Meera arrived in a land of three clear seasons: a blazing summer, a monsoon that brings floods, and a cool, foggy winter. This was the climate, similar to parts of China and the southern United States. Summers were harsh, but winters were pleasant—perfect for growing wheat and mustard. In January, thick fog sometimes stopped trains. In June, dust storms darkened the sky before the rains broke.
“People here build thick mud houses to keep the heat out,” Grandfather said. “They sing songs of water. They know that every drop is a treasure.” “Finally, travel to the plains of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar,” he said.
Meera felt the humidity drop. Now she stood in a land of dry, golden grasses and scattered thorny trees. This was the climate. The summers were scorching—over 40 degrees Celsius. Then came the monsoon, a short, violent season of thunderstorms that turned the dry earth into muddy rivers. After the rains, a brief but lush green season followed, only to fade back into dryness. types of climate in india
“That is our story,” Grandfather said. “And every year, the monsoon winds tie it all together. They leave the ocean, cross the burning deserts, climb the icy mountains, and pour life into every river and field. India is a land of extremes, Meera. But that is what makes it beautiful.”
“In this climate,” Grandfather said, “you don’t wait for rain. The rain waits for you. It is a world of endless growth and decay.” “Leave the rainforest and travel to central India, to the Deccan Plateau,” he said. Meera arrived in a land of three clear
Meera imagined a place where winter temperatures dropped to minus thirty degrees. Snow covered the mountains for most of the year. Here, the climate was . Only the hardiest shrubs, junipers, and wildflowers survived. The air was thin and dry. People wore thick gonchas (woolen robes) and relied on the short, cool summer to grow barley.
“This is where our rivers are born,” Grandfather said. “The snow and glaciers melt slowly, feeding the Ganga and the Indus. Without this frozen crown, the rest of India would be a desert.” “Now, close your eyes,” he continued. “Jump from the ice to the wettest place on Earth—Mawsynram in Meghalaya.” In January, thick fog sometimes stopped trains
Meera shivered, then suddenly felt sticky and hot. She imagined the climate of the Western Ghats and the northeastern states. Here, it rained almost every day for eight months. The air was heavy with humidity. Giant ferns, orchids, and towering trees formed a green roof that never let sunlight touch the ground. Elephants, hornbills, and lion-tailed macaques lived in this perpetual steam bath.