Gangtok (Sikkim) weather in May

May in Gangtok: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 29 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Gangtok🇮🇳 India · Himalaya · City67
  1. 62Jan
  2. 59Feb
  3. 64Mar
  4. 76Apr
  5. 67May
  6. 61Jun
  7. 55Jul
  8. 58Aug
  9. 60Sep
  10. 72Oct
  11. 82Nov
  12. 74Dec

#5 of 12 months in Gangtok · #1072 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 67/100 (tier C)

Days
21°C
Nights
15°C
Wet days
29
Sun
9 h
Humidity
86%
Daylight
14 h
Gangtok, India
Photo: Sajal Devnath · Pexels

Traveller notes on Gangtok in May

Forum posters describe May in Gangtok as neither too hot nor too cold, genuinely pleasant, with typical temperatures around 15-22C, somewhat cooler in nearby Darjeeling and North Sikkim. Posters note occasional evening or overnight rain showers are common but rarely last long, recommending an umbrella or light rain jacket on hand regardless. Posters are direct that a trip up toward North Sikkim or Nathula still calls for heavy woolens given the altitude, and that snow remains visible at higher points like Yumesedong/Katao and Zero Point even in May, though not at Nathula itself this time of year. Posters consistently rate late May as one of the best, safest windows for the region, clear of the landslide risk that monsoon season brings later on. Posters generally rate May as pleasant and one of the peak, most reliable months to visit Gangtok.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Gangtok

Forum posters call November a great time to visit, with the monsoon fully over and clear skies dominating - by month's end especially, rain is described as rare. Daytime is genuinely pleasant, but nights turn properly cold once the sun sets, with lows commonly down around 3-5C and winter conditions setting in for good by mid-month given the region's high elevation. Posters note real snow at nearby high-altitude points (Zero Point in North Sikkim, Nathula) becomes a realistic possibility from mid-November onward, though whether a specific visit actually sees snowfall is described as pure luck rather than something to count on. Heavy warm clothing is treated as essential for evenings and any higher-altitude day trip regardless of how mild Gangtok itself feels during the day.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Gangtok's card on the map.

Gangtok climate normals — May

Daytime high21°C / 70°F😎 nice
Nighttime low15°C / 60°F
Feels like (high)23°C / 73°F
Rainfall333 mm / 13.1 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days29 days
Humidity86%💦 very humid
Dew point16°C / 60°F
Sunshine9 h/day
Daylight13.5 h
Wind6 km/h / 4 mph
Air quality (US AQI)74🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Gangtok in May

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusySummer vacation (north & east) in India(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Gangtok's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherGangtok's best weather comes in April, November and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Gangtok in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Rule

    Permits for the high roads

    1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

    Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and everything north of Chungthang need a permit arranged a day ahead through a registered Sikkim operator, not bought on the spot. Nathu La itself is open to Indian nationals only. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Rhododendron bloom

    1 Apr – 15 May · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

    Sikkim has three dozen rhododendron species and the sanctuaries at Barsey and Shingba are set aside for them. Peak climbs with altitude through the spring, so something is always out somewhere between the valley and Yumthang. Source ↗

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    29 rainy days and about 333 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Gangtok — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Gangtok?

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Gangtok in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Gangtok?
May in Gangtok: nice, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 29 rainy days. It ranks #5 of 12 months for Gangtok on SeasonMap's comfort score (67/100).
What is the weather like in Gangtok in May?
In May, Gangtok averages a daily high of 20.9°C and a low of 15.3°C, with about 333.3 mm of rain over roughly 29.4 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Gangtok in May?
Gangtok has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 74 in May.

Within 300 km: Darjeeling's Second flush tea around 1 May – 20 Jun, and Thimphu's Sustainable Development Fee on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.