Punjab, the land of five rivers, is best visited between the months of October and March. It is winter and spring season in the state during this time. The weather is pleasantly cold at the beginning of the winter season and drops down incredibly during the peak season. It further makes exploring the attractions a tremendously enjoyable experience during the day without having to bear the scorching heat or rainfall. The summers, that follow immediately, make the state extremely hot and humid. A trip to Punjab during this season is not at all advisable to the tourists. Monsoons, however, can be a good idea sometimes depending on the region being explored as certain locations receive heavy rainfall during the season.
April marks the beginning of summer season in Punjab, and it goes on until June. During peak season, the minimum temperature the state experiences is around 29°C and the maximum it touches is 45°C. One can deduce the summers are extreme here and it is wise to avoid travelling to Punjab in the season. If one happens to go to Punjab at the beginning of the season, they might be able to witness the grand festival of Baisakhi which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in April.A busy wheat field in Summer Source
Punjab in Monsoon (July - September)
Monsoon season in Punjab starts from July and continues until September. It brings respite from the rising temperatures that the state experiences. The rainfall ranges from 300 mm to 1000 mm, so the weather mostly stays wet and humid. Heavy rainfall is observed during this period especially in the regions which are closer to the foothills of the Himalayas. Any outdoor activity may not be a good idea during the season; however, the beautifully transformed face of Punjab might draw many a nature lovers to absorb in the fresh air and the lush greenery thriving in the region. One might be able to catch the festival of Teeyan which is celebrated in August every year to mark the arrival of monsoons. One would get to witness lots of colour, folk music, traditional dance and other fun activities.Punjab in Monsoon Source
Punjab in Winter (October - March)
Winter season starts taking over the monsoon season from October onwards, and it lasts until March. The weather remains soothing and pleasant at the beginning of the season. The day-time temperature stays around 26°C while during the night; it drops down to 0°C. Some regions of the state also experience less than 0°C. Winters are comparatively best time to explore Punjab and travellers should avoid the blistering heat of summer season and heavy rainfalls of the monsoon season. Punjab Winter Harvest Festival Lohri Source
Some important festivals are also celebrated during the season. Tourists can plan their stay around the festive days to experience the vibrant celebrations. The winter harvest festival of Lohri is celebrated in January every year to invoke the Sun God by offering prayers to a traditional bonfire. Basant Panchami is celebrated in the same month, and it marks the onset of the spring season. Locals wear yellow coloured traditional attires, worship Goddess Saraswati and also participate in Kite Flying Competitions on Basant Panchami. The exciting festival of Hola Mohalla is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd day of March and includes religious programs, kirtans, cultural programs, horse riding and martial art demonstrations. With so many celebrations, by far, this is the only season perfect for tourists to explore the colours and culture of Punjab.
Guru Nanak Jayanti, or as it is commonly called, Guru Nanak Gurpurab, is a Sikh festival which is celebrated with a lot of fervour and excitement in many parts of India by Sikh and Punjabi communities (Read More) alike. Most Sikh festivities are centred around the birth of their ten Gurus, who helped shape the religion and preach the importance of religious devotion. As the name suggests, Guru Nanak Gurpurab celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who is the first Guru of the Sikhs and the founder of Sikhism.
