India is a geographical mammoth when it comes to size, natural
diversity and climatic conditions across various regions, and one of its most
prominent features is the pattern of rainfall that occurs in the country. From
arid deserts to rain-fed hills, India has got it all. Interestingly enough, the
area with the highest rainfall in India, is also the area with the highest
rainfall in the world.

The states which receive higher rainfall in the country
include Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim, West Bengal, Odisha,
Uttarakhand etc. 

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Check out the list of five rainiest places in India:

1.     
Mawsynram (Meghalaya): Mawsynram, a hamlet located
in Meghalaya’s Khasi hills in North-eastern India, records the highest amount
of annual rainfall in India as well as in the world. Mawsynram has recorded a
total of 11,872 millimetres of rain in peak monsoon.

Due to consistently heavy rains, landslides
are a common feature in the village, to survive from which locals make ‘knups’,
a type of rain shield, including bamboo parts, plastic and grass.

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2.     
Cherrapunji (Meghalaya): Also located in slopes
of the Khasi hills about 58 kilometres away from state-capital Shillong, Cherrapunji
is situated in between two gorges in the hills. The town has recorded a total
rainfall of 11,619 millimetres, posing a close challenge to Mawsynram in the
process. Due to all-year monsoon-like conditions, the town attracts a
significant number of tourists.

3.     
Agumbe (Karnataka): Situated in Karnataka’s
Shimoga district, Agumbe records an average rainfall of 7,961 millimetres. Falling
under the Western Ghats range, the town has a rainforest research station dedicated
to the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary located nearby.

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4.     
Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra): The next position
in terms of rainfall in captured by Maharashtra’s Mahabaleshwar, which sees a year-round
rainfall of about 5,600 millimetres. Lying about 270 kilometres away from state
capital Mumbai, the nearest rail station to Mahabaleshwar is Wathar, located
about 60 km away.

5.     
Amboli (Maharashtra): Yet another Maharashtra hill
town, Amboli lies close to the Goa border near Panjim, and is home to a variety
of flora and fauna. Situated in the ridges of Western Ghats, Amboli is situated
about 690 metres above sea level and witnesses around 7,500 millimetres of
rainfall every year.