The Monsoon — India's Lifeline
The monsoon is not a weather event — it is India's lifeline. Without it, there would be no water, no rice, no tea, no green landscape. The entire Indian civilization is built on the annual rains.
The southwest monsoon typically reaches Kerala's coast in early June and then progresses northwest across the entire subcontinent within six weeks. It arrives in Delhi at the end of June/beginning of July. The rain lasts until September/October and brings 75–90% of the annual precipitation.
Traveling during the Monsoon?
Many travel guides advise against the monsoon — and for certain regions (Rajasthan: roads flooded; Goa: beaches churned; Himalayas: landslides) this is true. But the monsoon also has its charm:
- Kerala during the Monsoon: The backwaters are at their lushest, the Ayurveda tradition prescribes treatments during the monsoon (the body is then most receptive), and prices are minimal.
- Ladakh: Located in the "rain shadow" of the Himalayas and remains dry during the monsoon — the perfect monsoon escape.
- Northeast (Meghalaya): Cherrapunji, one of the rainiest places on earth, is most spectacular during the monsoon — waterfalls everywhere and the famous Living Root Bridges.
