Telangana is a landlocked state in south-central India on the Deccan Plateau, home to Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi and Nizam heritage of Golconda and Charminar, and the Kakatiya temples of Warangal and Ramappa.
Hyderabad and central Telangana have a tropical wet-and-dry (semi-arid) climate on the Deccan plateau at about 540 metres. Summers (March-May) are hot with highs of 38-42C and heat-wave spells above 45C, the south-west monsoon runs June-September with roughly 750 mm of annual rain, and winters (November-February) are dry, sunny and comfortable. Telangana is landlocked, so nights are cooler and drier than on the coast.
Best time to visit
Overall Best: October to February
Reasons:
- Dry, sunny weather with highs of 27-32C
- Festivals including Bathukamma, Dasara, Sankranti and Numaish
- Heritage sites and forts comfortable to explore on foot
- Lowest chance of monsoon flooding and heat stress
- Best conditions for day trips to Warangal and Ramappa Temple
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
22°C/72°F
Cool, dry and sunny; pleasant for sightseeing. Sankranti kites and the Numaish exhibition begin. Early mornings can feel cool.
February
25°C/77°F
Warm and dry with clear skies; good for outdoor sights and heritage events.
March
28°C/82°F
Heat builds; mornings remain pleasant. Ugadi (Telugu new year) falls in March-April. Afternoons often exceed 35C.
April
31°C/88°F
Hot with occasional thunderstorms; heat above 40C on some days.
May
32°C/90°F
Peak heat; heat waves of 42-45C are recorded, with pre-monsoon thunderstorms.
June
29°C/84°F
Monsoon arrives in early June, bringing relief and greenery; showers are frequent.
July
26°C/79°F
Wet and humid with cloudy skies and heavy showers; Bonalu festival in Golconda and the Old City.
August
26°C/79°F
Monsoon peak with flooding in low areas; Ganesh Chaturthi crowds in late August or September.
September
26°C/79°F
Monsoon continues with heavy spells; Bathukamma begins in late September or October.
October
25°C/77°F
Monsoon retreats; skies clear and temperatures fall. Bathukamma and Dasara festivals. The best travel window begins.
November
22°C/72°F
Dry, pleasant days and cool nights; excellent sightseeing weather.
December
20°C/68°F
Coolest month, dry and sunny with mild nights; Christmas and winter cultural events.
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Hot and dry summer with highs of 35-42C, strong sun and occasional pre-monsoon thunderstorms; Ugadi and, in some years, Ramzan fall in this window.
Summer
Months: Jun-Sep
South-west monsoon brings 100-165 mm per month, humidity and cloud cover; temperatures ease to 26-30C. Bonalu, Ganesh Chaturthi and Bathukamma fall around this period.
Fall
Months: Oct-Nov
Retreating monsoon, then clear, mild days of 28-30C and cool nights; Dasara and Bathukamma festivals.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Dry and sunny with highs of 27-32C and lows of 14-18C; the best time to visit.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Oct-Feb (festivals, weekends and wedding season); Dec-Jan is the tourism peak
- Shoulder Season
- Mar and Jun-Sep (fewer visitors, lower rates, monsoon showers)
- Low Season
- Apr-May (hot, low demand, best hotel discounts)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Sankranti
Harvest festival with kite flying, rangoli and special foods across Telangana, plus kite festivals in Hyderabad in some years
Numaish (All India Industrial Exhibition)
Annual exhibition at Nampally Exhibition Grounds running about 45 days with shopping stalls
Ugadi
Telugu New Year with pachadi and community festivities
Ramzan and Haleem season
Iftar evenings and haleem stalls around Charminar and Madina; Eid al-Fitr follows
Bonalu
Goddess Mahankali festival with processions in Golconda and Secunderabad
Ganesh Chaturthi and Immersion
Giant idol immersions at Hussain Sagar with heavy crowds
Bathukamma and Dasara
State flower festival where women stack and carry floral arrangements over nine nights
Deccan Festival
Cultural festival with music, food and heritage shows
Eid al-Adha and Muharram
Muslim religious observances in the Old City with processions and road closures