Why does the Indian state of Meghalaya receive exceptionally high rainfall compared to most other parts of India?
Meghalaya receives exceptionally high rainfall because of its geographical location, mountainous terrain and exposure to moisture-laden monsoon winds. The state lies in northeastern India, where the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills intercept moisture-rich winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal. As these winds rise along the southern slopes of the hills, they cool and condense, producing heavy orographic rainfall. The Khasi Hills, particularly the Cherrapunji and Mawsynram regions, experience some of the highest average annual rainfall in the world. The funnel-shaped terrain of the nearby valleys also helps channel monsoon winds towards these hills, intensifying rainfall. The southwest monsoon, especially between June and September, brings the heaviest precipitation. This combination of topography, wind direction and monsoon activity makes Meghalaya one of India's wettest states.
