Varanasi in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Varanasi sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 40 mm of rain over about 5 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 29°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Varanasi's best 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
- 24°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 12°C
- Rainfall
- 40 mm
- 5 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.7
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Varanasi in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 29°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Varanasi reaches about 24°C and drops to 12°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Varanasi
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Varanasi weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Varanasi gets around 40 mm of rain over 5 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 8 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Varanasi
In winter, Varanasi overlaps its cyclone 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 winter a good time to visit Varanasi?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Varanasi for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Varanasi in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Varanasi sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 5 days see rain.
UV index in Varanasi in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. 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 Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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.