Best Seasons

Kolkata sits just 6m (21ft) above sea level on the banks of the broad, slow-flowing Hooghly River. In summer (April to June) temperatures soar to over 30º C (86ºF), remaining high during the drenching monsoon that lasts from June to September. The best time to visit is from October to February, when the streets come alive with fairs and festivals and the weather behaves itself, for the most part, with modest temperatures and limited rainfall.

Season : October to March

Rain Fall : 160 Cms (annual)

Temp. : 12.270C - 24.380 C

Best Time to Visit

Between September and March is a good time to visit Kolkata. This is the time when the city prepares for the Puja and looks forward to a pleasant winter, full of festivals both religious and cultural.

Weather

Kolkata weather ranges from a hot and muggy summer to heavy monsoon showers, followed by a short spell of post-monsoon heat before the much-awaited arrival of a cool and pleasant winter. Summers see the mercury rising up to 40 degrees C while winter nights can be chilly at 19 degrees C and below.

Climate

Kolkata has a tropical climate. The monthly mean temperatures range from 190 C to 300 C. Summers are hot and humid, and the maximum temperatures often exceed 400 C during May and June. Winter tends to last for only about two and a half months, with seasonal lows dipping to 40 C or 12 C between December and January. Often during early summer, dusty squalls followed by spells of thundestorm and heavy rains lash the city, bringing relief from the humid heat. These thuderstorms are locally known as Kal baisakhi.