October to March is the most comfortable time to visit Gorakhpur. Winters (December–January) can be cold and foggy, but temperatures rarely drop below 5°C. The period from February to April offers the best balance: mild temperatures and clear skies.
Avoid the monsoon season (July–September) if you can. The city receives heavy rainfall and the surrounding plains flood. Travel to Kushinagar and Lumbini can be disrupted.
The Gorakhnath Temple sees its biggest crowds during Makar Sankranti (January) and the Khichdi Mela, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims converge on the temple over a few days.