At a glance
- Winter offers dry, pleasant weather, though low water levels make Varanasi unreachable by ship
- Spring brings the very hottest days, as well as high humidity and rain, which deters many travellers
- Summer is peak monsoon season, when many operators pause sailings, though high water levels allow access to Varanasi
- Autumn is appealing because of its calendar of cultural events, such as Durga Puja and Dev Deepavali
If you’re researching the best time to take a Ganges River cruise, congratulations. You could be about to embark on one of the most exhilarating and intriguing journeys in the world.
Depending on your itinerary, you may spend your days exploring ancient cities with deep spiritual significance, sailing past mango groves and mustard fields, and spotting elusive wildlife.
Not every season, however, is suited to every traveller. At certain times of the year, temperatures and humidity soar, and climate change is amplifying these extremes.
It’s also worth remembering that the Ganges is vast. It stretches for about 1,570 miles from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, passing through regions with markedly different climates. That means a season that is ideal for one stretch of the river may be completely impractical for another.
So, without further ado, here’s your cheat sheet on when to sail where on your Ganges River cruise.
Winter
There are significant advantages to planning your Ganges River cruise in winter. The weather is at its best, with little rainfall, less humidity and more comfortable temperatures.
It’s not chilly by any means, but it is far cooler than the fierce heat of summer. In Kolkata in West Bengal, where many Ganges River cruises begin and end, daytime highs from late November to February hover in the mid to high 20s °C. In that kind of balmy weather, everything from visiting sacred temples to wandering marigold-filled markets, is more comfortable.
There are cultural highlights, too. Makar Sankrānti is a mid-winter harvest and religious festival in India, held on the 14th of January (or the 15th in a leap year). It’s marked with a mela (a fair or gathering), which draws millions to the place where the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal.
However, there is a major caveat to planning your Ganges River cruise in winter. While the lower Ganges, where most sailings are focused, is typically unaffected, some stretches of the river become unnavigable. Without the heavy rainfall of monsoon season, water levels aren’t high enough for river ships to sail through shallower sections.
Notably, if you had your heart set on sailing to Varanasi, also known as the ‘City of Light’, you won’t be able to do so in winter. Many operators instead give you the chance to add it on as a pre- or post-cruise extension, reaching it via a short flight from Kolkata.
Spring
Low water continues to affect parts of the Ganges in spring, so most cruise operators remain focused on the lower stretches of the river.
This is not the best season for a Ganges River cruise for you if you’re not well-suited to hot and humid conditions. April and May are often the hottest months along the river, with temperatures in West Bengal climbing to the high 30s °C. If you’re heading to Varanasi on a post-cruise land extension, expect no relief from the heat; even higher temperatures are the norm here, frequently pushing above 40 °C.
If that wasn’t enough, by late April, the first pre-monsoon storms arrive. Sometimes referred to as ‘mango showers’, these bursts of sudden rain can certainly put a damper on seeing the sights.
All in all, while early spring may tempt some travellers looking for shoulder season deals, by late spring the combination of heat, humidity and unpredictable downpours means most would be better off considering alternatives to the Ganges.
Summer
The oppressive heat of spring only eases by a few degrees in summer. In West Bengal and further upstream, daytime temperatures still sit in the mid-30s °C, and with the humidity, it often feels hotter.
The rain, meanwhile, rather than letting up, comes down fast and furious as monsoon season picks up. Because of this, many cruise operators won’t sail at all during these months.
That said, August and September, towards the end of monsoon season, bring one key advantage. Water levels are finally high enough for select river ships to reach Varanasi, and some operators, such as Assam Bengal Navigation, run itineraries designed for this stretch. You may get more rain than you’d like, but it comes with the reward of seeing the river at its lushest, with fewer fellow travellers around.
Autumn
This can be a very attractive season to sail the Ganges. We mean that quite literally; after months of torrential downpours, the land alongside the river is often intensely verdant and beautiful.
You may still get the odd scattered shower, but for the most part, the rains begin to peter out. Temperatures remain high, but so do water levels, which means you may be able to cruise directly to Varanasi.
The biggest draw of the season, however, is the calendar of cultural events. Durga Puja, which falls in September or October, is one of the biggest festivals in West Bengal. The ten-day celebration pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga, often depicted as a motherly figure and warrior, and her triumph over a shapeshifting buffalo demon, which represents the victory of good over evil.
Chhath Puja, meanwhile, celebrates the solar deity Surya, with rituals performed in the sacred waters of the Ganges. And in Varanasi specifically, the festival of Dev Deepavali is marked 15 days after Diwali. Across the city’s ghats, more than a million diyas (earthen lamps) are lit, illuminating the riverfront in sharp relief against the night.
Here’s what else to know before you book your Ganges cruise:
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