The objective of our study was the collection and characterization of germplasm of different species of cucurbitaceae followed by its evaluation for drought tolerance. Characterization of two species of Luffa (9 genotypes), two species of Cucumis (12 genotypes), one species of Lagenaria (2 genotypes), one species of Cucurbita (2 genotypes), one species of Citrullus (one genotype) and one species of Momordica (one genotype) were done based on 15 characters including internodal length, days to first female flower opening, node number of first female flower etc. Among Luffa species, days to first female flower opening ranged from 28.66 to 42.00 days. In Cucumis callosus it ranged from 18.28 to 22.00 days.From this, twenty genotypes were evaluated for drought tolerance in a pot culture experiment.Higher proline content under water deficit was found in Momordica genotype IC-373784(212.69 ug g−1 of fresh wt.). Diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity was generally higher under water deficit and it was more pronounced in Cucumis melo var. momordica genotype AHS 82 (76.05%).The reduction in the photosynthesis rate was less in Cucumis melo var. momordica (from 11.73 to 10.85 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1). From this study, four genotypes of Cucumis melo var. momordica (IC-274017, IC-274007, IC-331085 and AHS 82) three genotypes of Cucumis melo var. callosus (IC-641436, AHK 119 and IC-351039) and one of Momordica charantia var. muricata (IC-373784) were identified as drought tolerant.