🌅Sunrise/Sunset Calculator

The East-West Time Gap in India

India spans nearly 30 degrees of longitude but follows a single time zone (IST). This means the sun rises in Arunachal Pradesh nearly two hours before it rises in Gujarat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) tracks these variations through its Positional Astronomy Centre. Our calculator helps you understand these geographic nuances, which are vital for coordinating timings across India's vast breadth.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Sunrise and Religious Observances

In Indian culture, sunrise (Surya Udaya) and sunset (Surya Astamaya) determine the timing of various rituals, prayers (Sandhyavandanam), and fasts. The Ministry of Culture highlights the importance of solar cycles in the Indian calendar. Our tool provides the exact minutes for these events, ensuring your spiritual practices are aligned with the local solar position in your city.

Ministry of Culture, Govt of India

Daylight Hours and Solar Energy

India is a world leader in solar energy under the National Solar Mission. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) emphasizes that maximizing 'peak sun hours' is key for efficiency. Use this calculator to see the total daylight available at your location, helping you estimate the potential for rooftop solar generation in sunny states like Rajasthan or Tamil Nadu.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

What is 'Brahma Muhurta' in India?

Brahma Muhurta is a period of 48 minutes that begins 1 hour and 36 minutes before sunrise. It is considered the most auspicious time for yoga and meditation in the Indian tradition. Our calculator gives you the exact sunrise time, which you can use to subtract the required minutes and find this spiritually significant 'ambrosial hour' for your location.

Why does daylight vary during the Monsoon?

While the sun rises and sets according to astronomical cycles, heavy monsoon clouds can make it 'dark' much earlier. The IMD provides cloud cover data, but our tool gives you the fundamental 'astronomical' sunset. Knowing the official sunset time is important for legal and safety purposes, such as operating flights or construction work during the rainy season in India.

Is there any Daylight Saving Time in India?

No, India does not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). The country has followed Indian Standard Time since 1947. However, there have been historical debates about introducing a second time zone for Northeast India. Our calculator provides accurate results for all Indian states using the current single-time-zone system.

🌆 Civil Twilight

Bright enough for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Best for landscape photography.

⛵ Nautical Twilight

The horizon is still visible. Historically used by sailors for navigation using stars.

⭐ Astronomical Twilight

Dark enough for astronomical observations. Faintest stars become visible.