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.
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. types of climate in india
Meera opened her eyes. The banyan tree stood still, its leaves rustling in the evening breeze. She finally understood: India was not one country with one weather. It was a continent of climates living together—the frozen peak, the steamy jungle, the burning desert, the fertile plain, and the dry savanna. Meera shivered, then suddenly felt sticky and hot
“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. The air was heavy with humidity
Her grandfather smiled. “Come,” he said. “Let me tell you the story of India’s climates.” “Our journey begins in the highest realm,” he said. “In the cold desert of Ladakh and the peaks of the Himalayas.”
“This is the climate most Indians know,” Grandfather said. “It teaches patience. You work hard in the cool winter, you endure the summer, and you celebrate when the rain finally comes.” “Now, go west, to Jaisalmer,” he whispered.