Things You Must Know About The Indian Monsoon

The Indian Monsoon is a much awaited phenomenon not only in India but also throughout the world. The reason is that it has so much excitement, and thrill associated to it.

The monsoon of INDIA or the rainy season lasts from June to September each year and brings abundant amount of rainfall throughout India and North-Northeast Pakistan.

The monsoon are moisture laden winds that form over Northern Indian ocean and Bay of Bengal and the goal of these winds is the extreme low pressure generated over Thar desert of Pakistan. They strike with great force on the Western Ghats -first at the southernmost tip of Kerala where hotels are reserved to see the first monsoon rain. The first monsoon shower occurs about June 1.

On striking the Western Ghats, it is divided into two branches, one branch moves upwards from Kerala towards Mumbai and gives exceptionally heavy rain fall along a narrow strip at the foot of western Ghats. The hill station of Mahabaleshwar, overlooking Mumbai is a terrific place to visit if you want to observe the force and ferocity of the monsoon winds. By the way Mahabaleshwar has 119 rains days from a total of 122 from. June – August.

The next branch crosses the W.estern Ghats and mixes with the Bay of Bengal branch at the Shillong Plateau which is in Meghalaya state of India. If you want to really have a taste of monsoon rain and are not bored with daily rain then Cherrapunji, few miles from the Shillong plateau, is the place for you. This place can receive as much as 40 inches in a single day during the height of monsoon.

The winds then start their westward journey, and the rain gets diminished accordingly. For instance Calculata receives the most rain then it gradually reduces towards Patna, Allahabad, Delhi and finally at Amritsar before entering Pakistan the amount of rain is reduced to one-fifth of what it was at Calcultta 1600 km to south east.

The rainiest areas in India are the western ghats, the Khassi hills of Cherrapunji and the places very close to the foothills like Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

The driest areas are Rajashtan and the adjoining areas of Indian Punjab which are in extreme Northwest of India.

Delhi gets moderate amount of monsoon rain. Out of major cities Mumbai leads in the amount of rainfall then comes the turn of Calcutta. Chenaii does not get any appreciable rain from the summer monsoon. It’s rainy season is opposite to India as a whole and commences in November and continues upto February.

In short, the arrival and progress of Indian monsoon with its thick dark clouds, heavy rain and cool wind is a treat to watch.