Vitamin D in India: best months for sun and a travel guide

The best months for vitamin D in India are December to March. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.3 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot from April to May and rainy or stormy from June to November.

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India month by month

India is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.

Month	Rating	Sun window	Peak UV	Full dose, age 30	Full dose, age 65	Afternoon high	Rainy days
January	Excellent	7.5 h	7.6	7 min	13 min	30°C	16/30
February	Excellent	8.2 h	8.5	6 min	12 min	33°C	4/30
March	Excellent	8.3 h	8.6	6 min	12 min	33°C	0/30
April	Too hot	8.6 h	8.7	6 min	11 min	34°C	1/30
May	Too hot	8.0 h	8.3	6 min	12 min	34°C	17/30
June	Bad weather	7.5 h	7.0	8 min	14 min	28°C	29/30
July	Bad weather	7.3 h	7.0	8 min	14 min	29°C	28/30
August	Bad weather	7.2 h	7.7	7 min	13 min	33°C	20/30
September	Bad weather	7.2 h	7.8	7 min	13 min	30°C	28/30
October	Bad weather	7.0 h	7.5	7 min	13 min	29°C	25/30
November	Bad weather	7.1 h	7.2	7 min	14 min	30°C	21/30
December	Good	6.7 h	6.6	8 min	15 min	30°C	13/30

Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.

Travel guide: why go to India

Why go

India's coastline mixes beach life in Goa, palm-lined backwaters in Kerala and wild islands in the Andamans, all with rich food and culture.

Best for

Backpackers, yogis, couples and culture travellers.

What to expect

A dry, pleasant season from November to March, hot pre-monsoon weather in April and May, and heavy monsoon from June to September, when beaches are closed in many places. Plan for warm food and busy traffic.

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Places in India

Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.

Goa best: Excellent

Beaches, Portuguese churches and a relaxed party scene.

Best for backpackers, couples, groups

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

Kochi best: Excellent

Fort Kochi's colonial quarter and Chinese fishing nets.

Best for culture travellers, foodies

Best months December to March · Avoid rainy or stormy from April to November

Alappuzha best: Excellent

Gateway to the Kerala backwaters and houseboats.

Best for couples, families

Best months December to February · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy in March and from May to November

Varkala best: Excellent

Clifftop cafés above a spiritual beach.

Best for yogis, backpackers, couples

Best months March, December, January · Avoid too hot in February and in April; rainy or stormy from May to November

Kovalam best: Excellent

Crescent beaches near Kerala's capital.

Best for families, Ayurveda guests

Best months December to February · Avoid rainy or stormy from March to November

Pondicherry best: Excellent

Former French colony with yellow villas and cafés.

Best for couples, culture travellers

Best months January to March, July · Avoid too hot from April to June and in September; rainy or stormy in August and from October to December

Mahabalipuram best: Excellent

Ancient rock-cut temples beside the sea.

Best for history fans, day-trippers

Best months January to March, July · Avoid too hot from April to June and in September; rainy or stormy in August and from October to December

Port Blair best: Excellent

Gateway to the Andaman Islands.

Best for transit stays, divers

Best months December to March · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy from May to November

Havelock Island best: Excellent

Beaches, coral reefs and some of the clearest water in India.

Best for divers, couples

Best months December to March · Avoid too hot in April; rainy or stormy from May to November

Gokarna best: Excellent

Sacred temple town with quiet beaches.

Best for backpackers, pilgrims, yogis

Best months November to March · Avoid too hot from April to May; rainy or stormy from June to October

Mumbai best: Excellent

Business capital of Bollywood, street food and colonial buildings.

Best for city lovers, foodies

Best months October to March · Avoid too hot from April to May; rainy or stormy from June to September

The financial capital of India, the city that never sleeps, home of "Bollywood", the Hindi film industry

Agatti Island best: Excellent

Tiny Lakshadweep atoll with a lagoon.

Best for divers, couples

Best months November to May · Avoid rainy or stormy from June to October

Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Questions about vitamin D in India

When is the best time to visit India for vitamin D?

The best months for vitamin D in India are December to March. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.3 usable sun hours a day.

Can you get vitamin D from the sun in India in December?

Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 8 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.7 usable hours a day.

How long do I need in the sun in India?

In March, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 12 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.

Which months should I avoid in India?

For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot from April to May and rainy or stormy from June to November.

What is the best place in India for vitamin D?

In March the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Agatti Island. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.