India has been a backpacking hotspot for decades thanks to its varied culture, colorful festivals, delectable cuisine, and reputation as a spiritual haven. In fact, it also has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and countless bustling cities.
Nevertheless, you can’t mention India without talking about its scorching weather. For as magical as India is, its soaring daily highs can wreak havoc for tourists, and even the inhabitants of this wonderful South Asian nation. Although, locals are generally quite accustomed to the weather conditions, and not everywhere is hot. Still, some of the cities exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit making for unbearable conditions.
Naturally, this means you’ll need to be prepared, and if you’re anything like us, you’ll want to know which destinations are the warmest, to get the most out of your Indian experience. As luck would have it, we’ve created a guide covering just that. Let’s get into it.
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Jhansi
Kicking off our list, we have the legendary city of Jhansi, affectionately known as the ‘Gateway to Bundakhad’, thanks to its location in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. From heritage tours to mosques and monasteries, there’s a whole lot to soak up for history lovers, and you’ll even find quaint markets selling antiques.
This destination is rich in heritage and famous for housing the castle of queen Rani Lakshmiba, who valiantly fought against British rule during the 1st War for Indian Independence in 1857. The Jhansi Fort, where the battle between Rani Lakshmi Bai and the British forces was fought, is arguably the most popular attraction in the city.
The Rani Jhansi Museum, which offers further insight into the area’s history is well worth a visit too. Plus, the Jhansi Mahotsav, an annual cultural show, takes place in Jhansi in January, showcasing Bundelkhand culture, and local art forms.
There a plenty of opportunities for tourists to soak up the region’s natural beauty as well, with Barua Sagar Lake offering excellent views of the surrounding landscape. That said, it’s also one of the hottest cities in India, with record temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and an average daily temperature of around 85 degrees across the year.
Nagpur
Nagpur, or the city of oranges as it’s commonly referred to, is a major trade center for the aforementioned fruit. It is also Maharashtra state’s third-biggest city and another one of the warmest places in India.
The city is located in the Vidarbha region and is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas thanks to human activities in the main metropolitan zone. It’s been known to reach especially extreme temperatures during the summer season from April to June, with recorded highs reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and dry hot winds suffocating the city.
Nevertheless, it’s an excellent city to visit if you’re a nature lover, thanks to its incredible selection of parks, and lakes, with the window of August to November being the best time to visit. You’ll find no less than 11 lakes and three tiger reserves to explore, with places like the Ambazari Lake & Garden, and the Umred Pauni Karhandla Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve being popular tourist hotspots.
There’s no shortage of winding hills to trek for adrenaline junkies either, and there are even exciting boating opportunities on the lakes.
Delhi
India’s capital is an undeniable tourist highlight offering a host of cultural attractions and landmarks, along with a vibrant nightlife and culinary scene. The city also serves as a center for trade with a buzzing central commercial and entertainment district. However, even Delhi faces its fair share of extreme weather, with soaring temperatures being just one of the harsh weather conditions endured by residents.
Delhi is one of the hottest cities in India and its humid, subtropical climate, only adds to this, with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in May. As such, it’s best to visit between the months of February and March or October and November to avoid the summer heat and subsequent monsoons.
Even so, there’s plenty of marvelous architecture, bustling marketplaces, enchanting gardens, and lively festivals to explore, with the city offering an incredible blend of heritage and modernity. One of our favorites is the India Gate War Memorial, which offers beautiful lawns, perfect for leisurely picnics with family and friends. Although, the bubbly Hauz Khas Village in Southern Delhi is also well worth a visit, and you won’t find any shortage of enthralling nightlife hotspots and restaurants for late nights out on the town.
Phalodi
Nestled in the heart of Rajasthan, the warmest Indian state, is the infamous “salt city” of Phalodi, which shares its boundaries with Bikaner, Nagaur, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur. The city is a trade center for salt and camels, but its close proximity to the Thar desert means it is prone to extreme temperatures and sweltering heat waves.
Phalodi famously recorded the highest temperature India has reached to date, a staggering 123 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it one of, if not the hottest cities in India. Still, besides its blisteringly hot weather, the city is also well known for its rich culture, historic monuments, and elegant, locally made embroidered shoes known as ‘jootis’.
What’s more, it’s an amazing place to visit if you’re a fan of bird watching. Just two miles outside the city, you’ll find The Khichan Village which is a temporary habitat of the demoiselle crane and offers tourists the chance to see an incredible array of migrating birds. Referred to by locals as kurja, these birds travel all the way from South Western Europe for a short visit in Khichan, with the stretch from August to March being the best time to see them.
Bilaspur
Situated amongst the Himalayan mountains in the state of Chhattisgarh, close to the Tropic of Cancer, you’ll find the city of Bilaspur. It’s one of the main manufacturers of steel in India, with its name originating from Bilasa, a fisherwoman, who founded the city in the 7th century, according to legend.
This charming destination is famous for its natural splendor, historic monuments, and the adventure activities on offer, but it’s also recorded some unbelievably warm temperatures, as a result of its location. Its hottest recorded temperature to date is 120 degrees Fahrenheit, although it has an average daily high of over 100 degrees from April to June.
Despite its humid climate, it’s become a popular honeymoon destination, especially for warm winter escapes, thanks to its tranquil atmosphere, and scenic landmarks, with highlights including the Bhakra Dam and the beautiful Gobind Sagar Lak, which is a man-made reservoir. You’re also likely to find countless sacred shrines, and historic temples, with a host of heritage tours on offer, and the area is known for its quality saaris, which reflect the colorful culture of the region.
Churu
Churu is a small city, located less than 130 miles away from the city of Jaipur, in the Jangladesh desert region of Rajasthan. It’s the coldest city in the area, with a semi-arid climate giving way to extreme temperatures ranging from hot summer days with record temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, to freezing winter nights.
Its become a popular getaway spot thanks to its convenient location, friendly locals, and mesmerizing sand dunes, with the city offering a beautiful, colorful showcase of traditional Rajasthani culture. There’s plenty of history to explore too, with a host of sights including the famous Salasar Dham, and Gayatri Shaktipeeth temples being within reach.
You could also explore the awe-inspiring palaces of Kanhaiya Lal Bagla and Surana, the surrounding historic forts, and the Tal Chappar Blackbuck Sanctuary, for a spot of birdwatching. On top of this, the city serves as the stepping stone to many important cities in Rajasthan and further exploration of the region. The local cuisine is also infamously delectable.
Due to unbearable summer highs, the best time to visit Churu would be between the colder months of November to February or early March. During this period, the average daily temperatures hover between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, although they can hit sub-zero at night on occasion.
Vijayawada
Frequently described as ‘the oven of Andra Pradesh’, the city of Vijayawada, located on the banks of the Krishna river, is the second-largest city in the region, and its commercial capital. Named after goddess Vijaya, the city’s name can be roughly translated to “The Land of Victory”, with the destination offering a magical blend of contemporary Indian culture and tradition.
Ancient caves, magnificent temples, and towering forts live side by side with swanky malls, and modern architectural marvels in Vijayawada, but you won’t find any shortage of breathtaking natural attractions either. Highlights include the magnificent Kolleru Lake, which forms the biggest freshwater lake in Asia, and Gandhi Hill, where you’ll find the Gandhi memorial. You’ll even have the chance to take in its man-made attractions like the VMC Disney Land water park, and Scrap Sculpture Park.
Be that as it may, the city also holds the title of being one of India’s warmest cities, with unbearably hot summer highs of over 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and an average of 98. Fortunately, the winters are mild, with balmy temperatures, which makes the months of October to February the best time to visit.
Where is the hottest in India during winter?
The summers in India can come with soaring high temperatures that are hard to bear, followed by treacherous monsoon rains that cause nationwide flooding and dangerous conditions. Winter is undeniably the best time to visit, but India is not all sunshine and rainbows, and temperatures can actually dip below freezing in some regions with heavy snowfall following suit.
The hottest places to visit in India for some winter sun include the tropical paradise of Goa, the sweltering metropole of Mumbai, Rajasthan’s culture-rich Jaipur, and Kovalam in coastal Kerala, to name but a few.
When is the monsoon season in India?
The rainy season or monsoon season in India lasts from June to September across most of the country, although it is characterized by the humid summer rains that start in the southwest and make their way east, starting in May. Rainfall eases in the North at the start of October, while South India typically receives the most rain, and monsoons can continue until November.
Where in India has the best weather?
Surat is often deemed the city with the best climate in India among the 125 metropolitan contenders. Otherwise known as the “Diamond City”, Surat maintains pleasant conditions while monsoons sweep across the rest of the country and temperate weather throughout the rest of the year. Summer highs hover in the late 80s, while winter temperatures sit at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The average annual rainfall is around 1,143 millimeters.
Where is the hottest place in India?
Demonstrating a record high for the country in May 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan is the hottest place in India. The average temperature is over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, although summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees and the hottest ever temperature recorded was 123 degrees Fahrenheit.