Hampi · Best Time to Visit

The short answer is October to February, and the reason is almost entirely heat. Hampi sits in the dry interior of the Deccan, in a hot semi-arid zone, and its open, shadeless, boulder-baked terrain amplifies the temperature. The difference between the cool season and the hot one is the difference between a pleasant day of exploring and a genuinely gruelling one. The figures below follow the pattern of climate normals compiled by the India Meteorological Department for this part of Karnataka; treat them as typical averages, not a forecast for your specific dates.

Summer (March–June) is the season to avoid if you have any choice. Heat builds sharply from March and peaks before the monsoon, with April and May the hottest months, when daytime highs commonly climb into the high 30s and past 40°C. There is very little natural shade among the ruins — the granite absorbs and radiates heat, hilltops are exposed, and midday sightseeing becomes exhausting and, at the extreme, unsafe. If you must travel in these months, confine your exploring to the early morning and late afternoon, carry plenty of water, wear a hat and cover up, and rest through the middle of the day.

Monsoon (July–September) brings the rains — generally low to moderate and intermittent here rather than the sheeting downpours of the coast — and knocks the worst of the heat down, with temperatures easing into the mid-20s to low-30s. The landscape greens up and the light can be dramatic. The trade-offs are real, though: the boulders and rock paths become slippery and dangerous when wet (so scrambling and rock-hopping are best avoided), and a swollen Tungabhadra can raise water levels enough that coracle rides and the ferry crossing are suspended for safety. It is a workable shoulder season for a temple-focused visit if you accept those limits.

Winter (October–February) is the ideal window and the reason the crowds concentrate here. From October the heat breaks, and November through February deliver the most comfortable conditions of the year — warm, sunny days broadly in the mid-20s to low-30s Celsius, and cool, pleasant evenings that can dip toward the mid-teens, so pack a light layer for early starts and hilltop sunrises. The river runs at a comfortable level, coracle rides and the ferry operate normally, and the clear light flatters both the stone and the landscape. This is when you want to be climbing Matanga Hill at dawn.

A special reason to time a visit for winter is the Hampi Utsav (also called Vijaya Utsav), the region's flagship cultural festival, which fills the monuments with music, dance, processions and light-and-sound shows. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 13–15 February 2026, organised by Karnataka Tourism and the district administration. Dates have shifted between editions in the past (some years the festival was held around November), so confirm the current dates and programme on the official Karnataka Tourism / Hampi Utsav pages before planning a trip around it. If your dates line up, it is a spectacular time to be here, though accommodation fills up and prices rise, so book ahead.

When not to go: the peak of summer (April–May) for the heat above all, and — for anyone whose plans depend on the river — the height of the monsoon, when the ferry and coracles may not run. Everything in the cool October-to-February window is fair game.