Bhubaneswar has a tropical climate with three clear seasons: a pleasant, dry winter (October–February), a very hot summer (March–June) and a heavy monsoon (June–September). The short answer is October to March, with December and January the most comfortable months.
Bhubaneswar month by month
| Month | Typical day / night | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28 / 15 °C | Very little | Ideal; Mukteswar and Rajarani festivals |
| February | 31 / 18 °C | Little | Excellent; warming up |
| March | 35 / 22 °C | Little | Good early in the month, hot by the end |
| April | 37 / 25 °C | Occasional storms | Hot — sightsee early and late |
| May | 38 / 27 °C | Pre-monsoon storms | The hottest month |
| June | 35 / 27 °C | Monsoon arrives | Hot and humid; Rath Yatra may fall now |
| July | 32 / 26 °C | Heavy | Green and wet; Rath Yatra often falls now |
| August | 32 / 26 °C | Heavy | Wettest period; fewer visitors |
| September | 32 / 25 °C | Heavy | Rain easing late in the month |
| October | 32 / 22 °C | Some; cyclone risk | Good; Durga Puja |
| November | 30 / 18 °C | Little | Excellent; Kartik festivals |
| December | 28 / 15 °C | Very little | Ideal; Konark Dance Festival |
Temperatures are typical averages and vary year to year; rainfall descriptions are indicative.
Winter: October to February — the best time
After the monsoon the countryside is green, skies clear and temperatures fall into the high 20s by day. December and January mornings can be fresh enough for a light jacket. This is also festival season: the Konark Dance Festival (1–5 December), the Mukteswar Dance Festival and Rajarani Music Festival (January) and large crafts fairs. Book hotels ahead for December and the new-year week.
Summer: March to June — hot, and we mean it
From April, daytime highs regularly reach the high 30s and can pass 40 °C in May. Sightseeing is still possible if you start at dawn, rest at midday and go out again in the late afternoon. Hotels are cheaper, and the Odia festival of Raja in mid-June and the Chandan Yatra in spring are worth seeing.
Monsoon: June to September — green and wet
The south-west monsoon usually reaches Odisha in June and brings heavy downpours, especially in July and August. Temples and caves stay open and the landscape is at its most beautiful, but roads can flood and Chilika boat trips may be cancelled. This is also when Rath Yatra takes place in Puri.
When to be careful
- Midday from April to June. Heat and humidity are exhausting; plan indoor sights such as the State Museum.
- Cyclone season. The Bay of Bengal sees cyclones mainly in October–November and sometimes in May. Follow IMD forecasts and local advice.
- Major festival days. Maha Shivaratri at Lingaraj and Rath Yatra in Puri are spectacular but extremely crowded.
Festival calendar at a glance
- January: Mukteswar Dance Festival; Rajarani Music Festival.
- February–March: Maha Shivaratri at Lingaraj.
- March–April: Ashokashtami, when Lingaraj’s festival image rides a chariot (Rukuna Rath Yatra).
- April–May: Chandan Yatra at Bindu Sagar and in Puri.
- June: Raja festival; Snana Purnima in Puri.
- June–July: Rath Yatra in Puri.
- September–October: Durga Puja.
- November: Kartik Purnima and Bali Jatra in nearby Cuttack.
- December: Konark Dance Festival; winter crafts fairs.
