Top 10 Places to Visit in March in India
March is a crossroads in India’s calendar of festivals. The winter chill has melted into an embracing, warm embrace, but the brutal summer heat isn’t yet here but the country is pulsing with the excitement of the most joyful festival -Holi. Holi. The flowers bloom across meadows, and in gardens, the fields of mustard transform the countryside into a yellow hue and the temples of the past royal forts, royal palaces and beautiful shores in the Subcontinent glow in an enthralling, clear sunlight that photographers fantasize about.
March is among the best months to travel throughout India. The temperature is pleasant throughout the entire nation, usually between 20 and 32 deg.C The skies are blue and the tourist season is at its dazzling close before summer gets underway to fill the plains. If you’re looking for excitement within the hills, cultural experiences in old cities, a relaxing time at the beach, soaking in sun or wildlife in the wonderful National Parks, India in March delivers the best of everything with a rare amount of hospitality. Here are ten of the best destinations this month to explore.
Top 10 Best Places to Visit in March in India
1. Rajasthan — Forts, Festivals, and the Last of Perfect Weather
March is perhaps the best month to travel through Rajasthan. The cold nights of February and January are over, but the hot, scorching summer of April is a few weeks away. The temperatures in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer fluctuate between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, which makes long days of fort-climbing strolling through bazaars, and relaxing in a heritage hotel extremely pleasurable. Battlements in amber of Amer Fort, the blue city of Jodhpur that cascades down from Mehrangarh and the palaces on lakes of Udaipur shining in the sun’s spring rays are awe-inspiring sights that will last forever.
The month of March brings energizing spirit of Holi to Rajasthan’s towns and villages and towns, where the festival is given an especially exuberant tone. In Jaipur there is an Elephant Festival coincides with Holi with ornamented elephants and folk dances and a burst of colors that draws people from all over the world. Be sure to attend the dhol-driven festivities in the laneways of the old Jaisalmer and the flower-petal Holi at Udaipur’s historical havelis.
2. Goa — Sun-Kissed Beaches Before the Summer Lull
March is among Goa’s most beautiful months. The chaos of festive and New Year peak season has diminished, but the weather remains absolutely gorgeous with clean blue skies a warm ocean suitable for swimming and temperature that are in the pleasant late 20s. Beaches like Baga, Anjuna, Palolem and Agonda are bustling but not overcrowded and the secluded and sun-soaked atmosphere that creates Goa irresistible is effortless.
March in Goa also brings the enthusiasm of Shigmo festival, Goa’s very own version of Holi — a two-week celebration of spring with elaborate parades, folk dancing and floats that whirl through towns such as Panaji, Mapusa, and Vasco. The Carnival season is likely to have been over, but Goa alive with its vibrant post-holiday glow. Spice plantation tours as well as river cruises on Mandovi and long nights with fresh prawns and feni add to the overall picture.
3. Kerala — Backwaters, Beaches, and Wildlife in Spring Splendour
Kerala during March can be a vacation destination that fires all the cylinders. Backwaters in Alleppey appear to be most serene and navigable. The hills in Munnar as well as Wayanad are refreshingly cool and green, while those beaches in Varkala as well as Kovalam are calm, warm beautiful. It is also the peak time for elephant sightings in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, where the dry climate is a magnet for on wildlife around Periyar Lake and safaris reward early risers with stunning encounters.
March is also the month when Kerala is celebrated with the spectacular Thrissur Pooram during the next few months, and the temple festivals throughout the state are characterized by the percussion of elephants in caparison and fireworks that turn the night into the daytime. The renowned Kerala food is all year round however there’s something about a sadya banana leaf dinner after a long day at the backwaters during the spring sunshine that makes it like perfection.
4. Hampi, Karnataka — Ancient Ruins Under a Spring Sky
The ruined ruins that are strewn with boulders that were once the Vijayanagara Empire in Hampi are stunning in any season, but the month of March provides the most delightful time. The weather is warm, but not yet a burdenmaking it ideal to explore the vast archeological landscape by bicycle or on foot. The Virupaksha Temple and it’s Stone Chariot of the Vittala Temple complex The Royal Enclosure, and the Lotus Mahal glow in the warm spring light, with an amber radiance that makes every photo appear like a painting.
March also marks an event called the Hampi Utsav festival, a three-day celebration organized by the government of the cultural heritage of the ruins that includes traditional dance and music performances and puppet shows, as well as illuminated monuments and an incredible coracle race along the Tungabhadra River. The festival will fill Hampi with energy that recalls barely — the splendor of the empire which created the city as the second largest on earth. The river is ablaze at sunset, and watch the remains turn gold.
5. Rishikesh & Haridwar, Uttarakhand — Spring on the Sacred Ganges
March is among the most enjoyable months to visit Rishikesh as well as Haridwar. The bitter winter cold has subsided, but the monsoon-like heat is distant, leaving warm and pleasant atmosphere that is perfect for retreats to yoga, meditation along the rivers and white-water rafting on Ganges. The river is flowing at a level suitable for grades III and IV rapids which makes March among the top months for rafting across the entire country of India. Haridwar’s famed Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri is extremely lively in the warm evenings of spring.
The month of March also marks the time when preparations to prepare for Kumbh Mela cycle, and the spiritual energy that flows through the Ganges corridor is evident. Zip-lining, bungee jumping, and camping along the riverbanks add excitement in the spiritual. The forest trails that wind that wind around Rishikesh towards Neelkanth Mahadev Temple are stunning in the spring and are dotted with wildflowers along the trails as well as the Himalayas are visible in the crystal clear air that rises above the trees.
6. Andaman Islands — Crystal Waters and Coral Reefs at Their Best
March is the most popular month for visiting the Andaman Islands. The waters are calm, and the visibility underwater reaches its utmost clarity, sometimes reaching 20 meters — as well as the beach in Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) islands are the most attractive. Radhanagar Beach, which is consistently named among the most beautiful beaches in Asia beach, is a stunning stretch of white sand, surrounded by a forest that has been regenerated, and surrounded by a nearly impossible turquoise.
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Coral reefs in North Bay, Elephant Beach and the breathtaking Barren Island — home to South Asia’s sole active volcano are exceptional experiences during March. Sea kayaking along mangrove creeks, fishing in the sport and evening bonfires on deserted beaches are part of an itinerary that is more similar to an experience in the Maldives as opposed to mainland India. In Port Blair, the Cellular Jail in Port Blair is a sobering, but vital historical perspective.
7. Madhya Pradesh — Tigers, Temples, and Tribal Heritage
March is among the most popular months of the year to see tigers in Madhya Pradesh’s incredible national parks including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench. Dry season triggers forests undergrowth to dwindle and waterholes shrink to concentrate wildlife, which makes appearances much more frequent. A morning safari on a jeep in Bandhavgarh which has among the top concentrations of tigers anywhere in the world in the clear, warm March air is an unforgettable wildlife experience that is ranked among the top anywhere on earth.
Beyond the natural beauty, Madhya Pradesh offers the architectural beauty of Khajuraho which is UNESCO-listed. Its medieval temples, adorned with erotic and intricate sculptures set against a backdrop which is a deep blue during March. There is the Khajuraho Dance Festival, held between February and March is a great opportunity to fill the temple’s forecourts with some of the most dazzling Indian classical dance spectacles. The fortifications of the ancient city of Gwalior as well as the marble cliffs of Bhedaghat and the rock-paintings of Bhimbetka give more richness to an itinerary of extraordinary depth.
8. Darjeeling, West Bengal — Mountain Mornings and First Flush Tea
The March month in Darjeeling is a work of subtle perfection. It’s been a winter wonderland since the fog mostly removed, giving the most stunning views of Kanchenjunga which is the third highest peak in the world -with a dazzling gold and red in the early morning at Tiger Hill. The temperatures are cool and bracing without being uncomfortably cold, and the town’s charming colonial-era architecture, buzzing Chowrasta Mall, and layered Buddhist-Hindu-Nepali culture are all at their most enjoyable.
Most importantly, March is the month that begins the tea harvest of the first flush which is widely considered to be the most sought-after and finest tea on the planet. The gardens of the estate awake from their winter dormancy and the smallest delicate, tender leaves are harvested under conditions of perfect cool-morning clarity. Estate tours allow guests to be part of this long-standing tradition and sample teas with extraordinary flowering complex. The historic toy train is an UNESCO World Heritage Railway, travels through hillsides that are blooming in spring with its own unhurried majesty.
9. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh — The Eternal City in Festival Colours
Varanasi is among the oldest cities that have been continuously inhabited on Earth and during March it is adorned with its ancient soul with a particular energy. The weather is pleasant and clear -perfect for the lengthy, contemplative exploration required by this city. Ghats along the Ganges are full of Sadhus, priests, pilgrims and flower sellers at dawn. The narrow lanes of the old town are a tangle of centuries of history. And the late-night Ganga Aarti ceremony, with its dancing lights and Sanskrit Chants is a ceremony of the hypnotic force.
The month of March will bring Holi the month of Holi to Varanasi in a impressive way. The festivities last for several days, starting with Rangbhari Ekadashi — the time when Lord Shiva is believed to perform Holi in Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Kashi Vishwanath Temple and culminating with a massive city-wide celebration of music, colour and bhang-laced partying on the Ghats. It’s among many of the best-photographed and powerful festivals of India. Plan your accommodation months ahead.
10. Sikkim — Rhododendrons, Monasteries, and Himalayan Grandeur
March is the month when Sikkim changes and makes travelers stop from their tracks. The state flower – the rhododendron begins its magnificent bloom along the slopes in the Eastern Himalayas, painting the slopes with vivid shades of pink, red and white. The Yumthang Valley located in North Sikkim, known as the Valley of Flowers of the East is a spectacular carpet of vibrant colours set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Kanchenjunga is a looming swathe across the entire region with an impressive presence.
The historic Buddhist monastery located in Rumtek, Pemayangtse, and Tashiding are most tranquil and accessible during March, just before summer crowds start arriving. Gangtok is a vibrant capital of the country, is home to excellent Sikkimese and Tibetan food and organic tea estates with views of Himalayan skyline that truly are breathtaking when the skies are clear. The road leading to Nathu La Pass — crossing into Tibet is open to Indian tourists, and provides the chance to experience a once-in-a lifetime high-altitude border.
Final Thoughts: March Is India’s Sweet Spot
From all the months that you can travel to India March is perhaps the most compelling case for all of them. The weather is good throughout the majority of India. The festivals are of the highest quality The wildlife parks have the highest visibility while the beautiful natural surroundingsincluding Himalayan hillsides adorned with the rhododendron blossom to Rajasthan’s forts that glow in soft gold of springare among the most beautiful. The crowds during the peak winter are waning but the tourist infrastructure is functioning.
No matter where you go the month of March will reveal that India that is warm, welcoming, joyful and vibrant. There’s simply no better time than now to learn why this nation is a magnet for all travelers who step the foot on its amazing land.