India
is a vast country, stretching across varied climatic zones. The plains of north
and central India, for
instance, experience extremes of climate, and the south is more equatorial.The
country’s northernmost state of Jammu & Kashmir is divided into
three distinct regions: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The weather pattern in the
three regions is vastly different and should be kept in mind while planning a
trip. While higher altitude destinations like, for example, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar
and Patnitop, have the same climate as the mountainous regions of Jammu, the
plains of Jammu resemble the north Indian plains. The summers here are
extremely hot with the temperature rising up to 45 Degree Celsius, and the best
season to visit is in winters, from November to February. Kashmir
valley is extremely pleasant between April and October with maximum
temperatures never exceeding 27° C and minimum keeping to around 14° C. Winters
are harsh, with the minimum temperature frequently dipping to 0° C and below!
There is heavy snowfall in winter, but rainfall is scant. The other-worldly
landscape of Ladakh remains chilly through the year. Since the high-altitude
desert of Ladakh lies in the rain-shadow area
of the Great Himalayas, there is no rainfall here. The roads to Ladakh, both
from Srinagar and Manali, are open from June to October. However, the closing
of roads is subject to weather and timings can vary.
