Peak Season
Lucknow in December
Uttar Pradesh, India
December is peak winter in Lucknow—foggy mornings, 6-22°C temperatures, and the city's strongest chai game. Dense fog can delay flights and trains. The old city, wrapped in mist with kebab smoke cutting through, looks like a film set. Christmas at the colonial-era churches adds an unexpected grace note.
The December story
December Lucknow rewards the fog-tolerant with some of the year's finest eating. The city's winter food culture is serious: nihari at dawn (arrive at Raheem's by 6 AM before it sells out), paya (trotters soup) for breakfast, galawati kebab for lunch, and biryani for dinner. The fog creates intimacy—monuments loom out of mist, auto-rickshaws appear like ghosts, and the old city feels more mysterious than any other month. The Lucknow Literary Festival (if scheduled in December) draws Indian writers and thinkers. The La Martiniere School holds a carol service that's been running since the 1840s. Plan for flight delays—fog in the Indo-Gangetic plain is no joke. Take the train instead, and arrive into Charbagh station, one of India's most beautiful railway stations.
Why December scores 5/5
Weather
Cool 8-22°C. Fog possible early morning. Winter kebab season peak. Heritage walks ideal in mild sunshine.
Roads & Access
self drive: Easy.. road condition: Excellent highways.. public transport: Flights, trains from everywhere.. from nearest city: Delhi 500km 6hrs. Flight 1hr.. last km difficulty: easy
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 5/5. rescue: Standard. helpline: UP Tourism. ambulance: 108. police station: Everywhere. nearest hospital: KGMU, Medanta, multiple.
Network
VI: Yes, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Full 4G/5G.
Kids
Kid-friendly (4/5) — Bhool Bhulaiya maze is pure kid entertainment, Food trail is universally appealing, Safe walkable Hazratganj area, Good hospitals
Elevation
123m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Winter food pilgrims on the ultimate kebab crawl
- ✓Literary festival attendees
- ✓Train travelers who appreciate Charbagh station's architecture
Who should think twice
- ✗Travelers with tight connecting flights—fog delays are common
- ✗Those who dislike cold fog—mornings are genuinely grey
- ✗Outdoor sightseeing planners—mornings are often foggy until 11 AM
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4/5 | Pleasant 8-22°C. Lucknowi biryani and kebab season. Tunday Kababi at its best. Heritage walks comfortable. |
| February | 4/5 | Warming to 10-25°C. Food festival season continues. Bara Imambara visits comfortable. Light jacket evenings. |
| March | 4/5 | Warming to 18-32°C. Mornings still pleasant for heritage walks. Afternoon heat building. Holi celebrations lively. |
| April | 2/5 | Hot at 28-40°C. Outdoor sightseeing uncomfortable after 10am. Stick to AC restaurants and evening walks only. |
| May | 1/5 | Extreme 35-45°C. Heatstroke risk. Even locals stay indoors. Skip unless business forces you here. |
| June | 1/5 | Worst month: 40-47°C pre-monsoon with crushing humidity. Dangerous outdoor heat. No reason to visit. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon rain cools to 30-38°C but waterlogging common. Nawabi food still excellent. Indoor heritage OK. |
| August | 2/5 | Heavy monsoon continues. Streets flood after downpours. Humidity oppressive. Food scene remains the draw. |
| September | 3/5 | Rain easing, 28-35°C. Humidity dropping. Evening walks along Gomti becoming pleasant again. Crowds thin. |
| October | 5/5 | Best month 22-32°C. Post-monsoon clarity. Dussehra festivities. All heritage sites comfortable for exploring. |
| November | 5/5 | Excellent 15-28°C. Lucknow Mahotsav cultural festival. Perfect weather for food walks and Imambara visits. |
| Decemberviewing | 5/5 | Cool 8-22°C. Fog possible early morning. Winter kebab season peak. Heritage walks ideal in mild sunshine. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Delhi 500km 6hrs. Flight 1hr.. Roads: Excellent highways.. Self-drive: Easy.. Public transport: Flights, trains from everywhere.. Last stretch: easy
Elevation
123m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttar Pradesh scoring high in December
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