MONSOON SEASON EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR-CHERRAPUNJI
Cherrapunji is a city in the state of Meghalaya, India
that experiences monsoon season throughout the year. It is recorded to be
amongst the world's wettest regions. It is often referred to as the ‘Land of
Oranges’. It is a popular tourist destination because of its pristine and
natural beauty.
High above misty valleys and foaming rivers,ensconced
in swirling clouds and perched on an escarpment, lies cherrapunji (4500 feet).
This is stunning location and the year–round rain
earned Cherrpunji coveted entry long ago into the Guinness Book of World
Records as the wettest place on earth, the place where the rainfall can be
recorded in feet rather than in millimeters.
Today climatic changes have edged Cherrapunji out of
the topmost ‘wet’ slot, but it still retains its pristine beauty, its unusual
facts, the perpetual clouds, and the perpetual mists. Appropriately Cherrapunji
lies in the heart of the State of Meghalaya- the abode of clouds.
Cherrapunji is perhaps the only place in India, which
has just one season:The monsoon. The rainfall varies from heavy to medium to
light, but there is no month without rain. Another surprising fact about
Cherrapunji is that it rains mostly at night. Day–to-day activity is not really
disrupted by the rain.
As in days gone by, the faces of Cherrapunji change not
with the seasons, but with the patteren of rainfall. The heaviest downpours
span approximately five long months-from May until September.
The clouds then are dark and meancing, full blown with
rain, which descends earthwards with the stinging force of a whiplash. Throughout
these months, Cherrapunji is transformed into a sea of tiny,gushing rivulets.
The raindrops beat incessantly on rooftops and treetops
creating a compelling tattoo of awesome sounds, which cannot be savored
anywhere else but in the Northeastern states.
These are also the record-making months, which
contribute to records such as the stunning 22,987 mm of rainfall in 1861. The annual average rainfall of Cherrapunji stands
today at 10,871 mm.
Barely 10km from Cherrapunji stands the village of
Mawsynram, which has snatched away the heaviest rainfall record, with 12,163 mm
of rainfall.
With the passage of September, the rhythm of the
rain-its main force spent-changes to a gentle patter. And the khasis and other
residents of Cherrapunji, the flora, and the fauna respond to the change in the
Rain God’s mood.
Soft pastel shades begin to appear in skies that were
gray all day and rainbows that are a photographer’s delight begin to make
unexpected guest appearances.
The hills around Cherrapunji do not have the lush green vegetation one
normally associates with wet places. The vegetative cover in the form of dense
woods appears in patches and constitute yet another marvelous surprise.
The richness and variety of
the flora in these ‘zones’ has to be seen to be believed. An amazing variety of
rare orchids, ferns and moss convert each pocket into a botanist’s paradise. Cherrapunji
procduces the best quality to oranges as well as pineapples. Infact Cherrapunji
oranges are ancestors of the famous Nagpuri oranges in the Central India
By Air
Shillong (Umroi) airport is the nearest to Cherrapunji. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is well connected to other major cities of the nation. Indian airlines run a 50 seater ATR German aircraft on this route.
Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati is the nearest international airport to Cherrapunji.
There are flights from New Delhi or Kolkata to Guwahati. Flights from Kolkata operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
By Rail
Guwahati acts as the nearest railhead to Cherrapunji. Although it lies at a distance of 181 km from this region, buss or taxis can be availed from the railway station. Guwahati railway station is well connected to the entire country and regular trains carry passengers to and from.
By Road
The state transport bus station lies in Paltan Bazaar, near Guwahati Railway Station. A tourist can catch Assam state and Meghalaya state transport buses to Shillong. Apart from this, there are many private luxury coach operators nearby, who also ply their buses. There is also the tourist taxi stand that provides tourist taxis up to Shillong.
States buses run frequently between Shillong and Cherrapunji. The tickets too are affordable.
Shillong (Umroi) airport is the nearest to Cherrapunji. Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and is well connected to other major cities of the nation. Indian airlines run a 50 seater ATR German aircraft on this route.
Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati is the nearest international airport to Cherrapunji.
There are flights from New Delhi or Kolkata to Guwahati. Flights from Kolkata operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
By Rail
Guwahati acts as the nearest railhead to Cherrapunji. Although it lies at a distance of 181 km from this region, buss or taxis can be availed from the railway station. Guwahati railway station is well connected to the entire country and regular trains carry passengers to and from.
By Road
The state transport bus station lies in Paltan Bazaar, near Guwahati Railway Station. A tourist can catch Assam state and Meghalaya state transport buses to Shillong. Apart from this, there are many private luxury coach operators nearby, who also ply their buses. There is also the tourist taxi stand that provides tourist taxis up to Shillong.
States buses run frequently between Shillong and Cherrapunji. The tickets too are affordable.
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