In selecting the hottest destinations in India we must keep in mind that India has a largely tropical climate, and feeds somewhat into the warm winds travelling from the equatorial regions and has arid regions in addition to tropical regions.
The warm winds from the equatorial regions are due to the Hadley Cell of air circulation that travels until 30 degrees latitude north, keeping these latitudinal regions relatively warm. However, nearby 30 degrees latitude, where India lies, the air tends to be generally less moist than it is closer to the equator, leading to hot but arid regions. A large part of temperature rise is dependent on the Sun’s position relative to the Earth, climactic patterns, and the trapping of heat by substances on Earth, including the atmosphere.
The Indian landmass exhibits both tropical and arid properties in what is a generally hot country during the summer season. This should lead us to question over which are the hottest destinations in India where sizeable populations reside?
Phalodi – Record for Hottest Temperature in India
Temperature – 51
Fig: Demoiselle Cranes over Phalodi
Source: Sanjay Austa
On 19th May 2016, Phalodi – a town and municipality in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan – recorded the highest temperature recorded in India since 1956. This maximum temperature of 51oC came in the middle of severe heat wave conditions in the region. Situated 142 km from Jodhpur, the town is also known as the salt city due to the presence of a large number of salt industries. Phalodi is generally hot and has a semi-arid climate. If one visits Phalodi, one must go to the Demoiselle Crane Village, another name for Khican village. The village is nicknamed as such as among many other species, it becomes a temporary habitat for the Demoiselle Crane in the migratory season. The village is a site for migratory birds to come with the ideal time being between August to March. The birds usually migrate from South-Western Europe, Poland and Ukraine.
We have selected 10 destinations in our countdown, going in ascending order towards the warmest destination in India. The countdown is based on the maximum temperature recorded by the India Meteorological Department at these locations in the period between 2016 and 2017.
- Akola | Temperature 47.1
Fig: Akola Railway Station
Akola is a city located in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Akola is also called the Cotton City, being part of the largest cotton producing region in India, the city is known for being a hub for cotton production. Akola has a tropical savanna climate and the climate is quite humid. People in Akola usually wear cotton to combat the heat and humidity. Tourists going to Akola would need to travel 580 km from Mumbai. Other than appreciating Akola as a cotton hub, tourists can also visit Nehru Park, which is a well known amusement Park for recreation. A visitor to the Park might be interested in its laser show and its musical fountain.
- Hissar | Temperature 47.8
Fig: Hisar city skyline
Hissar city is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district in the state of Haryana. The city is seen as a centre of urban development that can complement nearby Delhi. Hissar has a continental climate, with very hot summers and very cold winters. The region is arid and experiences scant rainfall, and can experience very high temperatures in the summer season. Dust storms occur occasionally in Hissar during the summer season. To travel to Hisar, one would need to travel 164 km from New Delhi, the capital of India. If one is Hisar, one would be interested in making a visit to Lohari Rago, which is located 55 km from Hisar city. The village is the remnant of an ancient site for habitation by the Indus Valley Civilization. The Lohari Rago site consists of three mounds belonging to the Sothi-Siswal ceramic period where a lot of Harappan ceramics such as bowls and pottery were found when it was first excavated in 1980.
- Deesa | Temperature 48
Fig: The Hawai Pillar in Deesa
Deesa is a city in the state of Gujarat that was recently in the news for flash floods resulting from severely heavy rainfall of 525 mm within 48 hours in July 2017. The river Banas flows through Deesa. The city is a prominent medical hub among its surrounding regions. Deesa is known for the Hawai Pillar, constructed by the British in 1824 to measure air pressure. The Hawai pillar was renovated by the Deesa municipality in 2013 and re-enacted as a heritage monument and picnic spot.
- Ahmedabad | Temperature 48
Fig: Ahmedabad city skyline
Ahmedabad is the largest city and erstwhile capital of the state of Gujarat. Ahmedabad is in terms of land area the seventh largest metropolitan area in India. The city is known for its abundance of architectural marvels, including many historic mosques and mausoleums, museums, restaurants along with vibrant street-food. Lying on the banks of the Sabarmati river, Ahmedabad has a hot and semi-arid climate. A highlight for tourists to Ahmedabad is Kankaria Lake, which is a symbolic site for the city of Ahmedabad. The lake is about 2.5 km in circumference and occupies an area of about 4 sq km, and encircles an island garden called Naginawadi. Near the lake is a zoo and aquarium for visitors to spend time.
- Kota | Temperature 48.2
Fig: The Seven Wonders Park in Kota
Source: Government of Rajasthan
Kota is a city in Rajasthan located about 250 km from the state capital of Jaipur. Located along the Chambal river, Kota, like most of Rajasthan, has a semi-arid climate and experiences hot temperatures all year round. A tourist visiting Kota might be interested in the Seven Wonders Park, which has replicas of the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Coliseum of Rome, the statue of Christ the Redeemer of Brazil and the Taj Mahal. The installations form part of a Rs 20 crore project undertaken by the Urban Development Department of the Urban Improvement Trust of Kota.
- Jodhpur | Temperature 48.8
Fig: The Jodhpur city skyline
Jodhpur is one of the state of Rajasthan’s biggest cities and was formerly the capital of a princely state called Marwar. The city is sometimes referred to as the Sun City for the perennial sunshine it receives all year round. Many buildings in Jodhpur are painted blue, providing a predominantly blue city skyline.
The climate for Jodhpur is hot and semi-arid and temperatures can peak at the extremes in the city. Its location near the Indo-Pak border makes it a key military base. However, this does not deter tourism in Jodhpur, which features among Rajasthan’s most popular tourist destinations. For tourists a good time to visit would be during the Marwar Festival, which is the most popular festival in Jodhpur. The festival is held in remembrance of the erstwhile heroes of Rajasthan and is rich in Rajasthani folk music, sung as odes to the heroes.
- Jaisalmer | Temperature 49
Fig: Camels wading through the Thar Desert
Third among the hottest destinations in India is Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is a prominent city in Rajhasthan which is often called as the Golden City as the town is located on a ridge of yellowish sandstone. The city lies in an arid desert region in the Thar Desert and thus suffers from extremes of temperature. It can get very hot in the summer season and relatively cold during the winter season. Water is scarce here and occurs usually with brackishness. Even with the extreme climate, Jaisalmer attracts tourists. Other than the Jaisalmer Fort which crowns its landscape, one can also visit the Akal Fossil Wood Park in Jaisalmer, which is a place having the fossil remains of wood having the signature of lush forests of an earlier era about 180 million years ago, when the climate here was warm and humid.
- Sri Ganganagar | Temperature 49.2
Fig: A fort in Sri Ganganagar
Source: Harish Bhargav, www. en.climate-data.org
Second among the hottest destinations in India is Sri Ganganagar. Sri Ganganagar is a city located in the northernmost parts of Rajasthan and is on the transit route for people travelling by Rajasthan to Punjab. Taking inspiration from the city of Paris, Sri Ganganagar is a very well planned city, making the city a desirable tourist destination. The city is located by the banks of the river Sutlej and like Jaisalmer temperatures can exhibit extreme variations seasonally and between night and day. Visitors to Sri Ganganagar can visit Bror village where one of the sites for the ancient Indus Valley Civilization is located. The site is a popular archaeological site where one can find antiques such as terracotta cakes, beads, sling balls, etc.
- Barmer | Temperature 49.5
Fig: The shifting sands near Barmer
Source: Government of Rajasthan
Jointly first among the hottest destinations in India is Barmer along with one more location, both having the same maximum temperature. Barmer is a city in Rajasthan located within the Thar Desert. The temperature varies greatly here with the passing of seasons and while in the summer season it can be very hot, in the winter season it can be pretty cold. Occasionally there can be substantial rainfall, but however, the weather here is generally dry. Visitors to Barmer can experience the Barmer Thar Festival, which is a major festival of the region and is organized by the Rajasthan Government. The festival is a hub for tourists and happens in the month of March every year.
- Bikaner | Temperature 49.5
Fig: The Palace at Bikaner, 1896
Source: Columbia University
Jointly holding first position among the hottest destinations in India is Bikaner, which again is a location in Rajasthan. Bikaner is a city in Rajasthan located 330 km from Jaipur surrounded by the Thar Desert. The climate in Bikaner exhibits very low precipitation and extreme temperature variations, going from very hot in the summer season to cold in the winters. Visitors to Bikaner however, can visit Gajner Lake, which is an artificial lake that is among the most iconic tourist destinations in Bikaner. The looming towers at the entrance of the lake make for a picturesque sight, and once inside, one can enjoy boating in solar-powered boats.