Best Places to Visit in March (2027): India and Abroad
A month of two halves: winter ends, exams finish, Holi arrives and the hills start to wake up. Where to go in early March, where to go after the 17th, and where to play Holi or escape it.
March is the month when Indian travel plans change direction. In the first fortnight, winter destinations still work: Rajasthan is comfortable, the last of the Rann Utsav runs to 7 March, and there is snow left on the high slopes. By the last week the plains are heating up, and the hills, the north-east and the islands take over. In between come school exams, the end of Ramadan and, on 22 March 2027, Holi. So the best place to visit in March depends heavily on which half of the month you can travel.
This guide is built around that split. It starts with the March 2027 dates that matter, then gives a first-half versus second-half verdict for each destination with approximate costs from Ahmedabad, followed by Holi — where to celebrate it properly, and where to go if you would rather avoid it — then the hill stations that open up as summer approaches, the best countries for Indian travellers in March, and a planning note for families whose children finish board exams mid-month. Dates and visa notes are as of October 2026; rules change — we check before you book.
Updated October 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
Holiday packages for the places in this guide
Our latest matching packages on Vibrant Holidays — 3 to 11 nights. Every package can be customised for departure from your city.
March 2027 dates that shape your trip
- Sat 6 March — Maha Shivratri. Big crowds and special darshan at Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and Omkareshwar. In Junagadh, the Bhavnath fair at the foot of Girnar is usually held over the days leading up to Shivratri night, with sadhus from across India.
- Sun 7 March — Rann Utsav closes for the 2026–27 season. The first week of March is your last chance for the Dhordo Tent City.
- Mon 8 March — Nyepi in Bali. The island's Day of Silence: the airport closes for 24 hours and guests stay inside their hotels. The evening before has the Ogoh-ogoh effigy parades.
- Around 9–10 March — Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, which is expected to have begun around 8 February. The UAE expects three or four days of public holiday; Malaysia celebrates Hari Raya at the same time. Dates depend on moon sighting.
- Wed 17 March — Gujarat board (GSEB) Class 10 and 12 exams end as per the announced schedule (25 February – 17 March). CBSE exams run on into March.
- Mid to late March — Srinagar's tulip garden opens. In 2026 it opened on 16 March; the 2027 date depends on the bloom.
- Sun 21 March — Holika Dahan; Mon 22 March — Holi. Saturday to Monday is a natural three-day break. Rang Panchami follows on Saturday 27 March in Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Fri 26 – Sun 28 March — Good Friday and Easter. Europe's spring travel season begins; prices step up and some museums and shops close on the holidays.
Hindu festival dates can differ by a day between almanacs. Confirm your local calendar for puja timings.
Early March or late March? A destination-by-destination verdict
Approximate totals per person on twin sharing, including return economy flights from Ahmedabad (or road where that makes sense), standard-to-deluxe hotels. The Holi weekend and the Eid holidays in Dubai cost 10–25% more.
| Destination | 1–15 March | 16–31 March | Approx. per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer) | Good: 15–30°C | Getting hot; Udaipur still fine | ₹20,000 – 36,000 (5 nights) |
| Rann of Kutch | Last days, closes 7 March | Closed for the season | ₹15,000 – 30,000 (3 nights, road) |
| Saurashtra: Somnath, Gir, Dwarka | Shivratri crowds on 6 March | Good, warm | ₹12,000 – 24,000 (4 nights, road) |
| Kashmir | Late snow at Gulmarg | Tulip season begins; almond blossom | ₹30,000 – 50,000 (5 nights) |
| Manali and Dharamshala | Snow at Solang and Sissu | Cool, clear; snow thinning | ₹22,000 – 38,000 (5 nights) |
| Sikkim and Darjeeling | Cold; Tsomgo often frozen | Very good; rhododendrons from the end of the month | ₹32,000 – 52,000 (6 nights) |
| Meghalaya and Kaziranga | Good | Good; first pre-monsoon showers possible | ₹38,000 – 60,000 (6 nights) |
| Andaman | Excellent | Excellent, warmer | ₹40,000 – 62,000 (5 nights) |
| Coorg and Ooty | Good | Good; coffee blossom after the first showers | ₹26,000 – 42,000 (5 nights) |
| Kerala | Munnar fine; coast humid | Coast hot, 33–35°C | ₹28,000 – 44,000 (5 nights) |
| Goa | Quiet, good value | Hot afternoons; Shigmo parades around Holi | ₹16,000 – 30,000 (4 nights) |
| Vietnam | Excellent | Excellent | ₹58,000 – 92,000 (6 nights) |
| Singapore | Good, drier months | Good | ₹72,000 – 1,15,000 (4 nights) |
| Sri Lanka | Very good | Good, hotter lowlands | ₹48,000 – 80,000 (5 nights) |
| Dubai | Ramadan, then Eid holidays | Good; 25–32°C | ₹52,000 – 85,000 (4 nights) |
| Thailand | Hot, dry | Hotter, 34–36°C | ₹45,000 – 70,000 (5 nights) |
| Maldives | Dry, calm | Dry, calm | ₹1,00,000 – 2,30,000+ (4 nights) |
| Turkey | Cool, 6–15°C | Spring begins | ₹1,30,000 – 2,00,000 (7 nights) |
| Europe | End of winter, low prices | Easter week busier | ₹1,80,000 – 2,80,000 (8 nights) |
Holi 2027: where to play it, and where to escape it
Holi falls on Monday 22 March 2027, with Holika Dahan on Sunday evening. Some families want to be in the middle of the colour; others, especially with grandparents or small children, would rather spend the weekend somewhere calm. Both are easy to plan.
Where to celebrate
- Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana: the Braj Holi season builds over the week before, with Lathmar Holi at Barsana and Nandgaon and flower Holi at temples in Vrindavan. It is intense and crowded; women and children should stay with the group, and we book hotels in Vrindavan or Mathura with car pick-up rather than walking in the lanes.
- Udaipur: the Holika Dahan ceremony at the City Palace, hosted by the former royal family, is one of the more elegant ways to see the festival. Lake-view hotels sell out for the weekend.
- Varanasi: Holi in Kashi begins days earlier with Rangbhari Ekadashi at the temples and continues on the ghats. Combine with a Shivratri visit two weeks before, or keep the two separate.
- Pushkar and Jaipur: lively and youthful in Pushkar; heritage hotels in Jaipur host gentler private celebrations for guests.
- Dang Darbar, Gujarat: the tribal fair at Ahwa in the Dangs is usually held in the days before Holi, close to Saputara — an unusual short trip from Ahmedabad or Surat.
Where to go if you would rather avoid Holi
- Andaman or Kerala's hills: Holi is barely marked in Havelock or Munnar.
- Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore or the Maldives: a three-day weekend plus two days' leave covers any of them.
- Coorg or Ooty: green, cool and quiet, with few colour crowds.
Practical points: oil the hair and skin before playing, use herbal colours, keep phones in zip pouches, and avoid driving on Holi afternoon.
Gujarat in March: Shivratri, the last of the Rann and Saurashtra
For travellers coming to Gujarat, early March is unusually rich. Shivratri on 6 March brings special darshan and night-long puja at Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and at Nageshwar near Dwarka. Junagadh's Bhavnath fair, at the foot of Girnar, draws Naga sadhus and pilgrims in their thousands; it is crowded and very much a religious gathering rather than a tourist show, so seniors should go with a car and driver and avoid the peak night.
The Rann Utsav ends on 7 March. Combining the two works well for visitors from other states: two nights at Dhordo in the first days of March, then down through Bhuj to Somnath for Shivratri, with Gir on the way back. After mid-March, midday temperatures in Kutch pass 35°C and the Rann starts to lose its brilliant white.
Explore our Gujarat packages or, for short drives, weekend getaways from Ahmedabad.
Hills that wake up in March: Kashmir, Himachal and Sikkim
Kashmir: tulips, almond blossom and late snow
March is the hinge of the Kashmir year. In the first half, Gulmarg usually keeps enough snow for sledging and the Gondola, with milder days than February. In the second half, Srinagar's Badamwari almond orchard flowers and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — with well over a million bulbs on the Zabarwan slopes — normally opens for its short season of three to four weeks. A late-March trip can see both tulips in Srinagar and leftover snow at Gulmarg, which is why it is popular with families after exams. Book Srinagar hotels early for tulip weeks. See Kashmir tour packages from Ahmedabad.
Manali and Dharamshala
Solang and Sissu, beyond the Atal Tunnel, still have snow in early March; Manali town is cool and clear. Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj are pleasant for walks, with snow on the Dhauladhar range behind. A good choice for families who missed the winter snow but dislike extreme cold.
Sikkim and Darjeeling
From mid-March, Kangchenjunga views are clear and roads to Tsomgo Lake and Nathula reopen more reliably as the snow eases. Rhododendrons start flowering at mid-altitudes towards the end of the month and peak in April. Gangtok and Darjeeling are mild at 8–20°C. See Sikkim and Darjeeling from Ahmedabad.
Not yet: Ladakh's road routes and the Char Dham temples remain closed in March. Spiti is reachable only via Shimla, and still very cold.
South India and the islands in March
- Andaman Islands: still among the best places in India in March. Seas are calm and diving visibility is high until April. Warmer afternoons make early-morning snorkelling and late-afternoon beaches the rhythm. A good Holi escape.
- Coorg: March brings the coffee "blossom showers" — once the first rain falls, plantations flower white and smell of jasmine for a few days. Timing is up to nature, but plantation stays in the second half of March often catch it.
- Ooty and Kodaikanal: 10–25°C and dry, before the April–May school-holiday rush from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Read our Coorg and Ooty packages from Ahmedabad.
- Kerala: Munnar and Thekkady remain comfortable; the backwaters and beaches become hot and humid. Choose an air-conditioned houseboat and keep sightseeing to mornings.
- Goa: quiet and cheaper than winter, with Shigmo spring parades around Holi. Hot by midday; fine for a resort stay.
Best countries to visit in March from India
Visa notes are as of October 2026; rules change — we check before you book. We prepare and submit visa applications; approval is at the embassy's or authority's discretion.
Vietnam — the strongest all-round pick
March is one of the few months when all three regions are good together: the south dry and sunny, Da Nang and Hoi An dry and warm, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay mild at 18–24°C with occasional drizzle. Tet crowds are long gone. Indians need the official e-visa; see our Vietnam e-visa guide.
Singapore
One of the drier stretches of Singapore's year, with fewer showers than December–January. Ideal for families after exams: Sentosa, Gardens by the Bay and the zoo are all outdoors-friendly. Indians apply for the e-visa through an authorised agent; see our Singapore visa guide.
Dubai: Ramadan, then Eid, then a short spring
Ramadan is expected to end around 9 March, followed by the Eid holidays, when hotels and attractions are busy with residents and visitors from the Gulf. From mid-March to the end of the month the weather is still pleasant, 25–32°C, before the real heat in May. See our Dubai visa guide.
Sri Lanka and the Maldives
Both remain dry. Sri Lanka's lowlands get hotter, so the hill country around Kandy and Ella is the most comfortable part; the tourist ETA is free for Indians but must be approved before you travel. The Maldives is calm and sunny. Read our Sri Lanka visa guide.
Thailand and Malaysia
Thailand is in its hot season, 33–36°C in Bangkok; island days are fine with shade and water. Malaysia's Ramadan ends around 9–10 March with Hari Raya; travel after the holiday week for normal hours. Malaysia's visa exemption for Indians runs to 31 December 2026, and its 2027 position had not been announced as of October 2026; see our Malaysia visa guide.
Bali after Nyepi
The rainy season eases through March. Avoid arriving or leaving on 8 March, Nyepi, when the airport is shut for 24 hours; the evening before, the Ogoh-ogoh parades are worth seeing if you are already on the island. Read our Bali visa guide.
Turkey, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong
Istanbul is cool, 6–15°C, with spring arriving late in the month; Cappadocia's balloon flights run whenever wind allows. Europe is at the end of winter with lower hotel rates until the Easter weekend of 26–28 March; the Netherlands' tulip parks usually open in the second half of March. Allow six to eight weeks for a Schengen visa — see our Schengen visa guide. Australia enters a mild autumn, and Hong Kong is pleasant at 17–23°C.
Wait a little: Mauritius
Mauritius is at the tail of its cyclone season in March; April onwards is safer.
After the board exams: family trips from the third week of March
For Gujarat-board families, the exam calendar sets the date: theory papers end on 17 March 2027. Many families want to leave the same week, which, with the Holi weekend on 20–22 March, makes 18–28 March the busiest family travel window of spring. A few planning notes from our team:
- Book flights in December or January. Fares for the week after exams and Holi rise sharply, especially to Srinagar, Bagdogra, Port Blair and Singapore.
- Match the trip to the child's age. Teenagers enjoy Vietnam, Singapore, Manali snow activities or Andaman scuba; younger children do well in Kashmir, Ooty or Sikkim with short drives.
- CBSE families: CBSE exams continue later into March, so many plan for April or the May vacation instead.
- Combine Holi and travel: leave on the Tuesday after Holi to avoid holiday-weekend pricing and crowded airports.
All our trips are private and customised: your own dates, your own car and driver, and a pace that suits the youngest and the oldest in the family. Extended families travel as a private group on their own dates.
Why plan your March trip with Vibrant Holidays
- Half-month honesty: we tell you whether your destination is better in early or late March, and when the heat or a closure makes it the wrong choice.
- Festival timing for 2027: Shivratri, Holi, Nyepi, Eid and Easter planned around the actual dates, with hotels booked for crowded nights first.
- Visas and permits handled: Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai and Schengen applications prepared and submitted; approval rests with the authority. Nathula and Tsomgo permits added to Sikkim itineraries.
- Pure-veg and Jain meals arranged on request and confirmed in writing, with a straight answer where choice is limited.
- Office on C G Road, Ahmedabad, since 2015; planning on WhatsApp or phone for travellers in any city, 24×7 support on the road. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Travelling earlier? See best places to visit in February, or compare budgets with international trips under ₹1 lakh and visa-free countries for Indians.
Plan your trip with Vibrant Holidays
Tell us your dates, budget and who is travelling. We reply with a day-wise plan and a clear price, usually the same day.
Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Best Places to Visit in March: FAQs
Which is the best place to visit in March in India?
In early March, Rajasthan, the last days of the Rann of Kutch and Gulmarg snow work well. In late March, choose Kashmir for the tulip garden, Sikkim, the Andaman Islands, Coorg or Ooty. The plains heat up quickly after mid-month, so the hills and islands become the safer choice.
Which countries are best to visit in March from India?
Vietnam is excellent in all three regions, Singapore has one of its drier spells, and Sri Lanka and the Maldives remain dry and calm. Dubai is pleasant after Ramadan and the Eid holidays end. Thailand is good but hot. Turkey and Europe offer end-of-winter prices before Easter.
When is Holi in 2027?
Holi, the day of colours, falls on Monday 22 March 2027, with Holika Dahan on the evening of Sunday 21 March. That gives a natural three-day weekend from Saturday 20 March. Rang Panchami is on Saturday 27 March. Dates can differ by a day between almanacs, so confirm with your local calendar.
Where is the best place to celebrate Holi in India?
Mathura, Vrindavan and Barsana have the most famous celebrations, including Lathmar Holi in the week before. Udaipur hosts an elegant Holika Dahan at the City Palace. Varanasi, Pushkar and Jaipur are lively too. Travel with a private car and driver, and book hotels early for the Holi weekend.
Is March a good time to visit Kashmir?
Yes. Early March often still has snow at Gulmarg, and from mid to late March the almond orchards flower and the tulip garden in Srinagar opens; it opened on 16 March in 2026. Days are mild, nights cold. Late March is popular with families after exams, so book Srinagar hotels early.
When is Maha Shivratri in 2027?
Maha Shivratri falls on Saturday 6 March 2027. Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and Omkareshwar see very large crowds, and the Bhavnath fair at Girnar in Junagadh is usually held in the days leading up to it. Plan darshan early in the day and keep a car on standby.
Is Dubai good to visit in March 2027?
Mostly yes. Ramadan is expected to end around 9 March 2027, followed by Eid holidays when hotels are busier and pricier. From about mid-March to the end of the month, temperatures of 25 to 32°C are still comfortable for desert safaris and theme parks. Indians need a UAE visa arranged before travel.
Is Bali open during Nyepi in March 2027?
Nyepi, the Day of Silence, falls on Monday 8 March 2027. Bali airport closes for 24 hours and guests must stay inside their hotels, with no beach or street access. Do not plan an arrival or departure that day. The evening before has the Ogoh-ogoh parades, which visitors already on the island can enjoy.
Is March too hot for Rajasthan?
Early March is still pleasant in Rajasthan, at around 15 to 30°C. By the last week, Jaipur and Jaisalmer often pass 33 to 35°C at midday, so sightseeing shifts to mornings and evenings. Udaipur and Mount Abu stay more comfortable. Travel before about 15 March if Rajasthan is the main plan.
Where can families go after board exams in March?
After Gujarat board exams end on 17 March 2027, popular choices are Kashmir for tulips, Manali for late snow, Sikkim, the Andaman Islands, Ooty, Singapore and Vietnam. The Holi weekend falls just after exams, so book flights by January, when fares for that week are still reasonable.
Is March a good time for Europe from India?
March is the end of winter in most of Europe, with cool weather and lower hotel prices until the Easter weekend of 26 to 28 March 2027. The Netherlands tulip parks usually open in the second half of the month. Apply for a Schengen visa six to eight weeks ahead.
