The effect of solar activity on the diurnal, seasonal and latitudinal variations of ion temperature <I>T</I>_i and its relationship with corresponding ion density <I>N</I>_i over the Indian low and equatorial topside ionosphere within 17.5° S to 22.5° N magnetic latitudes are being investigated, combining the data from SROSS C2 and ROCSAT 1 for the 9-year period from 1995 to 2003 during solar cycle 23. <I>T</I>_i varies between 800 K and 1100 K during nighttime and rises to peak values of ~1800 K in the post sunrise hours. Daytime <I>T</I>_i varies from 1000 K to 1500 K. The time of occurrence, magnitude and duration of the morning enhancement show distinct seasonal bias. For example, in the June solstice, <I>T</I>_i increases to ~1650 K at ~06:00 h and exhibits a daytime plateau till 17:00 LT. In the equinoxes, enhanced ion temperature is observed for a longer duration in the morning. There is also a latitudinal asymmetry in the ion temperature distribution. In the equinoxes, the daytime <I>T</I>_i is higher at off equatorial latitudes and lower over the Equator, while in the solstices, <I>T</I>_i exhibits a north–south gradient during daytime. Nighttime <I>T</I>_i is found to be higher over the Equator. Daytime ion temperature exhibits insignificant positive correlation with <I>F</I>_10.7 cm solar flux, while nighttime ion temperature decreases with increase in solar flux. Daytime ion temperature and ion density are negatively correlated during solar minimum, while nighttime <I>T</I>_i does not exhibit any correlation. However, during high solar activity, significant positive correlation of <I>T</I>_i with <I>N</I>_i has been observed over the Equator, while at 10° S and 10° N temperature and density exhibit significant negative correlation. The neutral temperature <I>T</I>_n derived from the MSISE 90 model is found to be higher than measured <I>T</I>_i during nighttime, while daytime <I>T</I>_i is higher than model <I>T</I>_n.