Things to Do in New Delhi in October
Delhi in October is mostly dry, and the city is in festival mode. Navratri begins on 11 October 2026, Dussehra falls on 20 October and Karwa Chauth follows on 29 October. The weather is manageable. The air is less predictable: CPCB’s bulletin put the AQI at 187 (Moderate) on 5 October, the highest in nearly three months, and IMD recorded 36.4°C on 4 October, 2.2°C above normal. Every date and timing below was checked on 7 October 2026.
Delhi in October is mostly dry, hot by day and cooler at night. IMD’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Safdarjung are 33.0°C and 19.5°C. Key 2026 dates: Navratri from 11 October, Dussehra on 20 October, Karwa Chauth on 29 October. Red Fort, Akshardham and Lotus Temple close on Mondays. Check the AQI before any outdoor day.
Delhi in October weather
IMD’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Safdarjung give October a mean maximum of 33.0°C and a mean minimum of 19.5°C, with 14.1 mm of rain over 0.8 rainy days and about three foggy days. Treat those numbers as a baseline, not a forecast.
Individual Octobers swing hard. From 2012 to 2024, the month’s hottest day fell on or before the 10th in 12 of 13 years, with peaks between 34.8°C and 38.0°C. The coldest night came on the 23rd or later in 11 of those years, and the lowest readings ran from 12.5°C to 17.4°C. In 2025 the coldest night was 15.8°C on 26 October.
Rain is the least predictable part. Safdarjung logged none in 2011, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2024, and 128.6 mm in 2022. October 2025 brought 89.3 mm against a 15.1 mm normal; IMD’s 2025 summary uses a different normal from the 14.1 mm above, so the two figures will not match. October 2024 was the warmest since 1951, with an average high of 35.1°C and low of 21.2°C.
| Part of month | What the records show |
| 1 to 10 October | Usually the hottest days. 4 October 2026 reached 36.4°C, 2.2°C above normal |
| 11 to 22 October | Warm afternoons and milder evenings; AQI was already 284 on the morning of 19 October 2025 |
| 23 to 31 October | Usually the coldest nights; the 24-hour AQI reached 315 on 26 October 2025 |
What to pack for Delhi in October
Light cotton for the day, one thin layer for late evenings, sunscreen and shoes that slip off easily at religious sites. Carry a scarf for covering shoulders. If you are sensitive to polluted air, a fitted respirator-grade mask is worth the space.
Festivals in Delhi in October 2026
Dates follow the central and Delhi government holiday lists where a festival appears there, and panchang sources where it does not.
| Date | Festival | What it means for visitors |
| 11 October (Sun) | Navratri begins | Ramlila stagings build toward Dussehra |
| 19 October (Mon) | Durga Ashtami | Evenings are free for Durga Puja pandals; Red Fort is shut |
| 20 October (Tue) | Dussehra | Ravan Dahan in the evening at Ramlila grounds |
| 25 October (Sun) | Sharad Purnima | Full moon night; some calendars place it on 26 October |
| 26 October (Mon) | Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | Listed as a Delhi government holiday |
| 29 October (Thu) | Karwa Chauth | Fast ends after moonrise, which varies by city |
Diwali is not in October. Both the central and Delhi government lists put it on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Confirm puja timings locally nearer the date.
Ramlila and Ravan Dahan
Ramlila committees have staged performances at the Red Fort grounds, Ramlila Maidan and Subhash Maidan, and at grounds in Dwarka Sector 10 and Pitampura. Complete 2026 programmes were not available from every organiser on 7 October. Confirm dates, entry rules and the Ravan Dahan time with the committee before you go, then reach the ground well before dark on 20 October and take the Metro.
Durga Puja pandals
Bengali associations set up pandals for the final days of Navratri, and Chittaranjan Park in south Delhi is a well-known cluster. Ashtami is on 19 October, a Monday. Sightsee in the morning, then keep the evening for the pandals.
Best places to visit in Delhi in October
Monday is the problem day. Red Fort, Akshardham and Lotus Temple are all closed on Mondays, and 19 and 26 October are Mondays.
Heritage stops
Delhi Tourism lists Humayun’s Tomb as open every day from sunrise to 7:30 pm and Qutub Minar from sunrise to 8 pm. Sunder Nursery, next to Humayun’s Tomb, opens at 7 am and takes its last entry at 5:30 pm from October to March. Pair the two and finish before the afternoon sun. Red Fort is closed every Monday, and ASI has also shut it at short notice for events and security, so check on the day.
Old Delhi
Chandni Chowk’s food lanes work after sunset. Jama Masjid does not. Delhi Tourism lists tourist hours as 8 am to sunset for foreign visitors and 11 am to sunset for Indian visitors, and the mosque closes to tourists once the evening prayer begins. Sunset is around 5:40 pm in the last week of October. Chawri Bazaar is the nearest Metro station.
Gardens and dusk stops
Lodhi Garden suits an early walk. India Gate and Kartavya Path are better at dusk, which arrives early in late October. Hauz Khas Fort and its lake make a quieter late-afternoon stop in the south.
Temples
Lotus Temple is free and open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Akshardham is closed on Mondays, with first entry at 9:30 am, last entry at 6:30 pm and exhibitions from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Phones, cameras and bags are not allowed inside. Leave them in the cloakroom in the parking lot, and cover shoulders and knees.
A 3-day plan for Delhi in October
- Day 1, Old Delhi: Red Fort in the morning, Jama Masjid before late afternoon, Chandni Chowk for food in the evening, then a Ramlila on a Navratri night.
- Day 2, central Delhi: Sunder Nursery at 7 am, then Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi Garden, and India Gate at dusk.
- Day 3, south Delhi: Qutub Minar early, Hauz Khas Fort at midday, Lotus Temple before 5:30 pm.
A Monday in your trip goes to Humayun’s Tomb, Sunder Nursery and Jama Masjid, all listed as open every day. Akshardham needs its own half day on any other weekday.
Air quality and crowds
GRAP is not a fixed seasonal switch. CAQM ties Stage I to a Delhi AQI of 201 to 300 (Poor) and can invoke a stage in advance when IMD and IITM forecasts point to a rise. It invoked Stage I on 19 May 2026 after the AQI reached 208.
October moves fast. Delhi’s AQI read 284 on the morning of 19 October 2025, and the 24-hour figure reached 315 by 26 October. No week is safe to assume clean, so choose dates by the festival calendar and put an indoor stop in every day’s plan. Check the CPCB AQI the evening before, and CAQM orders for any GRAP stage in force.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Planning Red Fort, Akshardham or Lotus Temple for a Monday.
- Reaching Jama Masjid after sunset.
- Carrying a phone or bag into Akshardham.
- Assuming early October has clean air. The AQI was 187 on 5 October 2026.
- Packing only for cool evenings. 4 October 2026 reached 36.4°C.
Getting around
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the main air gateway, and long-distance trains arrive at New Delhi, Old Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin. For sites, use Chawri Bazaar for Jama Masjid, Jangpura for Humayun’s Tomb, JLN Stadium for Sunder Nursery, Kalkaji Mandir for Lotus Temple and Akshardham station, a 200-metre walk, for Akshardham.
FAQs
Is October a good time to visit Delhi?
Yes for weather and festivals. Air quality is the risk: the AQI reached 187 on 5 October 2026.
What is the temperature in Delhi in October?
IMD normals at Safdarjung are 33.0°C by day and 19.5°C at night. 4 October 2026 reached 36.4°C.
Does it rain in Delhi in October?
Usually little: 14.1 mm and 0.8 rainy days on average. October 2025 still recorded 89.3 mm.
What should I wear in Delhi in October?
Light cotton by day, a thin layer for evenings and shoes that slip off easily at religious sites.
When is Dussehra 2026 in Delhi?
Tuesday, 20 October 2026, per the Delhi government holiday list.
When does Navratri 2026 start?
On 11 October 2026.
When is Karwa Chauth 2026?
Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Where can I watch Ravan Dahan in Delhi?
Red Fort grounds, Ramlila Maidan, Subhash Maidan and Dwarka Sector 10 have hosted Ramlilas. Confirm 2026 schedules with the committees.
Is Red Fort open on Mondays?
No. It is closed every Monday, and 19 and 26 October 2026 are Mondays.
Can I visit Jama Masjid in the evening?
No. Tourist entry ends at sunset, around 5:40 pm in late October.
Does Akshardham allow phones?
No. Phones, cameras and bags must stay in the cloakroom. The complex is closed on Mondays.
How is the air quality in Delhi in October?
It varies daily. The AQI was 187 on 5 October 2026 and passed 300 in late October 2025. Check CPCB each evening.
Is Diwali in October 2026?
No. It falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
How many days are enough for Delhi in October?
Three days give a first overview of Old Delhi, central Delhi and the south. Slower travellers need four or five.
Final recommendation
Book around 20 October if you want Ramlila season, and keep Mondays for Humayun’s Tomb, Sunder Nursery and Jama Masjid. Check the AQI the night before every outdoor day. That plan holds up in a clean week and in a bad one.
