Best Places to Visit in India in November 2026: 12 Picks With Dates
Twelve November 2026 trips across India, from Pushkar's camel fair and the Rann Utsav to Andaman and Hampi, with checked festival dates, budgets and booking tips.
November is one of the best months to travel in India: the monsoon has gone, the desert has cooled, the hills are clear and the festival calendar is packed. Here are 12 places to visit in November 2026, with the event dates that matter, the best days to go, rough budgets and booking tips so you can plan before prices climb.
Updated October 2026. Festival dates below were checked against official or reliable sources on 10 October 2026; organisers sometimes change programmes, so confirm before you book.
Quick answer: For festivals, go to Pushkar (camel fair, peaking on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November 2026), the Rann of Kutch (Rann Utsav Tent City opens 1 November 2026), Varanasi (Dev Deepawali around Kartik Purnima), Amritsar (Guru Nanak Jayanti, 24 November) or Goa (IFFI, 20 to 28 November). For nature, pick Ranthambore, Andaman, Kerala’s backwaters or Hampi. Heading to Nagaland? Arrive at the end of the month for the Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026, so Pushkar, Varanasi, Amritsar and Sonepur all peak in the same week. Book that week early.
- Diwali is on Sunday 8 November 2026; trains and flights around 5 to 12 November will be crowded and expensive.
- The Rann Utsav Tent City season runs from 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027; the November full moon is the most popular time.
- Goa’s 57th International Film Festival of India runs from 20 to 28 November 2026.
- Budgets below are rough per-person-per-day estimates, excluding travel to the destination. Festival weeks cost noticeably more.
November 2026 festival dates at a glance
| Event | Date (2026) | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday 8 November | Across India | Per Drik Panchang |
| Chhath Puja (main day) | Sunday 15 November | Bihar, eastern UP, Jharkhand, Delhi | Per Drik Panchang |
| Kartik Purnima | Tuesday 24 November | Pushkar, Varanasi, Sonepur and more | Per Drik Panchang |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Tuesday 24 November | Amritsar, Punjab and gurdwaras everywhere | Widely listed; confirm locally |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | About 17 to 24 November | Pushkar, Rajasthan | Official programme not yet published |
| Rann Utsav Tent City | 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027 | Dhordo, Kutch, Gujarat | Official site |
| IFFI (57th edition) | 20 to 28 November | Panaji, Goa | Announced by organisers |
| Hornbill Festival | 1 to 10 December | Kisama, near Kohima, Nagaland | Widely reported |
The Hindu festival dates above come from the Drik Panchang 2026 festival calendar. Regional calendars can differ by a day, especially for Chhath and Dev Deepawali.
Festival picks for November 2026
1. Pushkar, Rajasthan: camel fair and Kartik Purnima
The Pushkar fair combines a livestock market, a pilgrimage to the holy lake and Brahma temple, and a cultural programme with competitions and folk music. The religious climax is Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November 2026. Third-party listings put the fair at roughly 17 to 24 November, but as of 10 October the official programme had not been published, so check Rajasthan Tourism’s announcements before you pay for non-refundable stays. The animal trading usually happens in the days before the cultural events, so arrive early if that is what you want to see.
Best for: photographers, culture lovers. Base: Pushkar or Ajmer (about 15 km). Tip: camp prices jump sharply in fair week; book four to six weeks ahead.
2. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat: Rann Utsav
The white salt desert near Dhordo is at its best in winter. The official Rann Utsav site lists the 2026-27 Tent City season as 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027. Full-moon nights are the highlight, when the salt flat glows; in November 2026 the full moon falls on 24 November, so the nights around it are the busiest. Bhuj is the nearest city, and the Tent City is roughly a three-hour drive away.
Best for: families, couples. Tip: combine with Bhuj’s craft villages and the Kala Dungar viewpoint.
3. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Dev Deepawali
On Kartik Purnima the ghats of Varanasi are lit with lakhs of diyas for Dev Deepawali. It is one of the most crowded nights of the year on the river, and boat prices rise steeply. Book a boat with a licensed operator in advance and arrive at the ghats early in the evening.
Best for: spiritual travellers, photographers. Tip: stay near Assi or Dashashwamedh ghat and walk; vehicles are restricted near the river on festival nights.
4. Amritsar, Punjab: Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) falls on 24 November 2026 in most listings. The Golden Temple is illuminated and the city fills with nagar kirtan processions and langar. Note that some Sikh institutions follow the Nanakshahi calendar, so check with the gurdwara committee. Add the Attari-Wagah border ceremony and Amritsari kulcha to your plan.
Best for: families, pilgrims, food lovers.
5. Goa: IFFI and the start of the season
The 57th International Film Festival of India is scheduled in Goa from 20 to 28 November 2026. Delegate registration is separate from simply visiting, so check the IFFI site if you want screenings. Even without the festival, late November is a sweet spot: the beaches are open, shacks are back, and Christmas-New Year prices have not kicked in.
Best for: film buffs, beach lovers, workations.
6. Sonepur, Bihar: Sonepur Mela
The Harihar Kshetra fair at the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak is traditionally tied to Kartik Purnima and runs for several weeks. A local news report says the 2026 fair opens on 22 November, but the Bihar government publishes the official schedule, so verify before travelling. Patna is about 25 km away. If you are in Bihar earlier in the month, Chhath Puja on 15 November is an unforgettable sight on the ghats.
Best for: experienced travellers interested in rural India.
Nature and wildlife picks
7. Ranthambore, Rajasthan
The park reopens for safaris after the monsoon, and November mornings are cool with good light. Safari permits are booked through the Rajasthan forest department’s online system; popular zones sell out early, especially on long weekends and around Diwali. Pair with Jaipur (about three hours by road or train).
8. Andaman Islands
November marks the start of the main season, with calmer seas for snorkelling and diving at Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep). Book inter-island ferries well in advance; they fill up quickly in peak season.
9. Kerala backwaters: Alappuzha and Kumarakom
After the monsoon the backwaters are green and full, and the weather is warm but not oppressive. A one-night houseboat stay on Vembanad Lake is the classic plan; a day shikara ride is a cheaper alternative. Add Fort Kochi for two days.
10. Hampi, Karnataka
The boulder-strewn hills and Vijayanagara ruins are easiest to explore in the cooler months. Hire a bicycle or auto for the main circuit, catch sunrise at Matanga Hill and sunset at Hemakuta. Two full days is the minimum.
11. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Clear skies, pleasant days and cool nights make November good for yoga retreats, short hikes and the evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat. Mornings and nights get cold by late November, so pack a jacket.
12. Nagaland: arrive for the Hornbill Festival
The Hornbill Festival at Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km from Kohima, runs from 1 to 10 December 2026, according to Time Out India, which notes tickets of around Rs 50 to Rs 100, available on site. Flying into Dimapur in the last days of November lets you explore Kohima and Khonoma village first, then catch the opening days. Permit rules for domestic visitors have changed in recent years, and sources disagree, so check the Nagaland government’s current requirement before you go.
Rough budgets for each destination
These are indicative ranges per person per day for stay, local transport and food, excluding getting there. They are estimates, not quotes, and festival weeks can cost double.
| Destination | Budget (Rs/day) | Mid-range (Rs/day) | Ideal days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pushkar | 1,500 to 2,500 | 4,000 to 8,000 (fair week higher) | 2 to 3 |
| Rann of Kutch | 2,000 to 3,000 (Bhuj base) | Tent City packages vary widely | 2 to 3 |
| Varanasi | 1,500 to 2,500 | 4,000 to 7,000 | 2 to 3 |
| Amritsar | 1,500 to 2,500 | 3,500 to 6,000 | 2 |
| Goa | 2,000 to 3,500 | 5,000 to 9,000 | 4 to 5 |
| Sonepur / Patna | 1,500 to 2,500 | 3,500 to 5,000 | 1 to 2 |
| Ranthambore | 2,500 to 4,000 (incl. shared safari) | 7,000 and up | 2 |
| Andaman | 3,000 to 4,500 | 7,000 to 12,000 | 5 to 6 |
| Kerala backwaters | 2,000 to 3,500 | 6,000 to 12,000 (houseboat) | 3 to 4 |
| Hampi | 1,200 to 2,200 | 3,500 to 6,000 | 2 to 3 |
| Rishikesh | 1,200 to 2,200 | 3,500 to 6,000 | 2 to 3 |
| Nagaland (Hornbill) | 2,000 to 3,500 | 5,000 to 8,000 | 4 to 5 |
Sample itineraries
Kartik Purnima week, Rajasthan (5 days)
- Day 1: Jaipur arrival, old city walk.
- Day 2: Drive to Pushkar (about 3 hours), evening at the lake ghats.
- Day 3: Fair grounds early morning, camel trading area, cultural events.
- Day 4: Kartik Purnima, 24 November: dawn at the ghats, then rest.
- Day 5: Ajmer and back to Jaipur or onward.
Gujarat white desert (4 days)
- Day 1: Fly or train to Bhuj, Aina Mahal and Prag Mahal.
- Day 2: Craft villages (Bhujodi, Nirona), drive to Dhordo.
- Day 3: White Rann at sunrise and full-moon night, Kala Dungar.
- Day 4: Return to Bhuj.
November weather by region
A quick guide to what to expect, so you pack right and pick the region that suits you. These are typical patterns, not forecasts; check the IMD forecast a few days before you travel.
| Region | Typical November weather | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan and Gujarat | Warm, sunny days; cool to cold nights in the desert | Fairs, forts, desert camps |
| North Indian plains (Delhi, UP, Punjab) | Mild days, chilly mornings, possible haze and smog | Festivals, heritage cities |
| Uttarakhand and Himachal foothills | Clear skies, cold nights | Yoga, short treks, mountain views |
| Goa and Konkan coast | Warm and mostly dry | Beaches, cafes, film festival |
| Kerala and Tamil Nadu | Warm; the northeast monsoon can bring showers, especially to Tamil Nadu | Backwaters, hill stations like Munnar |
| Andaman Islands | Warm; seas generally calming as the season begins | Snorkelling, diving, beaches |
| Northeast | Pleasant days, cold nights in the hills | Culture, the Hornbill run-up |
If you are travelling to Chennai or coastal Tamil Nadu, keep a flexible day in your plan, since November is the main rainy month there.
Booking and travel tips for November 2026
- Avoid Diwali week for long trains unless you have confirmed tickets; 5 to 12 November will be heavy, and Chhath travel to Bihar fills trains around 12 to 16 November.
- Book festival stays now. Pushkar, Varanasi and the Rann all see sharp price rises on Kartik Purnima week.
- Pack layers. Desert nights and North Indian mornings get cold by late November.
- Check air quality if travelling through Delhi and the Indo-Gangetic plain in November, especially with children or elderly family members.
- Use official booking channels for safaris, Tent City packages and ferries to avoid fake websites.
- Carry cash for fairs and small towns where card and UPI coverage can be patchy in crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pushkar Mela 2026 dates?
The fair culminates on Kartik Purnima, Tuesday 24 November 2026. Most listings put it at roughly 17 to 24 November, but the official programme had not been published as of 10 October 2026. Check Rajasthan Tourism before booking.
When does Rann Utsav 2026 start?
The official Rann Utsav site lists the Tent City season from 1 November 2026 to 7 March 2027.
Is November a good time to visit Goa?
Yes. The season is starting, the weather is pleasant, and prices are lower than in late December. IFFI also runs from 20 to 28 November 2026.
Which hill station is good in November?
Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Darjeeling and Gangtok are pleasant with clear views. Higher places like Manali or Auli get cold, with snow possible later in the month.
When is the Hornbill Festival 2026?
1 to 10 December 2026 at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima. Arriving in the last days of November is a good plan.
Which is the cheapest place on this list?
Hampi and Rishikesh are usually the most affordable, followed by Pushkar outside fair week.
Pick one festival, then build around it
November 2026 is crowded around two dates: Diwali on 8 November and Kartik Purnima on 24 November. Choose the one festival you most want to see, book that stay now, and build a calmer nature stop around it, such as Ranthambore after Pushkar or Fort Kochi after the backwaters. You will get the spectacle and the rest without paying peak prices every night.
