Winter months are the most requested for first-time visitors: cooler evenings, clearer roads in the hills and busy but reliable houseboat schedules. Shoulder months can be quieter and still pleasant on the coast.
Monsoon is beautiful and wet. It suits travellers who want fewer crowds and do not mind flexible sightseeing. We plan stays and transfers around weather, not against it.
Tell us whether you prefer hills, backwaters or beach — the 'best time' depends on that mix more than a single calendar rule.