Varanasi in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Varanasi sees average daytime highs around 35°C and overnight lows near 28°C, with 674 mm of rain over about 61 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 40°C in early June to 32°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels miserable.
Summer is Varanasi's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Varanasi's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 35°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 28°C
- Rainfall
- 674 mm
- 61 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 1.8
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Varanasi in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 40°C in early June to 32°C by late August.
A typical summer day in Varanasi reaches about 35°C and drops to 28°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is June, the coolest August.
How summer really feels in Varanasi
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 92 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Varanasi weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23° / 11° | 17 | 2.2 | 10.6 | 8.8 |
| Feb | 27° / 14° | 17 | 2.3 | 11.1 | 8.3 |
| Mar | 33° / 18° | 12 | 2.1 | 11.8 | 4.6 |
| Apr | 38° / 24° | 6 | 2 | 12.6 | 1.0 |
| May | 40° / 27° | 9 | 2.9 | 13.2 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 38° / 29° | 132 | 12.6 | 13.5 | 0.9 |
| Jul | 33° / 28° | 295 | 24.5 | 13.4 | 2.1 |
| Aug | 32° / 27° | 247 | 24.2 | 12.9 | 2.4 |
| Sep | 32° / 26° | 163 | 17.5 | 12.2 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 32° / 22° | 37 | 4.1 | 11.4 | 5.0 |
| Nov | 29° / 16° | 6 | 0.6 | 10.8 | 7.6 |
| Dec | 24° / 12° | 7 | 0.9 | 10.5 | 9.1 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Varanasi gets around 674 mm of rain over 61 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels miserable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 10 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 30 min in early June to 12 h 30 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 4.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Varanasi
In summer, Varanasi overlaps its cyclone, monsoon and dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Varanasi sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.
Varanasi's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Varanasi sees seasonal dust haze (May–June), heaviest in June.
Is summer a good time to visit Varanasi?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Varanasi.
What to pack for Varanasi in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Varanasi sees daytime highs around 35°C and nights near 28°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 61 days see rain.
UV index in Varanasi in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Varanasi peaks around August 15 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 19 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 8 | Very high |
| Apr | 10 | Very high |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 7 | High |
| Nov | 5 | Moderate |
| Dec | 4 | Moderate |
Air quality in Varanasi in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Varanasi is worst in December — around 307 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 4.6× the cleanest month (July, 67 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 290 | 223 | 166 | 116 | 104 | 94 | 67 | 78 | 98 | 178 | 278 | 307 |
| Level | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 290 | Very unhealthy |
| Feb | 223 | Very unhealthy |
| Mar | 166 | Very unhealthy |
| Apr | 116 | Unhealthy |
| May | 104 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 94 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 67 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 78 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 98 | Unhealthy |
| Oct | 178 | Very unhealthy |
| Nov | 278 | Very unhealthy |
| Dec | 307 | Very unhealthy |
Where is Varanasi?
Varanasi sits at 25.3°N, 83.0°E, 86 m above sea level, in India. The nearest listed city is Bodh Gaya, 211 km away.
Topography around Varanasi
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Varanasi.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Varanasi has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 38 m around an average of 77 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 39 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 420 m.
The land around Varanasi is covered by artificial surfaces (65%) within 3 km, cropland (55%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 16 km, and cropland (80%) within 80 km.
India travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / D / M
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 23% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $2,702
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 76%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 2.8
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 15.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 484
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Varanasi (25.3167°, 83.0104°, elevation 86 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.