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June is a month of two Indias. On the plains, the southwest monsoon arrives to break the heat, while the high mountains stay dry and open for their finest season. Time it well and June can be a rewarding, uncrowded month to travel. Here's where to go.
Early June is intensely hot in the north before the monsoon sweeps up from Kerala, usually reaching much of the country by month's end and bringing dramatic, cooling downpours.
Crucially, the rain-shadow Himalaya, including Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul, stay dry and sunny, making them the standout destinations while everywhere else waits for, or welcomes, the rain.
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June is a superb month for the high Himalaya. Ladakh is fully open, the light is crystal clear, and the region's monasteries and moonscapes are at their most accessible.
The remote valley of Spiti, reached over high passes, is another June highlight, a stark, beautiful world of whitewashed gompas and ancient villages that sees far fewer visitors than Ladakh.
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June often brings one of Ladakh's greatest spectacles, the Hemis Festival, held at the region's largest monastery. Monks in vivid brocade robes and fearsome masks perform sacred cham dances to drums and horns.
It's a mesmerising, deeply atmospheric celebration of Himalayan Buddhism, and a wonderful reason to time a Ladakh trip for June.
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Kashmir remains delightful in June, and the hill stations still offer respite before the rains fully set in.
As the monsoon arrives elsewhere, the Western Ghats begin to turn a lush green, and the first rains transform the landscape. Rishikesh hosts International Yoga Day on 21 June, drawing practitioners to the banks of the Ganges.
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If you're travelling in the lowlands as the monsoon breaks, pack a light waterproof and quick-dry clothing, and keep plans flexible for the odd washed-out afternoon. For Ladakh and Spiti, the priority is careful acclimatisation to the thin mountain air.
June is the connoisseur's month for the high Himalaya, and our small groups are perfectly placed to explore Ladakh and Spiti with expert local guides. Our India trips handle the altitude planning, permits and logistics so you can focus on the scenery. Talk to us about a June mountain adventure.
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