Delhi · Month comparison
January vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs January at #6. Delhi's golden month — Dussehra and Diwali make October the greatest festival window in the world
January
#6 of 12 months
Strong option
Cool and misty winter days — Delhi is comfortable, affordable and uncrowded
- ↑Pleasant 5–20°C days perfect for walking Mughal monuments without sweating
- ↑Lower tourist numbers mean easy access to Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Delhi's golden month — Dussehra and Diwali make October the greatest festival window in the world
- ↑Dussehra: giant burning Ravana effigies light up the night sky across the city
- ↑Diwali: every rooftop, street and temple blazes with diyas and fireworks
| Factor | January | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 8 |
| Value score | 6 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 7 |
| Events score | 4 | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 21°C | 32°C |
| Monthly rain | 14mm | 19mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 9.5hrs |
January trade-offs
- ↓Dense morning fog frequently delays flights and trains — build buffer into plans
- ↓Air quality can be poor on still days with winter temperature inversions
October trade-offs
- ↓Festival dates drive hotel prices to annual high — book 3–4 months ahead
- ↓Post-Diwali air quality drops sharply as firework smoke combines with stubble burning
Scores compare months within Delhi. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →