Marwar & the Thar · Arid Northwest
Terrain and eco-zones
Arid to semi-arid, with the sharpest temperature swings in the country. Summer highs reach 45–49 °C in the western districts — Phalodi recorded 51 °C in May 2016, the highest reliably measured temperature in India — while winter nights in Churu and at Mount Abu drop below freezing. Rainfall ranges from under 200 mm in Jaisalmer to around 1,500 mm at Mount Abu.
Landforms
Thar Desert (Marusthali) — roughly 60% of the state's areaAravalli Range, among the oldest fold mountains on earthGuru Shikhar, 1,722 m — highest point of the Aravallis, at Mount AbuHadoti plateau in the south-eastShifting sand dunes at Sam and Khuri
Rivers and waters
Chambal — the state's only reliably perennial riverLuni — saline, and it simply ends in the Rann of KutchBanas, Mahi, Ghaggar (seasonal)Sambhar Salt Lake — the largest inland salt lake in IndiaPichola, Fateh Sagar, Jaisamand, Rajsamand, Ana Sagar, Pushkar
Through the year
| Season | Months | Typical | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | November–February | 5–25 °C | The season the state is built for. Cold nights, brilliant light, every fair and festival. |
| Summer | March–June | 30–49 °C | Punishing in the west. Sightseeing collapses to early morning and after dark. |
| Monsoon | July–September | 25–35 °C | Sparse but transformative — the Aravallis go green, Mount Abu is at its best, and Teej is celebrated. |
| Post-monsoon | October | 20–33 °C | Clear and comfortable; Marwar Festival and the run-up to Pushkar. |
Best time to visitOctober to March. Pushkar Fair falls around Kartik Purnima in November, the Jaisalmer Desert Festival in February. Avoid May and June west of the Aravallis entirely.
The climate, landforms, rivers and seasons of Marwar & the Thar, and the best time of year to visit. (4)