanchenjunga from the town of Darjeeling.
What makes Darjeeling Weather so Famous?
Darjeeling weather is popularly labelled as the ‘holiday weather’.
For those who seek some respite from the sweltering heat of summers, move to this hill station for a happy retreat. The weather in Darjeeling is predominantly responsible for its fame in the tourism industry. Everyone wants a piece of cake. This makes thousands of tourists plan trips to enjoy the weather in Darjeeling.
Darjeeling offers moderate temperatures to tourists. Each season has its own contribution to make to the weather. While March to May and September to November are the best times to visit the town, the rest of the year has its own rewards for the adventurous at heart.
Geographic Reason Behind Darjeeling Weather and Temperature conditions
Darjeeling is characterized by a subtropical highland climate. It is highly humid due to its close proximity to the Bay Of Bengal. Due to this geographical location, Darjeeling has spring-like weather conditions almost all year round, except for a short monsoon and a chilly winter.
This type of climate shares its characteristic features with that of an oceanic climate. Thus, Darjeeling experiences milder summers and cooler winters that could also be accompanied with some snowfall.
You will also commonly witness high-intensity rainfall within shorter spans of time in Darjeeling.
Altitude, Himalayan Ridges and Proximity to the Bay of Bengal does the trick:
Altitude plays a significant factor in determining the temperature of Darjeeling. The upper hilly areas of the hill station exemplify higher day and night temperatures during the monsoon months. This happens due to the fact that the southwest monsoon disappears around this time.
This phenomenon affects the climatic condition of the entire region of Darjeeling. Due to this reason temperatures drop rapidly in Darjeeling as soon as monsoon is over.
The Himalayan ranges of Darjeeling show their own temperature peculiarities that are the effect of the entire range of variations in altitude, right from the height of 300m-3700 m above sea level. The typical monsoon-like climate that is characterized by dry winters and wet summer makes tourists throng to the hill station for summer retreats.
This is the consequence of direct exposure to the south-west monsoon winds that come laden with moisture. These monsoon winds start flowing into the region in the months of May-October from the Bay of Bengal that is situated close to Darjeeling.
The climate of Darjeeling, in terms of rainfall, air movement and temperature, is also majorly affected by the altitude of the mountain ranges in the neighbourhood. This temperature conditions along with high rainfall are also the main reason behind the great Tea that Darjeeling produces.
The slanting topography helps the soil not to retain much water, another big condition for Tea production, that is met here in Darjeeling.
Seasons in Darjeeling:
Summer:
While being a hill station, Darjeeling has five distinct seasons. During summers, the temperature never exceeds a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. Summer lasts from April to June and is a treat in the truest sense of the term. This makes tourists from different parts of Bengal and India throng to the hill station for some respite.
Indian summers are cruel. While the majority of the country huffs and puffs in the midst of heat waves, hill stations continue to be comfortable and charming. Darjeeling is one such place. It offers crisp and cool winds in the day, pleasant evening breeze and chilly nights. Who wouldn’t want a summer like that?
Monsoon:
Monsoon in Darjeeling has its own charm. It lasts from July to August and for all those people who love seeing reverberating waterfalls, lush greens and foggy skies, it is an ideal time to visit. A lot of tourists have fond remembrances of mist entering into their hotel rooms early morning in the monsoon months. How wonderful sight would that be!
Autumn:
Autumn lasts from September to November and is an absolute delight. Yellow and orange Maple leaves fall from trees and lie on mountainous roads of Darjeeling. The weather is quite comfortable and although there could be light to moderate showers once in a while, the showers are generally short-lived.
Winters:
The temperature in Darjeeling dips significantly in winters. However, it is sometimes characterized by occasional snowfall that is quite the spectacle. You can still enjoy your sightseeing in the winter months, provided you layer yourself up for the chill.
The wind is sharp and cold and with Christmas celebrations all around, it is amazing to be there.
Spring:
Spring season calls for the perfect weather to enjoy your stay in the hill station. The skies are as clear as they can be, the hills are in full view and there is unmatched freshness in the wind.
All these features of Darjeeling make it famous across the country as a holiday hill station with beautiful weather at an affordable cost.
Darjeeling Weather and Temperature Across Months:
It goes without saying that Darjeeling weather is highly unpredictable. What seems like a perfect start to the day can become a foggy and cloudy afternoon and even a rain-soaked evening. This is the very charm of the hill station. It gives you the best of both worlds.
The typical temperate weather conditions of the plains do not characterize Darjeeling. It has its own weather map that varies in accordance with the southwest monsoon and the climatic conditions of neighbouring areas. Here is a rough outline of what the 12 months in this hill station feel like.
Darjeeling in March – April (Onset Of Spring)
Spring is, inarguably, the best season to visit Darjeeling. Although short-lived, it witnesses a large influx of tourists who hope to make the most of this wonderful season. The sky is visibly clear and you might face a couple of hail storms and gusty winds your way.
The best part of visiting Darjeeling in spring is the abundance of beautifully coloured flowers that are in full bloom all over the town. There are colourful bunches of Magnolia and shrubs covered in Rhododendrons all over the hill station.
The temperature ranges anywhere between 9 degrees during the day and 17 degrees during the night. Since weather conditions are perfect, hotels will usually be chock-a-bloc in this season. If you can make advance hotel bookings then you will have no issues in finding a place to stay.
Darjeeling in May-July (Summers Commence)
The summer season commences in the month of May and ends in the month of July. While there will still be a lot of tourists visiting Darjeeling in the month of May, there could be a number of hail showers and usual monsoonal showers during this month. Monsoon-like weather starts hovering over the hill station from June.
By July, monsoon has officially made its entry into the town. The weather starts getting misty and humid in the month of June itself. The temperature in these months ranges between a minimum of 11 degrees and a maximum of 19 degrees.
Darjeeling in June-September (Monsoon comes visiting)
In Darjeeling, the weather tends to be overlapping. Summers and monsoon are seen intertwined in the months of June and July. There can be frequent showers in these months. Full-fledged monsoon begins in the month of July and lasts till September. In the peak months, you can hardly see the sky.
It is almost always cast with dark and billowing clouds. This can significantly affect visibility.
September witnesses slight changes in temperature. The air feels cooler in the evenings and the feel of winter is around the corner hangs in the air. However, this is also the season when humidity levels peak in Darjeeling. Going beyond 90% saturation, the humidity could make the temperature variations even more unpredictable.
Incessant rainfall is a typical characteristic feature of the monsoon months in Darjeeling. Landslides are quite common during monsoon. Some routes and roads towards Darjeeling could have blockages but there are several alternative routes to take.
Landslides are not as big a problem in Darjeeling as they are in the Northern part of Sikkim.
Darjeeling in October And November (When Autumn Falls)
From the humidity and precipitation of the monsoon months to the beautiful sights and sounds of autumn, Darjeeling really is a landscape of many hues. While monsoons are typically wet and damp with lush greenery all around, autumn is dry, crisp and clear. There are colours of drying foliage falling off trees all over the hilly roads.
Until and unless monsoon spills over to the month of October, autumn is usually free of showers.
The temperature in Darjeeling hovers around 16 degrees in the day and drops as low as 5 degrees in the night. Winter is around the corner and the nights start indicating the chill in the air. Autumn happens to be a high season for tourists because of the increased visibility of mountain ranges and clear skies.
You could take a trip to Tiger Hill and watch the sunrise from the lap of the mountains in the autumn season. The possibility of fog or mist shrouding the sunrise is a lot lesser in these months. Hotel rates are at their peak again and availability depends upon the time of your booking.
Darjeeling in December- February (Winter Is Here)
The winter season lasts for three months in Darjeeling. The skies continue to be clear and the visibility is as good as autumn. Early mornings in winter could be chilly and you might want to stay huddled inside your blanket till the sun is warm enough to be outdoors.
However, winter does attract some tourists because the views of the hill station are beyond beautiful in these months. When the sun starts shining with all its might, the chill is quite bearable and the feel thereafter is warm and inviting.
Temperature is Darjeeling in winter ranges from 12.8 degrees Celsius to as low as 1.5 degrees C. However, this does not deter tourists from visiting this paradise in the winter months. While it may not be peak season for tourists, there are the adventurous at heart who love visiting when this hill station is dolled up for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Winter nights are very cold for tourists who are not accustomed to sub-zero temperatures. While the temperature of Darjeeling generally does not go below 0 degrees, there could be cold spells that could bring down the temperature.
Darjeeling Temperature Across Months:
|
Months |
Maximum Temp (In Celsius) |
Minimum Temp (In Celsius) |
|
January |
8.1 |
1.5 |
|
February |
9.1 |
1.9 |
| March |
13.5
|
5.6 |
|
April |
16.9 |
9.2 |
|
May |
17.8 |
11.2 |
|
June |
18.6 |
13.4 |
|
July |
19.1 |
14.3 |
|
August |
18.8 |
14.1 |
|
September |
18.3 |
13.2 |
|
October |
16.3 |
9.9 |
|
November |
12.8 |
5.9 |
| December |
9.6 |
2.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions on Darjeeling weather and temperature
Now that we have discussed the weather and temperature of Darjeeling across months, there are bound to be more questions on the seasons. Here are a few commonly asked questions and their answers. If you are travelling for the first time, travelling in the winter or monsoon months or are taking kids along, these answers could help you make faster decisions.
Do hotels and homestays of Darjeeling have heating systems?
Tourists travelling in winter months commonly ask this question. None of the hotels or homestays in Darjeeling has central heating systems. The budget hotels might offer coil heaters that will only give you respite in a smaller area. High-end hotels offer larger and more effective room heaters. Some of these hotels might even offer fireplaces in every room.
Does it snow in Darjeeling?
Darjeeling is not situated at a very high altitude. Thus, while places in North Sikkim receive a considerable amount of snowfall in winter months, Darjeeling usually does not witness snowfall. However, it did snow in Darjeeling after a decade in 2018, in the month of December.
The snowfall was preceded by a hailstorm the same afternoon. Snowfall started happening at around 4 pm. Snowfall in Darjeeling might be an unusual phenomenon but it is definitely a beautiful sight to behold.
When to visit Darjeeling to avoid the rains?
Darjeeling weather is highly unpredictable and hence, planning a tour to avoid the rains completely, could be difficult. Misty air, foggy surroundings and rainfall in patches form inevitable parts of the weather. You could avoid visiting in monsoon but you might even be caught in a sudden summer or spring shower.
Is Darjeeling humid?
Darjeeling is quite humid in the summer and monsoon months. This is because of its close proximity to the Bay Of Bengal. Humidity levels could be anywhere between 82-96% in the months of June to September. March to December are the least humid months.
What type of clothes to pack for Darjeeling?
You will not need to pack woollens for summer and autumn. However, you might need light sweatshirts and jumpers for autumn. Monsoons can get chilly if it rains too much so you might need windcheaters, shawls, umbrellas and caps. You will have to carry several layers of warm clothing if you visit in winters. Full body thermals, woollen caps, gloves, muffler, insulating jackets and woollen socks are a must.
Best Time to Visit Darjeeling
Darjeeling looks beautiful in all the five seasons. However, not all of us are accustomed to extremities of weather conditions and thus, we need to know when to make hay. Well, as the proverb goes, make hay when the sun shines. Similarly, the best time to visit Darjeeling would be when the sun is in all its grandeur.
Monsoon could be too intimidating for the first-timer because of the possibility of landslides and road blockages. Winter could be too cold and windy for the first-timer as well. Therefore, the most favourable times are spring/summer and autumn.
Spring/summer months are comfortable and the temperature of Darjeeling does not vary much in these months. Hovering between 17 degrees to 9 degrees, spring/summer commences in March and ends in April or 1st week of May.
The other idea of time to visit is autumn when the blue skies indicate clear weather for easy sightseeing and travelling. Autumn temperature range is around 9-18 degrees C and is just enough pleasing as you need it to be for a leisurely vacation in the hills.
Visit Darjeeling
Darjeeling is your ideal summer retreat. With a soothing summer and pleasing autumn, it is a quick getaway from the sweltering heat and humidity. It is more laidback than other hill stations in India might be. Shops close down by 8 pm and not many people are on the streets late in the night but aren’t that the very flavour of a relaxing hill holiday?
Book your holiday right away for a tryst with the misty mountain land.
Here are a few great options to stay at Darjeeling.
You will not find them everywhere.
4 Pointers on Us: Nomadic Weekends
- We are retired, corporate people. So, we have taken a lot of stress and we understand what a holiday means to you
- We have a team that is travelling on the streets of Darjeeling to find out great stay options
- We have ourselves experienced these places and we can guarantee a great stay for you
- Unlike others, we are never about dhobi list of options. We are the shortlist by the travellers just like you.
Why go Offbeat?
Away from super congested Darjeeling city
Close to nature
Mindblowing locations
All modern amenities
Perfect Chillout. Guaranteed.
Darjeeling Offbeat Stay Options:
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Darjeeling Toy Train: History, Experience and All Useful Information
If you are finding these interesting, here 25 such awesome unknown and offbeat Destinations Near Darjeeling. Do check out. You won’t waste your time.
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