★★★
Budget
Hotel Square Plaza -Near IGI Airport Terminal 3
From $17 / night
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Things to Do in New Delhi in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
March Weather in New Delhi
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
85°F (29°C)
High Temp
60°F (15°C)
Low Temp
0.7 inches (18 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Air quality deteriorates mid-month due to agricultural stubble burning upwind.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March is the sweet spot Delhi locals wait for all year: winter's 10°C/50°F mornings are gone, but summer's brutal 40°C/104°F furnace hasn't yet ignited.
- + Holi lands in March (exact date shifts annually, typically early-to-mid month), transforming the entire city into a moving street party where strangers smear colored powder on your face and offer bhang-laced lassi - it's chaos, but the kind that creates lifelong memories.
- + Hotel rates drop 25-35% from peak December-January season while weather stays pleasant enough for full-day sightseeing without heat exhaustion breaks.
- + The city's famous gardens - Lodhi Garden, Garden of Five Senses, Nehru Park - explode with bougainvillea, amaltas trees dropping yellow flowers like confetti, and cooler evenings good for picnics.
Considerations
- − March's UV index of 8 means you'll burn in 20 minutes without proper protection - the combination of clear skies and pollution intensifies the sun's punch.
- − Holi week creates complete transportation chaos. Autos disappear, ride-sharing surges to 3-4x normal rates, and even walking becomes treacherous with water balloons raining from balconies.
- − The pre-monsoon dust storms start rolling in, creating that distinctive Delhi haze where the air tastes metallic and the Qutub Minar disappears into brown soup.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March in New Delhi hits a sweet spot. The winter chill has vanished. The brutal summer heat hasn't arrived. You'll get dry air, sharp morning light on sandstone monuments, and evenings cool enough for outdoor dining. Locals fill the parks by late afternoon. The pace feels measured. It is a strategic window. No major festivals crowd the calendar this month. That shifts attention to the city's bones, its daily rhythms. Climate data confirms this is among the driest periods before the monsoon, with rainfall far below summer levels. Your plans won't wash out. Tackle ambitious itineraries now, from Old Delhi's labyrinthine lanes to large Mughal complexes. The gap between winter's tourist crush and April's scorching heat means space to examine pietra dura inlay at the Red Fort or hear mosque minarets without jostling. The best time to visit New Delhi? These weeks of reliable, manageable warmth. For where to stay in New Delhi, consider Lutyens' Delhi. Wide avenues. Tree-lined streets. Colonial bungalows. Serene base. Or choose Connaught Place. You'll land in the commercial heart. The food scene shifts too. Catch winter greens at market stalls before mangoes take over. March delivers clear light for photography and nights cool enough to skip air conditioning, a luxury that disappears by April. Any New Delhi travel guide worth reading will flag these atmospheric and practical wins. March is your window.
Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Baby Taj Tour from Delhi with Meal
guided_experienceYou'll stand before the Taj Mahal's marble facade as morning sun makes it glow from within. You'll explore Agra Fort's large red sandstone battlements. You'll visit the beautiful, marble-clad Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, often called the Baby Taj. The tour includes a meal. Taste regional specialties without breaking rhythm.
It efficiently delivers the profound architectural narrative of the Mughal empire's peak, from a monument to love to a fortress of power, all with context a knowledgeable guide provides.
Insider tip: Wear socks you are comfortable removing. You'll take off shoes before entering the Taj Mahal's marble platform.
This month: The daytime high in Agra in March is similar to Delhi's, so the morning visit to the Taj is advised to avoid the afternoon heat.
The Chef @ 11:30 am (4 Main Dishes + 3 Breads)
otherFocus: strong North Indian flavors. You'll smell cardamom and cumin toasting in dry pans. You'll feel freshly kneaded dough for naan and paratha. You'll see busy colors in simmering curries. The experience ends with lunch. Taste what you helped prepare. Creamy butter chicken. Smoky baingan bharta.
It moves past restaurant dining to genuine, hands-on understanding of techniques and balance behind New Delhi's food.
Insider tip: Come hungry. Expect a late lunch. Demonstration and meal flow directly together.
6-Day Private Tour of the Golden Triangle
private_tourConnect New Delhi's imperial history with Agra's Mughal majesty and Jaipur's royal heritage. You'll hear rickshaws clatter in Chandni Chowk. You'll feel Amber Fort's ramparts at immense scale. You'll see Jaipur's honey-hue buildings at sunset. Private vehicle and guide let the itinerary adapt to your pace. Monumental highlights and good spots alike.
It provides a complete, comfortable, personalized immersion into the region's cultural and historical core.
Insider tip: Discuss adjusting daily start times with your guide. Use cooler March mornings for outdoor sites.
All-Inclusive: Private Taj Mahal & Agra Day Trip From Delhi
day_tripDedicated vehicle and guide handle the three-hour drive from New Delhi, entry tickets, and guided tours of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Often includes lunch at a reputable local restaurant. Focus entirely on the visual experience. Watch white marble shift color with light. Trace detailed floral patterns carved into walls.
It has a stress-free, premium encounter with one of the world's most well-known landmarks, maximizing time at the sites themselves.
Insider tip: If offered a choice, pick a restaurant overlooking the Taj Mahal for your included meal. Extend the majestic view.
Old Delhi Street Food and Spice Market Tour
foodWind through narrow lanes around historic Jama Masjid. You'll smell turmeric, dried chilies, and aromatic herbs at Khari Baoli spice market. You'll hear kebabs sizzle on open griddles. You'll taste tangy tamarind chutney on crispy pani puri. The experience traces generations of street food tradition. Simmering milk for jalebi. Stacks of freshly baked flaky parathas.
It is a direct, guided entry into Delhi's chaotic and delicious street food world, where a local expert ensures both culinary adventure and comfort.
Insider tip: Wear closed-toe shoes you don't mind getting dusty. Market lanes are crowded and uneven.
Timeless Treasures: An Old Delhi Heritage Walking Tour
culturalYou'll see sunlight through haveli lattice windows. You'll feel cool shade in a Sikh temple courtyard. You'll hear distinct calls of different trades from shop fronts. The guide illuminates history's layers, from Mughal-era mosques to colonial-era churches, telling stories books often miss.
It deciphers Old Delhi's overwhelming energy, transforming a maze into a map of fascinating human and architectural history.
Insider tip: Carry a small water bottle. The March sun warms even during walks, and few stops offer immediate drinks.
Where to Stay in New Delhi in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
★★★★
Mid-Range
Novotel New Delhi Aerocity- International Airport
From $84 / night
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March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early-to-mid March (exact date varies by lunar calendar)
Holi Festival
The festival of colors transforms Delhi into a living rainbow for one day. Streets become rivers of pink and orange powder, families prepare traditional gujiya sweets for weeks, and even the most serious Delhi businessman sports green hair by afternoon. The celebration starts with bonfires the night before (Holika Dahan) at neighborhood parks where locals gather to burn old belongings symbolically.
Late March
Qutub Festival
Three-day classical music and dance festival held against the illuminated Qutub Minar backdrop. Evening performances include sitar recitals that echo off 800-year-old sandstone and Kathak dancers whose ghungroo bells create rhythms matching the monument's carved calligraphy. Temperatures drop to comfortable 24°C (75°F) by 7 PM, making outdoor seating pleasant.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View New Delhi Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Ignore the pricey Holi packages at five-star hotels. The authentic party erupts in neighborhoods like GK-2, where locals spot a foreign face and haul you straight into their courtyard chaos.
Uber and Ola flatline during Holi week. Ride the metro as far as it goes, then walk, or lock in a car and driver for the whole day at a pre-agreed rate before demand spikes.
March is Delhi's chaat championship month. The chill is gone, so vendors keep tamarind chutney and yogurt cool without spoilage, which means golgappas are finally safe to devour by the dozen.
Reserve tables at Karim's or Al Kauser three to four nights ahead. March evenings are tailor-made for their Mughal-era courtyards, and every Delhiite knows it.
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking flights or trains without clocking that Holi is a national holiday is a rookie error. Services shut down and fares jump fourfold overnight.
Leave contact lenses at home during Holi. Colored powder wedges itself under the lens, brewing eye infections that can torpedo the rest of your trip.
Don't parade an expensive camera through Holi crowds. The powder creeps into every crevice and scratches lenses beyond repair, shoot with a phone zipped inside a waterproof case.
Assume Holi devours the entire day. Most locals stay hidden until dusk. Plan on losing twenty-four hours rather than squeezing in sightseeing between color skirmishes.
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