Best Time to Visit Hampi: Weather and Festival Guide

Quick answer

October to February is the best time to visit Hampi, when days are 29–31°C and mornings are cool enough to walk the ruins. November to January is ideal but busiest around Christmas and New Year. March is warm, and April–May routinely crosses 38°C, which makes the shadeless ruins hard work. The monsoon here is light and turns the boulders green.

Month-by-month at a glance

Jan30°Best
Feb33°Good
Mar36°Fair
Apr38°Avoid
May37°Avoid
Jun32°Fair
Jul30°Fair
Aug30°Fair
Sep31°Fair
Oct31°Good
Nov30°Best
Dec29°Best

BestGoodFairAvoidTemperatures are average daily highs (°C).

Hampi weather, crowds and what to expect

Monthly weather, crowds and our verdict
Month	High / Low	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
JanuaryBest	30° / 17°	2 mm	high	Cool mornings, dry; busy early in the month.
FebruaryGood	33° / 19°	2 mm	medium	Warming up; Hampi Utsav in some years.
MarchFair	36° / 22°	8 mm	medium	Hot middays; sightsee early.
AprilAvoid	38° / 25°	25 mm	low	Very hot; boulders radiate heat.
MayAvoid	37° / 25°	60 mm	low	Hot, with pre-monsoon storms.
JuneFair	32° / 23°	70 mm	low	Cooler, humid, light rain.
JulyFair	30° / 22°	80 mm	low	Green fields, few visitors.
AugustFair	30° / 22°	100 mm	low	River high; island crossing may pause.
SeptemberFair	31° / 22°	140 mm	low	Wettest month, still mostly short showers.
OctoberGood	31° / 21°	110 mm	medium	Green and pleasant; Dasara holidays.
NovemberBest	30° / 19°	30 mm	medium	Ideal weather, before the holiday rush.
DecemberBest	29° / 17°	5 mm	high	Cool and dry; Christmas–New Year crowds.

Long-term monthly averages. Individual years vary — check a forecast in the week before you travel.

Festivals and events in Hampi

2026: 13–15 February; 2027 dates not yet announced
Hampi Utsav
State cultural festival with music, dance and light shows among the monuments.
March–April
Virupaksha car festival
The temple chariot is pulled down Hampi Bazaar by thousands of devotees.
20 December to early January
Christmas–New Year
Busiest stretch of the year; riverside guesthouses sell out.

When is the best time to visit Hampi?

October to February. Hampi is a place you explore on foot, by bicycle or by auto across roughly 25 sq km of ruins and boulder hills, with very little shade. In these months highs sit around 29–31°C, mornings and evenings are pleasant, and the Tungabhadra is full enough for coracle rides.

How hot does Hampi get in summer?

Very. From late March to May, highs of 37–39°C are normal and the granite boulders radiate heat well into the evening. If you must travel then, see the main temples between 6:30 and 10:30 am, rest through midday, and return for sunset at Hemakuta Hill. Carry at least two litres of water per person.

Is Hampi worth visiting in the monsoon?

Hampi lies in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats, so the monsoon is mild, typically 70–140 mm a month, mostly in short bursts. June to September brings green paddy, fewer visitors and lower rates. The catches are humidity, slippery rocks, and occasional suspension of the river crossing to Virupapur Gadde (the Hampi Island side) when the Tungabhadra runs high after heavy rain upstream.

Months	Highs	Crowds	Verdict
Oct–Feb	29–33°C	Medium–high	Best
Mar	36°C	Medium	Early mornings only
Apr–May	37–39°C	Low	Avoid
Jun–Sep	30–32°C	Low	Green, humid, fine

Are there festivals worth timing for?

Hampi Utsav, the state-run cultural festival with music, dance and light shows among the monuments, was held from 13 to 15 February in 2026. Dates for 2027 had not been announced at the time of review, and the festival has moved around the calendar in past years. The Virupaksha temple car festival takes place around March–April.

Christmas to New Year is busy with backpackers and Bengaluru weekenders. Book riverside guesthouses well ahead, or stay in Hosapete and drive in.

Use our guides to things to do in Hampi and where to stay in Hampi, see upcoming festivals across India, or ask us to plan a South India circuit through India tour packages.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Hampi?

Two full days covers the essentials: the Sacred Centre around Virupaksha and the riverside walk to Vittala on one day, and the Royal Centre with the Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables and stepped tank on the other. A third day lets you add Anegundi, Anjanadri Hill and a slower sunrise or sunset without rushing in the heat.

Is Hampi too hot to visit in April?

For most people, yes. Daytime highs of 37–39°C and almost no shade make the ruins exhausting after about 10:30 am. If April is your only option, start at 6:30 am, hire an auto rather than cycling, take a long break in the afternoon and head back out for sunset. Carry water and electrolytes, and wear a hat.

When is Hampi Utsav held?

Hampi Utsav is organised by the Karnataka government and its dates change from year to year. The 2026 edition ran from 13 to 15 February. Dates for 2027 had not been announced at the time of review, so check the Karnataka Tourism or Vijayanagara district website before planning around it, and book stays early once dates are out.

Can you visit Hampi in the monsoon?

Yes. Hampi gets relatively little rain, and June to September is green, quiet and cheaper. Showers are usually short. Expect humidity and slippery granite, and note that the river crossing to the Virupapur Gadde side can be suspended when the Tungabhadra is in spate, so stay on the side where you plan to sightsee.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.