Monsoon, What's It Like?

isabel

Well, I'm going to be in India in June and July. It seems that I'll be there with the Monsoon. I've heard many things about Monsoon, but I can't avoid wondering what is it really like!

Can anybody tell me about the weather in India? I mean, which months correspond to winter (dec.-Feb., I think), and spring, summer and automn? What am I suppose to expect from the Monsoon? How often does it rain? I don't know, I think it changes depending on the month and the place.

In June I'm planning to go from Delhi to Vanarasi, visit Kathmandú and, then, going down the Gange for a while. In July I want to visit Bombay, Goa and Kerala. I'm going back to Spain at the beginning of August from Madras. In any case all these plans may change depending on my mood.

Can anyone help me? Thank you.

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VIVE Y DEJA VIVIR

SHIMLA

India has three seasons, Summer, Monsoon and Winter.

Broadly speaking, Summer lasts from March to May and then again for the month of October. Monsoon lasts from June to September and Winter from November to February.

There are exceptions, notably the area of Ladakh, where 8 months are considered Winter and only four months Summer !

The West Coast of India, comprising Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat starts receiving rainfall from the South West Monsoon form end-May onwards. It starts from Kerala and gradually moves northwards.

You should abandon your plans of visiting Kerala, Goa and Mumbai in July, as its the peak monsoon period in these areas.
The Eastern part of the country does not receive as much rainfall in this period, so you may plan a visit there. M.P. is another option for July.

Delhi and Varanasi will be very hot in June.

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Bryan

Magical!!!!
Run through the flooded streets of Calcutta avoiding the missing pot hole covers
watch the clouds race up the valley in Dharamshala
Hide from the dowlour in a chai shop with room for 10 people with 1000 other people and drink chai till the rain stops
See small streams turn into raging torrents of water cascading down the valleys
grab your bag off the bus and hike for 2 miles over a landslide
Be cut off from the world fpr a week ...magic
Play cards drink chai, play chess, drink chai, waiting for the rain to stop
Wrap yourself in your favourite blanket in your favourite chair with your favourite book
stand in the sea with a thunderstorm over head feeling the rain batter down on you and scream Bom Shiva!
slip in the mud get dirty have a mud fight and fall about laughing
buy an umbrella
buy your son a smaller umbrella
lose your umbrella
buy another umbrella

Run to Ladakh
Run to Rajisthan and sit out the rains
MArvel at the darkness of the rain clouds as they roll
Stand in awe at the massive lightning storms
Hope the strikes overhead dont hit your hotel
Jump in terror and burst out laughing when it hits the roof of the one across the road

See India flourish from a dusty parched mland to a lush green delta

Yeah the Monsoon is amazing!!!!

bryan

__________________
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
- Burns

1WorldinaCave

This post if anything has convinced me not to avoid the monsoons, well at least for while...

mercedes10

Bryan - great to read an optimistic view of the monsoon! I'm in India in July and the only advice I've really received about the monsoon is - 'avoid it!'. Nice to hear another perspective!!

Isabel - good to know I'm not the only crazy one making a monsoon visit!!

Bryan

Mercedes If you are in Scotland then you'll be aware that we have a 12 month monsoon
If you can handle the rain here then the rain will no phase you

Dont worry about the rain...In July it can still be very hot ...40+ but when the rains arrive it drops the temp

I was there in the monsoon in 2002 and from waht i heard from Scotland it was wetter there ...reports where it rained every single day of May and June so don't worry too much

If you need to escape the rains head for Rajisthan or Ladakh
If you are in Glasgow let me know and if there is any other tips you need or help IM me...
trailfinders on Sauchihall street are reasonable for flights
I went from Glasgow Airport - Amsterdam - Mumbai and the prie was quite reasonable when you add in the cost of getting to London for other flights

PIA used to be pretty cheap as well. tehy fly from Manchester or London via Karachi. I used a Pakistani travel agent in Govanhill area of Glasgow just off Calder street

mercedes10

Cheers Bryan. That's certainly eased my fears somewhat. The way people were going on I was beginning to think it was just going to be awful! It was monsoon time when I was in Sri Lanka too and it was no problem at all, so hopefully India will be similar. We've already booked flights - via London & Colombo to Delhi. It means we can stop off in Sri Lanka at no extra cost on the way back for a couple of relaxing days at the beach (which will probably be well needed!). Flight cost £610! This was the best deal we could find. Cheers for all your help! :-)

volga_volga

why don't you watch Monsoon Wedding? pretty good illustration.

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Merchant

Read Alexander Frater's "Chasing the Monsoon."

isabel

I love this Forum!

Shimla,

your information about Indian weather is wonderful, thank you very much. The only problem, I'm still rather ignorant about India, is that I don't know what you mean by M.P.

Bryan,

you're a poet! What a picture of Monsoon you wrote! Love it! In fact in 2001 we were in Ireland during August and September and we had a non-stop rain, cycling under the rain makes you strong! I admired postmen, cycling with all the letters! Well, I know, lots of patient waiting...

Mercedes,

Hope you have fun in India and enjoy Monsoon, as I'm going to do! At least you must be used to rain, if you're living in Scotland!

Volga_volga,

I already watched "The Monsoon Wedding", I have the dvd, fantastic film! I love the black-out scene, and the wedding scene dancing under the rain!

Merchant,

I'm going to buy the book you recommend me tomorrow. In Gita Mehta’s "A River Sutra" you already have some descriptions of what Monsoon means, but I'm reading all I can about India, and that one sounds interesting!

freemanx

Isabel,

M.P. is Madhya Pradesh.

will be chasing the monsoon as well this year in india

isabel

Good luck with the Monsoon Freemanx!

See you singing in the rain. I'll be wet, but very happy of being in India!

SHIMLA

Isabel,
As freemanx has pointed out, M.P. is Madhya Pradesh.

You may visit Indore, Dhar, Mandu, Omkareshwar and Maheshwar during monsoon. The Narmada river is beautiful. I have seen these places a long time back; its said that these are best visited in monsoon.