#1Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
Himachal Pradesh
Little Lhasa — Home of the Dalai Lama
May: comfortable 27°C days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹9,490 for two, 4 days · excl. travel, May rates
Month by month
Where to go in India in May
37 of the 232 destinations Tourisma tracks score 70 or more for May on Tourisma's month-fit score (5 of them 85+), led by Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj, Lansdowne and Palampur. 3 festivals can fall this month: Buddha Purnima, Chithirai Festival and Ganga Dussehra. 3 places are shut in May.
Ranked by Tourisma's month-fit score (observed climate plus each place's best-time window); 3 places without a score are ranked by their best-time window alone.
Top picks for May
Costs are for two people sharing a room — stay, food, local transport and entry — and exclude travel to the destination.
#1Fit 89/100
#2Lansdowne
Uttarakhand
The Forgotten Hill Station of the Garhwal Rifles
May: comfortable 25°C days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,290 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#3Palampur
Himachal Pradesh
Tea Gardens Under Dhauladhar Snow
May: comfortable 28°C days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,030 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#4Mahabaleshwar
Maharashtra
Strawberry Country & Misty Peaks
May: comfortable 28°C days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,820 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#5Auli
Uttarakhand
India's Top Ski Resort
May: 16°C days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹5,960 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#6Shimla
Himachal Pradesh
Queen of the Hills — Colonial Splendour
May: 8 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹10,670 for two, 4 days · excl. travel, May rates
#7Bir Billing
Himachal Pradesh
Paragliding Capital of India
May: 8 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,420 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#8Dalhousie
Himachal Pradesh
Misty Colonial Hill Town of the Ravi Valley
May: 7 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,030 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#9Kasol & Parvati Valley
Himachal Pradesh
Backpacker Heaven on the Parvati River
May: 8 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹7,530 for two, 4 days · excl. travel, May rates
#10Khajjiar
Himachal Pradesh
Mini Switzerland of India
May: 7 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹4,940 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#11Mussoorie
Uttarakhand
Queen of the Hills
May: 7 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹5,340 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
#12Nainital
Uttarakhand
Lake District of India
May: 7 rainy days — and inside the recommended window.
From ₹5,340 for two, 2 days · excl. travel, May rates
By kind of trip
The best-placed May options in each category — only categories with at least three in season are shown.
Hill stations
- 🍓MahabaleshwarMaharashtra · from ₹4,820 for twoFit 89/100
- ⛷️AuliUttarakhand · from ₹5,960 for twoFit 85/100
- 🚞ShimlaHimachal Pradesh · from ₹10,670 for twoFit 83/100
- 🌲DalhousieHimachal Pradesh · from ₹4,030 for twoFit 83/100
- ⛰️MussoorieUttarakhand · from ₹5,340 for twoFit 83/100
- 🚣NainitalUttarakhand · from ₹5,340 for twoFit 83/100
Pilgrimage
- 🔱DwarkaGujarat · from ₹3,000 for twoFit 79/100
- 🕍SomnathGujarat · from ₹3,000 for twoFit 79/100
- 🌊RameswaramTamil Nadu · from ₹3,000 for twoFit 79/100
- 🏔️GangotriUttarakhand · from ₹5,120 for twoFit 77/100
- 🧘RishikeshUttarakhand · from ₹6,800 for twoFit 75/100
- 🕉️Vaishno DeviJammu & Kashmir · from ₹3,700 for twoFit 75/100
Festivals that can fall in May
Many follow lunar calendars and move every year — confirm the dates before booking anything non-refundable.
Buddha Purnimadates shift yearly
Bodh Gaya
Marks the Buddha's enlightenment at the Mahabodhi Temple. Pilgrim numbers rise sharply while the Bihar heat is near its peak.
Chithirai Festivaldates shift yearly
Madurai
Meenakshi Temple's biggest festival, with street processions over about two weeks. Madurai fills up and daytime heat is severe.
Ganga Dussehradates shift yearly
Haridwar · Rishikesh
Large bathing crowds at Har Ki Pauri. Coincides with the pre-monsoon heat, so start early in the day.
Skip in May
Shut this month, or at their weakest — with the nearest similar place that is in season.
- Try Lansdowne
Rann of KutchClosed
The White Rann floods completely during monsoon (June–September) and remains marshy through October. The salt desert is only fully accessible November–March, with the Rann Utsav festival running November–February.
- Try Kasol & Parvati Valley
Spiti ValleyClosed
Spiti Valley is only accessible June–October. The Rohtang Pass and Kunzum Pass close due to heavy snow from November onwards. Do not plan a road trip here in winter.
- Try Jim Corbett National Park
Kaziranga National ParkClosed
Kaziranga National Park closes mid-April to mid-October due to Brahmaputra flooding. The park is open November–April only. Book jeep safari slots ahead in peak season.
- Try Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
JamshedpurFit 37/100
May: rain on 15 days, 38°C days — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Kumbhalgarh
BishnupurFit 38/100
May: rain on 15 days, hot at 36°C — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Lansdowne
Alleppey (Alappuzha)Fit 42/100
May: rain on 24 days — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
AgartalaFit 42/100
May: rain on 24 days — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Kumbhalgarh
UnakotiFit 42/100
May: rain on 26 days — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
ShantiniketanFit 43/100
May: rain on 14 days, hot at 35°C — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Dharamshala & McLeod Ganj
KolkataFit 43/100
May: rain on 15 days, hot at 35°C — and outside the recommended window.
- Try Rameswaram
MaduraiFit 44/100
May: 12 rainy days, 38°C days — and outside the recommended window.
DighaFit 46/100
May: rain on 20 days — and outside the recommended window.
Got a place in mind for May?
Pick your places and get a day-by-day plan priced for May, with the journey from your city.