Rishikesh weather in September

September in Rishikesh: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Rishikesh🇮🇳 India · Himalaya · Trekking57
  1. 86Jan
  2. 89Feb
  3. 80Mar
  4. 61Apr
  5. 48May
  6. 41Jun
  7. 37Jul
  8. 43Aug
  9. 57Sep
  10. 74Oct
  11. 83Nov
  12. 92Dec

#8 of 12 months in Rishikesh · #1186 of 1413 destinations to visit in September · comfort 57/100 (tier D)

Days
30°C
Nights
23°C
Wet days
20
Sun
9.6 h
Humidity
85%
Daylight
12 h
Rishikesh, India
Photo: Rajesh S Balouria · Pexels

Traveller notes on Rishikesh in September

Rishikesh-forum threads on September weather describe the monsoon as generally winding down by mid-month, posters calling occasional showers in the final stretch unlikely to disrupt most tourist activity. Regulars call typical conditions comfortable, daytime readings across the wider Uttarakhand region running roughly twenty to thirty degrees Celsius this month. Posters call river rafting and bungee jumping both real September options once water levels settle from the season's heavier flow. Regulars recommend Neer Garh Waterfall, Vashishta Gufa and Kunjapuri Devi Temple as solid natural and cultural stops beyond the adventure sports. Posters recommend four to five nights as a reasonable September stay, enough time to mix yoga, sightseeing and a rafting trip without rushing. The record: 30.2C days feeling like 33C, 23.2C nights, an extraordinarily high 165mm across nearly 20 days and 78 percent humidity.
RishikeshSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Rishikesh

Rishikesh-forum threads on a May visit describe afternoons as genuinely hot and humid, posters naming highs near thirty-six degrees as the reason outdoor activity works better scheduled for early morning or evening. Regulars call rafting and bungee jumping genuinely still running despite the heat, several posters naming Himalayan snowmelt as the reason river levels and rapids stay exciting this time of year. Posters call May genuinely coinciding with Chardham pilgrimage season, several regulars naming real crowds as a factor to plan around regardless of activity choice. Regulars call real hydration and sun protection essential for a May visit, several threads naming this standard advice given how intense midday heat gets. Posters recommend booking rafting or other activities for the cooler parts of the day, several regulars calling this the practical way to enjoy May here. The record: 34.8C days, 21.3C nights, 53mm across over 10 days and 54 percent humidity.
RishikeshMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Rishikesh-forum threads on mid-April temperatures describe daytime readings as genuinely warm and climbing, posters calling this a comfortable stretch before the harsher pre-monsoon heat of May and June. Regulars call mornings and evenings still pleasant for walking along the Ganges, the riverside considerably cooler than inland parts of town. Posters recommend the Neer Garh waterfall trek or the Kunjapuri sunrise climb this month, both manageable before the day's warmth peaks if started early. Regulars describe river rafting season as in full swing by April, snowmelt from higher in the Himalayas keeping water levels good for the rapids above town. Posters call sun protection and real hydration standing advice given how strong the midday sun runs. Regulars recommend an early morning yoga or river session over an afternoon one, the heat considerably more manageable before noon. The record: 33.4C days feeling like 34C, 17.8C nights, 26.3mm across over 5 days and 47 percent humidity.
RishikeshAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Rishikesh-forum threads on January trips describe this as genuinely the coldest stretch of the year, mornings and evenings carrying a real chill that catches visitors off guard given the town's plains-adjacent setting versus hill stations further into the mountains. Posters call daytime conditions pleasant enough for a light jacket, real warm layers standing advice once the sun drops and that cold breeze off the Ganges picks up. Regulars are consistent this remains a genuinely strong month for yoga and meditation retreats, the quieter, cooler atmosphere suiting the core draw well. Posters describe river rafting as technically running through January, though regulars flag cold water and lower river levels as real factors against a warmer trip. Regulars call the second half noticeably milder than the first. Posters recommend packing real warm layers regardless of the daytime forecast. The record: 19.5C days feeling like 19C, 7C nights, a low 77 percent humidity and 9 hours of sun.
RishikeshJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Rishikesh-forum threads on March weather are consistent this is genuinely one of the best months of the year here, comfortable temperatures with cool morning and evening breezes off the Ganges that regulars call a real relief after the low winter chill. Posters name the annual International Yoga Festival, hosted at Parmarth Niketan, as a major March draw, real crowds building around the ashram district during the festival dates. Regulars call the broader October-through-March window the genuinely favorable stretch, March sitting near its warmer edge without yet reaching the intensity of the pre-summer heat that builds through April and May. A light layer for cooler mornings alongside lighter clothing for the warmer afternoon is standard packing advice. The riverside ghats and yoga ashrams both stay comfortable for extended time outdoors. The record: 27.9C days feeling like a punishing 28C, 13.1C nights, 59 percent humidity and 10.7 hours of sun.
RishikeshMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Rishikesh climate normals — September

Daytime high30°C / 86°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low23°C / 74°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Rainfall165 mm / 6.5 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days20 days
Humidity85%💦 very humid
Dew point24°C / 75°F
Sunshine9.6 h/day
Daylight12.3 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Air quality (US AQI)70🙂 moderate

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

Crowds in Rishikesh in September

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.

BusyChar Dham yatra season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Rishikesh'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 weatherRishikesh's weather peaks December–February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Rishikesh in September

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

  • Rule

    No alcohol or meat in town

    1 Jan – 31 DecClosures

    Rishikesh is a pilgrimage town and both are banned inside it, so the cafes are vegetarian and the nearest bar is down in Haridwar or Dehradun. Plan the evenings around chai and the aarti. Source ↗

  • Rule

    Char Dham registration required

    15 Apr – 15 Nov · usuallyBook earlyClosures

    Uttarakhand caps daily numbers at each shrine and every pilgrim registers online or at a counter first; police turn back vehicles without it. Slots for the first weeks after the doors open go quickly. Source ↗

  • Opening

    Char Dham yatra season

    19 Apr – 13 NovPilgrimage seasonCrowdedBook early

    The four Himalayan shrines open on dates fixed by the priests in late April and close in the second week of November, and Rishikesh is where the whole pilgrimage staged from. Registration is compulsory and the town is at its busiest in May and June. Source ↗

  • Closure

    Rafting season closed

    1 Jul – 15 Sep · usually

    Commercial rafting on the Ganga shuts on 30 June every year and does not restart until the monsoon flow drops, usually some time in September. The operators at Shivpuri and Brahmapuri close with it. Source ↗

  • Hazard

    Monsoon and landslide season

    1 Jul – 15 Sep · usuallyClosures

    The hill roads north towards Devprayag and Uttarkashi slip and close in the heavy weeks, and the river runs brown and high past the ghats. The town itself keeps going; the valleys above it do not. Source ↗

  • Opening

    Rafting and camp season reopens

    15 Sep – 30 Jun · usuallyDry season

    The rafting operators reopen once the flow settles in mid-September and run to the end of June. October and November are the clearest months of the season, with the Shivalik ridges sharp from the bridges. Source ↗

What's on around the world in September →

Nearby, and something's on

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

Where is Rishikesh?

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Rishikesh in September — FAQ

Is September a good time to visit Rishikesh?
September in Rishikesh: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 20 rainy days. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Rishikesh on SeasonMap's comfort score (57/100).
What is the weather like in Rishikesh in September?
In September, Rishikesh averages a daily high of 30.2°C and a low of 23.2°C, with about 165 mm of rain over roughly 19.5 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Rishikesh in September?
Rishikesh has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 70 in September.

Within 300 km: Kasol's Clear season after the rain on 15 Sep – 15 Nov.