Kangra weather: today, this week and through the year
Live temperature and a five-day forecast for Kangra, Palampur and McLeod Ganj, monthly averages, snow on the Dhauladhar, tea-garden seasons and what to watch for in one of Himachal’s heaviest monsoons.
- 18.5° / 5.2 °C January, coldest
- 34.7° / 21.1 °C June, warmest
- August ~818 mm rain
- Live 3 places
Photo: Rajputcenation, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated November 2026 · HP Tourism registered travel agent · Reg. No. DTO-MND-11-243/2022 · certificates · हिंदी में: कांगड़ा और पालमपुर का मौसम
The Kangra valley lies right below the Dhauladhar — Kangra town at about 733 m, Palampur at about 1,470 m and McLeod Ganj at about 2,080 m. India Meteorological Department averages for Kangra airport (Gaggal, 1991–2020) make January the coldest month (about 18.5 °C by day, 5.2 °C at night) and June the warmest (about 34.7 °C by day). It is one of the wettest valleys in Himachal — about 612 mm in July and 818 mm in August. Kangra and Palampur do not get snow, but from December to March the Dhauladhar peaks stand white above the tea gardens.
- ColdestDecember–January — Kangra nights ~5 °C; Palampur a few degrees colder.
- WarmestMay–June — Kangra ~34–35 °C by day.
- WettestJuly–August, ~612 and ~818 mm — a very heavy monsoon.
- ClearestOctober–November, about one rainy day a month.
- SnowNot in the valley; on the Dhauladhar and Triund, December–March.
Kangra, Palampur and McLeod Ganj weather today
One valley, three heights: Kangra (733 m), Palampur (~1,470 m) and McLeod Ganj (~2,080 m). McLeod Ganj is usually 7–9 °C colder than Kangra.
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), refreshed about once a day — last update —.
Kangra weather by month
Temperatures and rainfall are India Meteorological Department normals for Kangra airport (Gaggal, about 733 m), 1991–2020. Palampur is about 700 m higher and roughly 4 °C cooler by day and night.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (rainy days) | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18.5° / 5.2 °C | 72 mm (4.5) | Cold mornings; snow on the Dhauladhar |
| February | 21.8° / 7.8 °C | 78 mm (5.0) | Pleasant; occasional rain |
| March | 25.1° / 10.4 °C | 86 mm (6.2) | Pleasant; snow melting above |
| April | 30.9° / 15.4 °C | 57 mm (4.0) | Warm days; first tea flush |
| May | 34.3° / 18.3 °C | 76 mm (5.2) | Hot; thunderstorms |
| June | 34.7° / 21.1 °C | 202 mm (7.6) | Warmest; monsoon arrives |
| July | 31.1° / 21.9 °C | 612 mm (19.0) | Very heavy rain |
| August | 30.3° / 21.8 °C | 818 mm (20.3) | Wettest month |
| September | 30.8° / 19.6 °C | 205 mm (8.5) | Rain easing |
| October | 29.6° / 14.0 °C | 11 mm (0.8) | Clear skies, long views |
| November | 24.6° / 9.4 °C | 11 mm (1.3) | Dry and pleasant |
| December | 20.7° / 5.4 °C | 40 mm (1.7) | Cold nights; first snow on the peaks |
About 2,270 mm of rain a year on 84 rainy days — close to twice Mandi or Shimla. Kangra airport’s IMD records are 42.3 °C (May) and −2 °C (January).
Snow in Kangra and Palampur: where you see it, where it falls
Kangra town and Palampur do not get snow, but the Dhauladhar peaks just above the valley (over 4,000 m) stay white from December to March — on a clear day, the best view in the valley is the snow line behind the tea gardens.
McLeod Ganj (~2,080 m): light snow in some winters, mostly January–February; Triund (~2,850 m) almost every winter — Dharamshala weather by month and Dharamshala snowfall.
Towards Bir–Billing and Bara Bhangal snow increases with height; the Billing road can close after snow from December to February.
Kangra's heavy monsoon: what to know
The monsoon is fierce here — about 20 rainy days in August. Landslides are common on the Dharamshala–McLeod Ganj road, Palampur–Bir and the village roads above, and cloud often hides the Dhauladhar.
In July–August keep dates flexible, carry a rain jacket and shoes with grip, and trek (Triund, Indrahar) only after checking the weather. The tea gardens are at their greenest in this season.
The Kangra valley in pictures
Kangra Fort, tea gardens and the Dhauladhar — real photos, each credited to its photographer.
Best time to visit Kangra and Palampur
Choose by what you want to see.
Snow on the Dhauladhar
Snow peaks from the valley on clear days; cold nights.
Clearest skies
Dry weather, long views, paragliding season.
Temples
Brajeshwari, Chamunda, Jwalamukhi; Navratri crowds.
Beat the heat
Kangra town is hot; stay in Palampur or McLeod Ganj.
Careful
One of Himachal’s heaviest monsoons; landslides.
Kangra weather tips
What to pack: from December to February a sweater by day and a jacket at night, and full winter wear for McLeod Ganj–Triund. In the monsoon, a rain jacket and shoes with grip.
See:Kangra Fort, Brajeshwari Devi temple, Palampur’s tea gardens and Baijnath — Palampur tourist places.
More weather:Dharamshala weather, Dalhousie weather and Himachal weather.
Our Kangra valley trips
Hotels, breakfast and dinner, and a private car.
Planning Kangra, Palampur or Dharamshala?
Tell us your dates, where you are starting from and how many of you are travelling. We plan around the weather and the roads and send a written quote with hotels, meals and a private car. Suzu Travels is a travel agent registered with HP Tourism, based in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), planning trips across North India.
Kangra and Palampur weather: questions
What is the weather in Kangra today?
The live forecast at the top of this page shows the current temperature and the next days for Kangra, Palampur and McLeod Ganj, using MET Norway data.
What is Palampur's weather like?
Palampur (~1,470 m) is about 4 °C cooler than Kangra town — pleasant in summer and cold in winter, but without snow. The Dhauladhar behind it is snow-covered from December to March.
Does it snow in Kangra?
Not in Kangra town or Palampur. Snow falls on the Dhauladhar peaks, at Triund and, in some winters, in McLeod Ganj.
When does it rain in Kangra?
A lot — about 612 mm in July and 818 mm in August (IMD averages), and about 2,270 mm a year. October and November are the driest.
What is the best time to visit Kangra?
October–November for clear skies and March–April for pleasant weather with snow on the Dhauladhar. April–May for the tea gardens.
How cold is Kangra in December?
IMD averages for Kangra airport are about 20.7 °C by day and 5.4 °C at night; Palampur and McLeod Ganj are colder at night.
Sources
- MET Norway Locationforecast (CC BY 4.0) — live forecast data
- India Meteorological Department — Kangra Airport climatological normals 1991–2020 (via Wikipedia: Kangra)
- Suzu Travels: Palampur tourist places
Photo credits
The snowy Dhauladhar seen from Palampur — Photo: Rajputcenation, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Dhauladhar — snow-covered in winter — Photo: Truewebsolution, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kangra Fort — Photo: Ajay Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · The Kangra valley from the fort — Photo: Vssun, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tea gardens at Nagri — Photo: UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tea garden on the Dharamshala–Palampur road — Photo: Harvinder Chandigarh, CC BY 4.0 · The Kangra valley narrow-gauge railway — Photo: GKarunakar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The hill of Kangra Fort — Photo: Rajit Ajay Pandya, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Palampur — Photo: Gagansalaria, CC BY-SA 3.0
