The best time to visit is October through February, when temperatures are cooler and the hill climb is more comfortable. Summer (March–May) can be very hot, and the bare rock steps retain heat — early morning visits are essential if you go in this season.
The Mahamastakabhisheka anointing ceremony happens every 12 years (the next is scheduled for 2030). If you can time a visit to coincide, it is one of the most extraordinary religious gatherings in India — hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, priests performing elaborate rituals from scaffolding, and an atmosphere that is genuinely once-in-a-generation.