Question

Which among the following places is known as the wettest place of India?
A) Mahabaleshwar
B) Mawsynram
C) Udhagamandalam
D) Cherrapunji

Answer 1

Hint: Sohra has often been credited as being the wettest place on Earth, but for now, nearby Mawsynram currently holds that distinction. This town was Sohra (soh-ra), which was pronounced "Cherra" by the British and thus the name cherrapunji came from it. Mawsynram is a neighbouring town of cherrapunji and presently receives the highest rainfall.

Complete answer:
Mawsynram lies in Meghalaya state in northeastern India. It is a town in the East Khasi Hills and lies 60.9 kilometres from Shillong. Mawsynram receives the highest rainfall in India. With an average annual rainfall of 11,872 millimetres, It is considered to be the wettest place on Earth.

Climate
Mawsynram climate is subtropical highland. It has an extraordinarily showery and long monsoonal season and a short dry season. The high altitude of Mawsynram makes it seldom truly hot. The average monthly temperatures range from around 11 °C in January to just above 20 °C in August.

Reasons for high rainfall at Mawsynram:
The northward-moving air which is very warm and moist winds from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon are forced to converge into the narrower zone over the Khasi Hills, thus concentrating their moisture.

The Khasi Hills stand directly in the path of the airflow arising from the Bay of Bengal. This gives a quick uplift of the air and thus more rain.
During the monsoon period uplift over the Khasi Hills is virtually continuous. Hence, rainfall is more or less continuous.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
 Mawsynram receives so intense rainfall that the villagers have to use thick grass to sound-proof their huts from the deafening rain. The village is most famous in terms of spiritual value because of the gigantic formation of a stalagmite, which resembles the shape of a 'shivling'.