Best time to visit Jodhpur: seasons and city festivals

Jodhpur’s temperature averages rise steadily from January through May, making the start of the year the cooler period in the monthly figures. The India Meteorological Department’s Jodhpur climate normals cover 1991–2020 and include temperatures, rainfall and rainy days.

January averages a 9.6°C minimum and a 25.1°C maximum, with 4.1 mm of rainfall and 0.3 rainy days. February averages 12.5°C to 28.4°C, with 4.9 mm of rain and 0.5 rainy days.

By March, the monthly mean range reaches 17.9°C to 33.9°C. April averages 23.4°C to 38.7°C, and May 27.6°C to 41.2°C. Mean rainfall remains low in these months: 3.7 mm in March, 6.3 mm in April and 12.9 mm in May. The averages indicate a clear rise in heat, rather than a sharp change in rainfall.

In Jodhpur’s warmer months, plan outdoor sightseeing with the rising monthly temperatures in mind. The mean maximum reaches 33.9°C in March, then climbs to 38.7°C in April and 41.2°C in May.

If you’re visiting in these months, use the figures as a guide when deciding how much outdoor sightseeing to group together.

You can build a day around the old city and Mehrangarh Fort, then leave room for breaks rather than treating several outdoor stops as one continuous outing. For a route linking the main sights, see this one day in Jodhpur itinerary.

Mehrangarh Fort gives a useful anchor for a sightseeing plan: it is about a 14-minute walk from Kings Retreat, a three-star hotel. The fort’s grounds and its role in festival programming are covered in this guide to Mehrangarh Jodhpur.

Its position in the city also makes it a festival venue, so it can fit into a visit focused on either architecture or events. Find more about Mehrangarh Jodhpur here.

Jodhpur’s autumn festival calendar includes the recurring Marwar Festival and the annual Jodhpur RIFF, both associated with the Sharad Purnima period. The Marwar Festival is a two-day event held in the Hindu month of Ashwin, between September and October; its dates vary from year to year.

Originally known as the Maand Festival, the Marwar Festival honours Rajasthan’s heroes. Its traditional programme features folk music and dance from the Marwar region. Mehrangarh Fort is among the venues associated with the festival, alongside Umaid Stadium and Samrat Ashok Udhyan in Jodhpur.

Jodhpur RIFF is an annual international roots music festival timed to coincide with Sharad Purnima. Concerts and other events take place in and around Mehrangarh Fort. The festival operates under the aegis of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust.

If you’re arranging a visit around either event, keep the annual pattern in mind but don’t assume the dates will be identical each time. The fort’s role in both festivals can make it a natural stop to combine with a daytime visit; the programmes themselves focus on live music and performance.

January and February offer Jodhpur’s lowest mean maximum temperatures in the monthly figures here, while February also brings the recurring World Sacred Spirit Festival. In February, the mean minimum is 12.5°C and the mean maximum is 28.4°C; average rainfall is 4.9 mm, with 0.5 rainy days.

The World Sacred Spirit Festival takes place at Mehrangarh Fort and features spiritual Sufi music and dance, alongside Indian heritage performances by artists from India and abroad. Its February timing gives you an option beyond the autumn festival period, though specific dates vary and should be confirmed before you make plans.

For a quieter itinerary around the city’s historic places, you can pair a fort visit with Jaswant Thada and use the cooler monthly averages as a broad guide to the season. If you’re considering a trip beyond the city, the Jodhpur to Osian day trip guide covers a temple and desert outing.

Festival timing can shift from year to year, so check the official site before you go. For Jodhpur RIFF, consult the festival’s official site; for Marwar Festival information, check the relevant Government of Rajasthan or Incredible India listing. Confirm the event dates and venues before booking around a particular performance.

For the World Sacred Spirit Festival, use the festival’s official site to verify its schedule. Once dates are confirmed, you can decide whether to make the fort the focus of that day or combine the event with other city sights. Kings Retreat is a practical starting point for planning around Mehrangarh Fort and Jodhpur’s seasonal events.

What is the coolest month in the Jodhpur averages?

January has the lowest mean maximum temperature among the months covered here, at 25.1°C. Its mean minimum is 9.6°C.

When is the Marwar Festival held?

It is a recurring two-day festival in the Hindu month of Ashwin, between September and October, around Sharad Purnima. Dates vary by year.

What kind of performances are part of Jodhpur RIFF?

Jodhpur RIFF is an annual international roots music festival with concerts and events in and around Mehrangarh Fort.

What does the World Sacred Spirit Festival feature?

Its programme includes spiritual Sufi music and dance, as well as Indian heritage performances by artists from India and abroad.