Varanasi · Month comparison

February vs November

February ranks #1 overall vs November at #3. Maha Shivaratri pilgrim crush in late Feb/early Mar — Varanasi's most intense religious event.

Varanasi February — Maha Shivaratri pilgrims with marigold garlands

February

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Maha Shivaratri pilgrim crush in late Feb/early Mar — Varanasi's most intense religious event.

  • ↑Maha Shivaratri all-night Shiva worship around Vishwanath Temple
  • ↑Comfortable 27°C / 12°C, lowest humidity
Varanasi November — Dev Deepawali oil lamps lining ghats at dusk

November

#3 of 12 months

Best match

Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima — a million oil lamps line the ghats, the city's defining spectacle.

  • ↑Dev Deepawali — over a million diyas lit along all 84 ghats
  • ↑Mild 28°C / 14°C, perfect weather for early morning walks
FactorFebruaryNovember
Weather score
9
10
Value score
8
5
Crowd score
4
3
Events score
9
10
Atmosphere
10
10
Avg high temp27°C28°C
Monthly rain18mm8mm
Daily sunshine8.6hrs8.7hrs

February trade-offs

  • ↓Pilgrim numbers can quadruple in the festival week
  • ↓Old City lanes get dangerously packed during processions

November trade-offs

  • ↓Hotel prices peak for Dev Deepawali week, often 3-4x normal
  • ↓Old City lanes packed beyond comfort during festival night
See all 12 months for Varanasi →February in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Varanasi. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →