Varanasi · Month comparison

July vs February

February ranks #1 overall vs July at #8. Maha Shivaratri pilgrim crush in late Feb/early Mar — Varanasi's most intense religious event.

Varanasi July — monsoon-flooded ghats with boats partly submerged

July

#8 of 12 months

Worth considering

Monsoon arrives — Ganges rising, some lower ghats flooding, atmospheric but limiting.

  • ↑Heat broken, daytime down to 34°C
  • ↑Lowest tourist numbers of the year
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
FactorJulyFebruary
Weather score
3
9
Value score
10
8
Crowd score
9
4
Events score
4
9
Atmosphere
6
10
Avg high temp34°C27°C
Monthly rain298mm18mm
Daily sunshine5.5hrs8.6hrs

July trade-offs

  • ↓Lower ghats partly submerged, evening aarti relocated
  • ↓Boats restricted in high water; muddy lanes in Old City

February trade-offs

  • ↓Pilgrim numbers can quadruple in the festival week
  • ↓Old City lanes get dangerously packed during processions
See all 12 months for Varanasi →July in detail →February in detail →
Scores compare months within Varanasi. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →