#1Hot
Goa
- Day
- 32.1°C
- Sea
- 28.5°C
- Sun
- 9.0h
- Rain days
- 1
Your March weather guide
Weather in India in March
March is a good month for India if you want hot weather and warm seas, rather than mild conditions for long days outdoors. Average daytime temperatures reach 32°C, nights stay around 24°C and the sea averages 29°C. Of the destinations covered here, Goa is the better fit for travellers prioritising dry weather; Kerala is slightly cooler by day but has warmer nights and more frequent rain. Plan active time away from midday.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 31.8°Cacross 2 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 24.0°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 28.9°Cwarm enough to swim
- Rainy days
- 5days1 mm or more
India, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in India in March
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
#2Hot
Kerala
- Day
- 31.4°C
- Sea
- 29.4°C
- Sun
- 7.1h
- Rain days
- 8
India destinations ranked for March
All 2 places we track in India, ordered by daytime high.
March climate overview
Daytime highs across India in March run from 31.4°C (Kerala) to 32.1°C (Goa). In Goa about 100% of March days reach 25°C. Nights average 24.0°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Kerala fall to 24°C or below.
Rainfall in March
Expect around 5 rainy days (1 mm or more) in March, with Goa the driest (1 days) and Kerala the wettest (8 days). The wettest March at Goa between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 with 85 mm; the driest was 1992 with 0 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 28.9°C around India in March - warmest at Kerala (29.4°C). That is comfortable for swimming.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 8.1 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 11.9 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
March against the rest of the year in India
March is the 2nd warmest month of the twelve in India. It is 0.6°C warmer than February and 0.1°C warmer in April. The hottest month here is April (32°C) and the coolest July (27°C).
Which part of India in March?
- Most sunshine: Goa, 9.0 h a day.
- Driest: Goa, about 1 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Kerala, 29°C.
- Hottest: Goa, 32°C by day - intense for sightseeing.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): Kerala, 31°C.
What to pack for India in March
Based on the averages: light, loose clothing and serious sun protection - midday highs sit around 32°C; a light waterproof for the odd shower; swimwear - the sea is 29°C.
Similar weather elsewhere in March
Within 1.5°C of India's March daytime average: Guanacaste (33°C, sea 27°C), Krabi (32°C, sea 30°C), Mombasa (31°C, sea 29°C), Khao Lak (31°C, sea 29°C), Kuala Lumpur (31°C). See the full ranking for March.
Goa: the better choice for dry weather
Goa suits travellers who want to spend time outdoors without planning much around rain. March averages just 1 rainy day, making it the drier choice here, though that is not a guarantee of uninterrupted dry weather. The catch is the heat: daytime temperatures average 32°C, so this is not a mild-weather break. Keep more active plans for the morning and leave room for shade around midday. Light, breathable clothing makes sense, while nights averaging 23°C mean evenings remain warm rather than chilly. The sea averages 28°C, making swimming a good fit for the weather, although the water will feel warm rather than cold.
Kerala: similar daytime heat, more rain
Kerala is a reasonable March choice if you are comfortable with hot weather and can keep outdoor plans flexible. Its daytime average of 31°C is slightly lower than Goa's, but that small difference does not make it a cool alternative. Nights average 25°C, so accommodation with effective cooling is a practical priority if warm bedrooms affect your sleep. With 8 rainy days on average, rain is more likely to interrupt outdoor time than in Goa; carry light rain protection and avoid making every plan dependent on dry weather. The sea remains warm at 29°C, so the main trade-off is more rain, not cold water.
A little more detail
India in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in India in March?
Goa is the warmest of the 2 places we track in India in March with an average high of 32.1°C; Kerala is the coolest at 31.4°C.
Is the sea warm in India in March?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Goa (29°C), Kerala (29°C) in March.
Is March warm enough for swimming?
Sea temperatures average 28°C in Goa and 29°C in Kerala, so both suit travellers who prefer warm water. Temperature alone does not tell you about swimming conditions, though; follow local advice before entering the sea.
What should I pack for March?
Prioritise light, breathable clothes, sun protection and comfortable footwear for hot days. Evenings remain warm in both destinations, so heavy layers are unlikely to be useful for the temperatures described here. Light rain protection is particularly useful in Kerala.
How sunny is India in March?
The country average is 8.1 hours of sunshine a day, making March a good fit for travellers seeking sunshine. That does not mean every day will be clear: Goa has fewer rainy days than Kerala, so your destination matters.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 2 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C