Things to Do in Bengaluru in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Bengaluru
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Post-monsoon freshness with minimal rainfall - November gets the 'variable' label but those 10 rainy days are typically brief evening showers, not all-day washouts. The city actually feels cleaner after the October rains have settled the dust.
- Perfect outdoor temperature window from 6am-10am and 4pm-7pm - mornings hit a sweet spot around 20°C (68°F) before the midday heat builds. This is when you'll see locals doing their morning walks at Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and it's genuinely the best time for exploring the older neighborhoods on foot.
- Diwali aftermath means festival energy without festival chaos - by November, the main Diwali celebrations are wrapping up but the city still has decorations up, special sweets in shops, and that post-festival relaxed vibe. You get the cultural atmosphere without the impossible traffic and sold-out hotels.
- Shoulder season pricing before December holiday surge - accommodation rates in November typically run 20-30% lower than December-January peak season. International flight prices haven't hit their winter highs yet, and you can actually book decent restaurants without a week's notice.
Considerations
- Humidity lingers at 70% despite lower rainfall - that warm and humid feel is real. Your clothes won't dry overnight if you're hand-washing, and you'll be sweating through shirts by 11am even on cloudy days. The air conditioning in your accommodation becomes non-negotiable, not a luxury.
- Unpredictable rain timing disrupts outdoor plans - those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly through the month, and weather apps are notoriously unreliable here. A perfectly clear morning can turn into a 30-minute downpour at 3pm, which is frustrating when you've planned a walking tour of Basavanagudi temples.
- Air quality deteriorates mid-month from crop burning - farmers in neighboring states burn crop stubble in November, and the smoke drifts over Bengaluru. The AQI can spike to 150-200 on bad days, which you'll feel in your throat and eyes. People with respiratory issues should monitor this closely.
Best Activities in November
Early Morning Heritage Walks in Pete Areas
November mornings between 6:30am-9am are perfect for exploring the old Pete (market) neighborhoods like Chickpet, Avenue Road, and Balepet. The temperature sits around 18-20°C (64-68°F), vendors are setting up their stalls, and the light is beautiful for photography. These areas get unbearably hot and crowded by 10am, so the morning window is crucial. You'll see flower markets in full operation, traditional breakfast spots serving idli and dosa to locals, and the wholesale textile markets opening up. The post-monsoon air means less dust than you'd get in summer months.
Nandi Hills Sunrise Cycling Routes
November is the only month where cycling up Nandi Hills at 60 km (37 miles) from the city is genuinely pleasant rather than an endurance test. The hill sits at 1,478 m (4,851 ft) elevation, and morning temperatures there drop to 14-16°C (57-61°F) - cool enough that the 18 km (11 mile) climb doesn't feel like torture. The post-monsoon greenery is still lush, and on clear mornings you get those dramatic cloud formations below the peak. Most cyclists start the climb around 4:30am to catch sunrise at 6am. The variable weather means some mornings are cloudy, but the cooler temps make it worth the gamble.
Craft Brewery Afternoon Tours
Bengaluru's craft beer scene is best experienced in November when the afternoon heat drives everyone indoors anyway. Between 2pm-6pm when outdoor sightseeing is least pleasant due to 27°C (81°F) temps and high humidity, the city's brewery district in Indiranagar and Koramangala comes alive. November is actually mango season's tail end, so several breweries release special mango-infused seasonal beers. The indoor tasting rooms with AC are where you want to be during midday hours. Most breweries also serve substantial food, so this works as a lunch-through-afternoon activity.
Bannerghatta Biological Park Wildlife Safaris
The safari park 22 km (14 miles) south of the city is significantly better in November than peak summer. Animals are more active in the cooler mornings, and the 2-hour safari through the forest sections doesn't feel like sitting in an oven. The park has tiger, lion, and bear sections, plus a butterfly park that's particularly good post-monsoon when butterfly populations peak. Go for the 9am or 4pm safari slots when temperatures are most comfortable. The variable November weather actually helps - overcast days mean animals venture out more than in harsh sunlight.
Weekend Getaways to Coorg Coffee Estates
November is peak coffee harvest season in Coorg, 250 km (155 miles) west in the Western Ghats. The drive takes 5-6 hours through increasingly lush scenery as you climb to 900-1,200 m (2,950-3,940 ft) elevation where temperatures drop to a comfortable 15-22°C (59-72°F). Coffee estates offer homestays where you can walk through plantations during harvest, see processing, and actually taste fresh coffee. The post-monsoon waterfalls are still flowing strong, and the hill station air is a dramatic relief from Bengaluru's humidity. This works as a Friday-Sunday trip.
Evening Food Street Tours in VV Puram and Malleshwaram
November evenings from 6pm-9pm are perfect for street food tours when temperatures drop to 20-22°C (68-72°F) and the humidity becomes bearable. VV Puram Food Street and Malleshwaram 8th Cross come alive with vendors selling dosas, chaats, fruit juices, and sweets. November timing means you catch some Diwali special sweets still being made, plus seasonal items like sugarcane juice when the harvest is fresh. The evening crowds are manageable compared to festival times, and the slightly cooler air means you can actually enjoy hot food without melting.
November Events & Festivals
Karaga Festival Preparations
While the main Karaga festival happens in April, November marks the beginning of preparation season for this ancient Bangalore tradition. The Dharmaraya Temple in Thigalarpet neighborhood starts hosting evening gatherings where you can see traditional martial arts practice and devotional music. It's not a tourist event, but if you're interested in seeing local religious culture without the massive crowds of the actual festival, these evening sessions around 7pm offer genuine insight.
Bangalore Literature Festival
Typically held in late November or early December, this has become one of South India's major literary events. The exact 2026 dates aren't confirmed yet, but it usually runs over a weekend at venues like the Lalit Ashok. You'll get panel discussions in English, Kannada, and other regional languages, book launches, and readings. Worth attending if you're interested in contemporary Indian writing and don't mind spending a day indoors during the warm afternoon hours.