Mawsynram is the wettest place in India.
For a considerable amount of time, Cherrapunji had occupied the position of wettest place in India. However, off late, observations revealed that it is Mawsynram which receives the maximum amount of annual rainfall. Hence, Mawsynram is the wettest place in India. Both the places – Mawsynram and Cherrapunji – are located within 16 kilometers from each other in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.
Mawsynram is arguably the wettest place on earth with an average annual rainfall of 11,872 millimeters, although its claim is disputed by two places – López de Micay and Lloró – both the places in Columbia have an average annual rainfall of 12,892 millimeters and 12717 millimeters respectively.
Cherrapunji receives an average annual rainfall of 11,777 millimeters. Thus it is the second wettest place in India. Despite losing the wettest place of the country tag, Cherrapunji still holds the all-time records for most rainfall in a calendar month and in a year. In the month of July 1861, Cherrapunji received a total rainfall of 9,300 millimeters whereas between August 1860 and July 1861, the place received a total rainfall of 26,461 millimeters. Cherrapunji also holds the Indian record of maximum rainfall received in a calendar year with 22,992 millimeters of rain in the year 1861.
The main reasons for the heavy rainfall at these two places are – northward moving Bay of Bengal Monsoon, which cover an extensive area but are forced to converge into the narrower zone over the Khasi Hills resulting into concentrating the moisture. East to west alignment of Khasi hills places them directly in the path of Bay of Bengal monsoon resulting into the continuous upliftment of monsoon and concentration into rain.
