Quick answer
April is when the plains heat up and the hills take over. In India, the best picks are Kashmir for tulips and green meadows, Sikkim for rhododendrons and clear mornings, and Darjeeling for first-flush tea. Abroad, choose Japan for the last of the cherry blossom, the Netherlands for Keukenhof's tulips, or Turkey for mild spring days in Istanbul and Cappadocia.
Best places in India in April
7–20°C, some showersKashmir
The Tulip Garden in Srinagar is usually at its peak in the first half of April, and Pahalgam and Sonamarg turn green with snow still on the peaks. The Gulmarg Gondola still reaches snow at the top.
10–22°C (Gangtok), some rainSikkim
Rhododendrons flower across the Varsey sanctuary and the Yumthang valley, and the road to Lachung is open with snow still around. Kanchenjunga is clearest in the early mornings.
10–19°C, light showersDarjeeling
First-flush tea season is in full swing, so a tasting at a working estate such as Happy Valley is worth the walk. The toy train and the Tiger Hill sunrise are less crowded than in May.
7–21°C, mostly dryManali
Manali is cool and green, and the Atal Tunnel gives same-day access to snow at Sissu in Lahaul. The May–June crowds and traffic on the Kullu road have not started yet.
10–23°C, light showersOoty
With the plains above 35°C, Ooty stays near 20°C and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway runs through green tea estates. Go before mid-May, when school holidays and the flower show fill the town.
25–32°C, mostly dryAndaman Islands
April is the last reliably calm month before the south-west monsoon arrives in mid-to-late May, with warm, clear water for diving. Rates are lower than in the winter peak.
19–31°C, humid, pre-monsoon stormsKaziranga, Assam
Rongali Bihu in mid-April fills Assam with dance and feasts, and Kaziranga's safaris run until the park closes for the monsoon, usually from May. Short grass makes rhino and wild buffalo easy to spot.
18–35°C, dryAmritsar
Baisakhi on 13 or 14 April is the biggest day of the year at the Golden Temple. Visit in the early morning and evening, because afternoons pass 33°C.
Best places abroad in April
9–19°C, mildJapan
The first days of April are often still peak blossom in Tokyo and Kyoto, while northern Japan blooms later in the month. Golden Week, from 29 April to 5 May, is Japan's busiest holiday, so finish your trip before it.
5–14°C, cool, showersNetherlands
Keukenhof's tulips usually peak in mid-April, and King's Day on 27 April turns Amsterdam orange. Apply for the Schengen visa at least six to eight weeks before travel.
8–19°C, mildTurkey
Istanbul's tulip festival fills Emirgan Park and Gülhane Park through April, and Cappadocia's balloon flights run on calm, mild mornings. It is cooler and cheaper than the summer peak.
7–18°C, mildSouth Korea
Cherry blossoms usually peak in Seoul in early April, along Yeouido and around Seokchon Lake, and a week or so earlier in Jinhae and Busan. Indian passport holders need a visa, so apply about a month ahead.
26–35°C, hotThailand
Songkran, from 13 to 15 April, turns Bangkok and Phuket into a citywide water fight. It is hot, but the Andaman coast is still dry, and hotel rates fall after mid-April.
27–31°C, mostly dryMaldives
April is still dry and calm, with warm water and good visibility. Rates drop after Easter, which falls in March in 2027.
9–24°C, mildUzbekistan
April is one of the two best months for Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, with highs of 20–25°C and fruit trees in flower. The tiled courtyards are comfortable to walk at midday, which they are not in summer.
24–32°C, drying outBali
The rainy season tails off in April, and the rice terraces at Ubud and Jatiluwih are green and full. Prices are lower than in the July–August peak.
Festivals and events in April
Golden Temple, Amritsar, and Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
Baisakhi
13 or 14 April. The Sikh New Year and harvest festival; gurdwaras and langars are at their busiest.
Assam
Rongali Bihu
Mid-April. Assamese New Year, with Bihu dances, fairs and community feasts across the state.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Vishu and Puthandu
Around 14 April. New Year in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, marked with temple visits and home feasts.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand
Songkran
13–15 April. The Thai New Year water festival; expect to get soaked in tourist areas.
Lisse, Netherlands
Keukenhof tulip season
Open from about mid-March to mid-May, usually peaking in mid-April. Book timed tickets online.
Sri Lanka
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
13–14 April. Many shops close for two or three days, and buses and trains are full.
How do school holidays shape April travel?
April splits India's travellers by region. Schools in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana usually close for summer in April, so southern hill stations such as Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar fill up from the second week. Most north Indian schools stay open until mid-May, which makes April the last cheaper month for Kashmir, Himachal and Sikkim before the summer rush.
Holidays are scattered: Baisakhi and Ambedkar Jayanti fall on 14 April, and Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti usually land in late March or April. Good Friday falls in March in 2027, so there is no Easter long weekend this April.
Use April to lock in May and June. Hill-station hotels for the second half of May, Leh flights and Schengen visa appointments get harder to find every week from now. See our family tour packages if you are planning a summer trip with children.
Where is the weather best in April?
Above about 1,500 m. Kashmir, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Manali and the Nilgiris sit between 15°C and 25°C by day. Kashmir is the pick of the month: the Tulip Garden is usually at its peak in early April and Pahalgam turns green; see things to do in Kashmir. At sea level, the Andamans and Lakshadweep still have calm water before the monsoon.
Abroad, spring is at its best in East Asia, Turkey, Central Asia and northern Europe. The best time to visit the Netherlands explains how to time Keukenhof. Southeast Asia is hot: Bangkok touches 35°C, though the beaches stay dry.
Where should you avoid in April?
- Rajasthan, Gujarat and central India: Highs reach 38–42°C in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Khajuraho. Sightseeing after 11 am is draining.
- Hampi and Varanasi: Both pass 38°C, with little shade at the ruins or on the ghats.
- Ladakh: The highways are usually still closed and Leh is cold. Wait for late May.
- Kenya and Tanzania: The long rains peak in April, and many safari camps close.
- Japan in Golden Week: From 29 April to 5 May, domestic travel peaks and prices jump. Finish your Japan trip before it.
What does an April trip cost?
| Trip | Starting price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kashmir, 5 nights | ₹17,000+ | Tulip weeks cost more |
| Himachal, 5 nights | ₹15,000+ | Cheaper than May |
| Thailand, 5 nights | ₹20,000+ | Songkran week costs more |
| Bali, 6 nights | ₹32,000+ | Shoulder rates before July |
| Maldives, 3 nights with flights | ₹70,000+ | Post-Easter rates |
Prices are per person, twin sharing, excluding flights unless stated. For Kashmir in detail, see Kashmir trip cost.
If you are booking Kashmir for the tulips, keep two flexible nights in Srinagar. Bloom depends on March temperatures and can shift by a week either way.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best place to visit in India in April?
Is April a good time to visit Thailand?
Where should south Indian families go in the April school holidays?
When is Keukenhof open?
Is Ladakh open in April?
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.