Question

Which is the coldest place in India?
a. Dras
b. Srinagar
c. Shimla
d. Sikkim

Answer 1

Hint: The village is often referred to as the 'Gateway to Ladakh'. It lies 140 km away from Srinagar, and Sonmarg is 63 km away. The town of Kargil is a further 56 km from this village on the NH1 national highway from Srinagar to Leh.

Complete answer:
The climate of India comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a vast geographic scale and varied topography, making generalisations difficult. The climate is generally hotter in southern India than in northern India. In winter, most parts of the nation do not experience temperatures below 10°C (50°F), and during summer, the temperature usually tends to exceed 40°C (104°F).

Dras, the first village after Zoji La Pass, is located 10,990 feet above sea level. The temperatures in Dras can drop to as low as -45 degrees Celsius in the freezing winter. During the winter of 1995, when the thermal reading decreased to -60 degrees Celsius, the lowest temperature drop observed in Dras. At 34.4°E, Dras town is located.

In India, Dras is the coldest place, experiencing a Mediterranean continental climate influenced by altitude. Winters are cold at the height of winter, which lasts from mid-October to mid-May, with average lows of around -20°C (-4°F), and as low as -23°C. Summers begin in June and continue until early September, with temperatures close to 23°C(74°F) on average and little precipitation.

Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note:
 India has a varied climate. The winter season is a merry time in some parts of India, especially in the South. In a few countries, however, winter is not only cold, it is ruthless. These cold places in India are made so severe by harsh cold winds and dropping temperatures that one might think twice about visiting them. Inhabitants in these areas experience some of the most bone-chilling and demanding winter seasons, whether they are the snow-capped valleys in the north-east or regions of the Himalayas.