Question

The place receiving the highest rainfall in India is
1. Mawsynram
2. Kutch
3. Royli
4. Agumbe

Answer 1

Hint: The place is located in the southern slopes of Khasi Hills. It is bordered by hills on three sides. It receives an average rainfall of 11, 872 mm (467 inches) during peak monsoons in India.

Complete answer:
1. The 'Maw' in Mawsynram is a Khasi word meaning 'stone' which represents the unique megaliths discovered in the Khasi Hill area. Mawsynram of Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, North East India, has got the title of being the wettest place of India as well of the world. It receives an average rainfall of 11, 872 mm (467 inches) during peak monsoons in India and is 1400 m above the sea level. It is aptly located in Meghalaya which in Sanskrit means “the abode of the clouds".
Mawsynram receives the highest rainfall in the world mainly due to its location. As it is located in the 'southern slopes of Khasi hills', it is bordered by 'hills on three sides'. Thereby the wind that moves in south-west tries to surpass but gets obstructed by the mountains and hence the warm moist winds of the Bay of Bengal monsoons get stuck to this place, thus concentrating the moisture and causing heavy rainfall.
Landslides are a common feature in the area due to constant heavy rains and the residents always prepare themselves before the rainy season.
2. It is a region of very low rainfall (less than 40 cms per year). Hence, it is an incorrect option.
3. Royli in Rajasthan gets only 8.3 cm of rainfall in a year, again a region of very low rainfall in India. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
4. It receives a mean annual rainfall of 7,620 millimetres (300 inches). Hence, it is also an incorrect option.

The answer is 1. Mawsynram

Note:
Cherrapunji had occupied the position of the wettest place in India for a significant amount of time. However, lately, observations revealed that it is Mawsynram which receives the maximum amount of annual rainfall. Hence, Mawsynram got the title of being the wettest place in India. Both Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are located within 16 kilometres from each other in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Cherrapunji receives an average annual rainfall of 11,777 millimetres and thus, is the second wettest place in India.