Chasing the (southwest) monsoon ?

TheBou · Mar 24th, 2008, 03:45

Hi there !

I'll be in India for 4 months, arriving in Mumbai the first of may.

After reading lots of things about the monsoon, I know it will fall hard on me starting from june in the south.

For my first time in India, what about chasing the monsoon ?

If anyone could help me build an itinerary based on where the monsoon begins, where it hits next, and so on, what are the most beautiful countryside and cities to see during the monsoon, I'd be really glad

I know monsoon is not an exact science, and can shift tremendously from year to year; but it would be nice to hear your advices, and what your experiences were anyway !

Another thing to consider is that I plan to stop someplace (a month or two) to help where I can in an NGO or a grassroot organization; there, I'd be happy not to be in the place where the monsoon falls the hardest ! Again, anyone with insightful knowledge of the monsoon is very welcome :P

Anyway, considering the number of topics regarding the monsoon, I think we could make this thread a one stop for all questions regarding the trajectory of the southwest monsoon ! I'll start by adding a map of the monsoon's usual onset dates, and a chart of temperatures in India during this season.

Thanks for everything you can share !

Ben

Ps; haven't read the book called "chasing the monsoon" yet ! But I will as soon as I can get my hands on.
PPs; I am 23, extremely flexible about my itinerary, do not mind long train rides (though plane is too expensive), and have travelled before to New-Caledonia, Indonesia, France, Canada and USA

Nick-H · Mar 24th, 2008, 03:56

Hello Ben, welcome to the site.

You probably won't be surprised to hear that you are not the first to ask this question.

Take a look at the bottom of the page, where the software sorts out similar threads --- you should see three or four threads to investigate there.

You'll read it in those threads anyway, but do be aware that monsoon means real danger, and it takes lives in ways as diverse as being caught in a landslide to stepping into the same floodwater that a broken power cable just fell into. It also disrupts railways, closes roads...

Or so I read in my newspapers; the SW monsoon doesn't visit us here in Chennai.

TheBou · Mar 24th, 2008, 04:30

Hi Nick !

Thanks for your reply. As a matter of fact, I'm quite aware of the dangers of the monsoon; after spending hours to read this forum and quite a few internet-spent nights wandering through India

But this life-replenishing force is also bringer of renewal, and as for the photos and accounts of what people experience during this time of the year, I cannot help but be strangely attracted to it :_)

I'd heard Tamil Nadu was quite spared by the monsoon, but you make it sound like it doesn't even come there ! How come ?

(btw; do you live in India ?)

Nick-H · Mar 24th, 2008, 08:19

So far as I know it doesn't much come East of the mountains, but I don't know about the South of the state, and its a big state.

So Chennai (where I do live, yes) is rather tucked up in the NE corner; anything could be happening elsewhere!

Chennai has, until the last three years, had a severe draught problem; no SW monsoon, and NE monsoon unpredictable. Last twelve months we've been getting rain at all sorts of unusual times (like this last week!). We did get rain last June, but they said it was other weather system, not monsoon. It was a great relief from summer heat!

Aishah · Mar 24th, 2008, 08:29

Nice post, TheBou, and welcome to India Mike. Where I live we hardly get any monsoon either and the weather and whether it will rain or not figures largely in our lives. I was interested to read that Mumbai is supposedly getting monsoon by June 10 - folklore here says it will reach Jaisalmer 9 days later but of course it never does and people moan and groan. July 15 in their minds is the last possible date for monsoon and if we don't get it by then, they think another drought for sure. However, August is when we get the rains mainly. Interesting...

machadinha · Mar 24th, 2008, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBou

I'll start by adding a map of the monsoon's usual onset dates, and a chart of temperatures in India during this season.

Ahem, didn't you take those charts and esp. the second one from this thread? India climate chart. The latter chart originated on that thread.

As noted, if you scroll to the bottom of this page, you'll find a listing of "similar threads." Opening any of those will again feature a list of similar threads at bottom, and so on and so forth. It's an easy way to navigate the site.

This one listed there has quite some info I think: Chasing the Monsoon

Mar 24th, 2008, 03:45	#1
TheBou Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Chasing the (southwest) monsoon ? Hi there ! I'll be in India for 4 months, arriving in Mumbai the first of may. After reading lots of things about the monsoon, I know it will fall hard on me starting from june in the south. For my first time in India, what about chasing the monsoon ? If anyone could help me build an itinerary based on where the monsoon begins, where it hits next, and so on, what are the most beautiful countryside and cities to see during the monsoon, I'd be really glad I know monsoon is not an exact science, and can shift tremendously from year to year; but it would be nice to hear your advices, and what your experiences were anyway ! Another thing to consider is that I plan to stop someplace (a month or two) to help where I can in an NGO or a grassroot organization; there, I'd be happy not to be in the place where the monsoon falls the hardest ! Again, anyone with insightful knowledge of the monsoon is very welcome :P Anyway, considering the number of topics regarding the monsoon, I think we could make this thread a one stop for all questions regarding the trajectory of the southwest monsoon ! I'll start by adding a map of the monsoon's usual onset dates, and a chart of temperatures in India during this season. Thanks for everything you can share ! Ben Ps; haven't read the book called "chasing the monsoon" yet ! But I will as soon as I can get my hands on. PPs; I am 23, extremely flexible about my itinerary, do not mind long train rides (though plane is too expensive), and have travelled before to New-Caledonia, Indonesia, France, Canada and USA Attached Thumbnails Last edited by TheBou : Mar 24th, 2008 at 03:51. Reason: -

Mar 24th, 2008, 03:56	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,832	Hello Ben, welcome to the site. You probably won't be surprised to hear that you are not the first to ask this question. Take a look at the bottom of the page, where the software sorts out similar threads --- you should see three or four threads to investigate there. You'll read it in those threads anyway, but do be aware that monsoon means real danger, and it takes lives in ways as diverse as being caught in a landslide to stepping into the same floodwater that a broken power cable just fell into. It also disrupts railways, closes roads... Or so I read in my newspapers; the SW monsoon doesn't visit us here in Chennai. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 24th, 2008, 08:29	#5
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 4,448	Nice post, TheBou, and welcome to India Mike. Where I live we hardly get any monsoon either and the weather and whether it will rain or not figures largely in our lives. I was interested to read that Mumbai is supposedly getting monsoon by June 10 - folklore here says it will reach Jaisalmer 9 days later but of course it never does and people moan and groan. July 15 in their minds is the last possible date for monsoon and if we don't get it by then, they think another drought for sure. However, August is when we get the rains mainly. Interesting... __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Chasing Rainbows in Chennai	ColinT	Books, Music, and Movies	40	Jul 20th, 2008 15:19
Chasing the Monsoon	Jorge Reverter	India Travel Itinerary Advice	32	Dec 18th, 2007 14:56
chasing the monsoon	anandi	Health and Well Being in India	13	Jun 1st, 2007 12:22
Northeast to Southwest	Melanie	India Travel Itinerary Advice	5	Jan 22nd, 2006 06:23
Northeast to Southwest	Melanie	Indian Railways	3	Jan 16th, 2006 09:48

Mar 24th, 2008, 04:30	#3
TheBou Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Hi Nick ! Thanks for your reply. As a matter of fact, I'm quite aware of the dangers of the monsoon; after spending hours to read this forum and quite a few internet-spent nights wandering through India But this life-replenishing force is also bringer of renewal, and as for the photos and accounts of what people experience during this time of the year, I cannot help but be strangely attracted to it :_) I'd heard Tamil Nadu was quite spared by the monsoon, but you make it sound like it doesn't even come there ! How come ? (btw; do you live in India ?)

Mar 24th, 2008, 08:19	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,832	So far as I know it doesn't much come East of the mountains, but I don't know about the South of the state, and its a big state. So Chennai (where I do live, yes) is rather tucked up in the NE corner; anything could be happening elsewhere! Chennai has, until the last three years, had a severe draught problem; no SW monsoon, and NE monsoon unpredictable. Last twelve months we've been getting rain at all sorts of unusual times (like this last week!). We did get rain last June, but they said it was other weather system, not monsoon. It was a great relief from summer heat!

User Name		Remember Me?
Password