The Beauty of the Monsoon in South India

pquekel · Oct 14th, 2007, 17:34

Three times travelling for seven/eight weeks through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala in July and August, between 2000 and 2004, I must have been very lucky because the rains did not fall too abundantly. Not uncommon for Tamil Nadu of course, but even in Kerala I could follow my itinerary as planned, mostly. One time I had to wait for my train to Cochin in Udipi near Manipal (if I remember the names correctly) for more than twelve hours because of landslides more up north towards Goa, I think. Had a good time at the station but twelve hours is quite a long sit.
Monsoon has its good and lesser aspects. Because I will travel next year in the same period and regions with a car and driver, I wonder if I could exchange here some things to know on this subject. For me (and my 19 y/o daughter whom I will travel with this time)rains and the special freshness and green feeling it gives as well are not a big deal, but I am sure there are suggestions how to enjoy the monsoon extra much and avoid some of the worst effects of it.

atala · Oct 15th, 2007, 23:06

I think the most unpleasant aspect of the monsoon time is that laundry is not drying well and starts to smell, and that small wounds do not heal well. But that is everywhere, not just down South. Families travelling with small children should take extra care, and tend immediately to small scratches their kids might get. It can be specifically difficult with kids who want to climb trees all the time...

atala · Oct 15th, 2007, 23:10

Actually the regular monsoon does not affect Tamil Nadu, which is why you get a pleasant climate there in July and August, often raining only at night briefly. Monsoon starts in Tamil Nadu around end of September and lasts until mid-December or so.

Nick-H · Oct 16th, 2007, 01:55

Atala, I think that parts of TN do get the SW monsoon, although Chennai usually doesn't.

This year, just to be difficult, climate-wise, we had a taste of it for a few days, and then showers, some heavy, on many days through July and August, leaving us unusually soggy, and worried about what happens when the real stuff hits us in October.

atala · Oct 16th, 2007, 16:58

Nick, you are probably right. I do not really understand the movement of the Monsoon, how it can come from the south-east, cover Kerala, but not eastern Tamil Nadu. I was thinking it hits the coast only in Andra to the East. I guess it is due to the Nilgiri hills that parts of TN are left out, but do not really understand it.

capt_mahajan · Oct 16th, 2007, 19:06

The South West monsoon hits Kerala and moves across India starting July for a couple of months, moving generally in a North Easterly direction. Chennai/Eastern Tamilnadu don't seem to get heavy rains here.

The North East Monsoon hits Eastern India later towards the end of the year and is milder. Chennai and Eastern Tamilandu get some rain then if they are lucky.

julesa · Oct 16th, 2007, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by pquekel

Had a good time at the station but twelve hours is quite a long sit.

i reckon everyone here has spent some good time sitting and waiting at indian train stations but 12 hours is a fair stint!

they never seem to tell you what's going on either

atala · Oct 16th, 2007, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by julesa

i reckon everyone here has spent some good time sitting and waiting at indian train stations but 12 hours is a fair stint!

they never seem to tell you what's going on either

worse than that is sitting in a Rajdhani, and arriving a day late

happened, not to me, but to a friend.

(for newcomers, Rajdhani is officially called "superfast", the fastest trains in India)

Oct 14th, 2007, 17:34	#1
pquekel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands/Eindhoven Posts: 158	The Beauty of the Monsoon in South India Three times travelling for seven/eight weeks through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala in July and August, between 2000 and 2004, I must have been very lucky because the rains did not fall too abundantly. Not uncommon for Tamil Nadu of course, but even in Kerala I could follow my itinerary as planned, mostly. One time I had to wait for my train to Cochin in Udipi near Manipal (if I remember the names correctly) for more than twelve hours because of landslides more up north towards Goa, I think. Had a good time at the station but twelve hours is quite a long sit. Monsoon has its good and lesser aspects. Because I will travel next year in the same period and regions with a car and driver, I wonder if I could exchange here some things to know on this subject. For me (and my 19 y/o daughter whom I will travel with this time)rains and the special freshness and green feeling it gives as well are not a big deal, but I am sure there are suggestions how to enjoy the monsoon extra much and avoid some of the worst effects of it. Last edited by pquekel : Oct 14th, 2007 at 19:12. Reason: changing title

Oct 16th, 2007, 01:55	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,873	Atala, I think that parts of TN do get the SW monsoon, although Chennai usually doesn't. This year, just to be difficult, climate-wise, we had a taste of it for a few days, and then showers, some heavy, on many days through July and August, leaving us unusually soggy, and worried about what happens when the real stuff hits us in October. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Oct 15th, 2007, 23:06	#2
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	I think the most unpleasant aspect of the monsoon time is that laundry is not drying well and starts to smell, and that small wounds do not heal well. But that is everywhere, not just down South. Families travelling with small children should take extra care, and tend immediately to small scratches their kids might get. It can be specifically difficult with kids who want to climb trees all the time...

Oct 15th, 2007, 23:10	#3
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Actually the regular monsoon does not affect Tamil Nadu, which is why you get a pleasant climate there in July and August, often raining only at night briefly. Monsoon starts in Tamil Nadu around end of September and lasts until mid-December or so.

Oct 16th, 2007, 16:58	#5
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Nick, you are probably right. I do not really understand the movement of the Monsoon, how it can come from the south-east, cover Kerala, but not eastern Tamil Nadu. I was thinking it hits the coast only in Andra to the East. I guess it is due to the Nilgiri hills that parts of TN are left out, but do not really understand it.

Oct 16th, 2007, 19:06	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	The South West monsoon hits Kerala and moves across India starting July for a couple of months, moving generally in a North Easterly direction. Chennai/Eastern Tamilnadu don't seem to get heavy rains here. The North East Monsoon hits Eastern India later towards the end of the year and is milder. Chennai and Eastern Tamilandu get some rain then if they are lucky.

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