THE ANNUAL INDEX · ISSUE Nº 48

NakshIQ 100.

India's 100 best destination-months, ranked across weather, access, crowd, and safety. Drawn from 5,856 scored rows across 505 destinations.

An annual index · Edition June 2026

TOP 10

Jaisalmer in December.

December at Jaisalmer — cool, crisp desert month — morning fog in Jaipur/Udaipur, nights cold enough to need a shawl, palaces at their most photogenic in winter light. Built for Rajasthan heritage circuit travelers. Family-appropriate: 10.0/10.

Rajasthan · 10.0/10 02

Kolanupaka in October.

October at Kolanupaka — NE monsoon gives Telangana a second wet spell but lighter than SW — Bonalu and Bathukamma festivals across the state light up rural tanks. Built for Multi-faith heritage. Not a kids destination: 4.0/10.

Telangana · 10.0/10 03

Pawapuri in February.

February sits inside Pawapuri's Oct–Mar window — conditions are as reliable as they get here, access is full, and the experience is the one the destination is actually known for. Built for Diwali Jain origin. Family-appropriate: 8.0/10.

Bihar · 10.0/10 04

Pali (Raigad) in February.

February brings the driest conditions and coolest temperatures of the season (17–32°C), making it ideal for temple visits and outdoor exploration. The village is at its most welcoming, with clear air for photography.

Maharashtra · 10.0/10 05

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in December.

December peak season continues. 16-28°C with building wildlife concentration. Falls maintain strong flow. Christmas-New Year rates climb at Munnar, but Marayoor stays calm and accessible.

Kerala · 10.0/10 06

Medak in January.

January at Medak — perfect Hyderabad/Telangana winter — 12-28°C, dry, Charminar-to-Golconda sightseeing at its most comfortable, biryani season in full swing. Built for Methodist heritage. Manageable with older kids: 6.0/10.

Telangana · 10.0/10 07

Silvassa in December.

December is the year's most coherent Silvassa window. Cool dry weather, Tarpa Festival typically mid-Dec, Christmas-NY week drives 50 percent rate premium. Book the Khanvel-Ras-Treat belt 14-21 days ahead.

Daman & Diu · 10.0/10 08

Chitkul in June.

June at Chitkul — peak access month — all passes confirmed open, long days, dry air, the version of the region every brochure is trying to capture. Built for Offbeat from Spiti overload. Not a kids destination: 4.0/10.

Himachal Pradesh · 10.0/10 09

Chorao & Divar Islands in November.

November is peak birding season with calm backwater conditions for boat rides and minimal rain. Island heritage and authentic village rhythms appeal to explorers.

Goa · 10.0/10 10

Ranjangaon in February.

Maghi Ganesh Jayanti Feb 4 + Angarki Feb 3 — Mahaganpati 10-trunked 20-armed murti maha-abhishek. Sun-ray darshan continues first week. 1790 Madhavrao II Peshwa structure, LION vahana. Lodgings ₹800-2,200.

Maharashtra · 10.0/10

11 — 100

HOW THE 100 IS CHOSEN

Every destination × month pair in the NakshIQ database carries a 0–10 suitability score combining weather (IMD data), access (road/pass/flight status), crowd math, local festival calendars, and risk flags. The NakshIQ 100 takes the single best month for each destination, ranks across all 505 destinations, and publishes the top 100. One destination never appears twice; the ranking is the destination at its best, not a month-by-month scan.

See how we score for the full rubric. An updated edition is published annually.

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Citations welcomed. Cite as: NakshIQ 100 — India's best destination-months, 2026. nakshiq.com/hi/nakshiq-100.

Press & research queries: editor@nakshiq.com.