Pragnya IAS · Atlas study notes
Climate of India through maps for UPSC
Compare monsoon regions, rain shadows, cold deserts, island climates and the atlas’s 19 Köppen–Geiger classes.
Seasonal winds and relief
Compare Kochi on the moist windward southwest coast with Pune in the leeward Deccan. Moist Bay of Bengal air rises along the southern Khasi slopes near Sohra and Mawsynram. Chennai provides a contrasting reference for northeast monsoon rainfall, especially in October–December.
Aridity, altitude and continentality
Jaisalmer illustrates hot-region aridity, whereas Leh and Spiti show that cold high-altitude landscapes can also be dry. Northern plains such as Lucknow have stronger temperature seasonality than maritime tropical islands. Western disturbances provide another context for winter rainfall in northwestern India.
Climate is not today’s weather
The licensed Köppen–Geiger layer uses 1991–2020 climate normals and contains 19 classes within the source boundary. Classroom labels such as rain shadow or monsoon coast explain processes, rather than exact class boundaries. Historical flood footprints describe recorded events, not current forecasts or evacuation advice.
Are these maps live weather or hazard forecasts?
No. Climate polygons represent long-term normals and hazard layers are historical. Use official IMD and disaster-management advisories for current conditions.
Reference reading ↗Locations and explained references
Mawsynram
Rainfall reference · Meghalaya
A very high-rainfall location on the southern Khasi hills.
- Moist Bay of Bengal air is lifted by the relief.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Sohra — Cherrapunji
Rainfall reference · Meghalaya
A high-rainfall location in the Khasi hills.
- Rainfall has a strong seasonal distribution.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Jaisalmer
Arid climate reference · Rajasthan
A reference location in the Thar Desert.
- Low rainfall and high evaporation influence water scarcity.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Leh
Cold desert reference · Ladakh
A high-altitude settlement in a cold desert landscape.
- Rain-shadow effects limit monsoon precipitation.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Pune — rain-shadow reference
Climate reference · Maharashtra
A Deccan location east of the Western Ghats.
- Compare with the windward Konkan coast.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Chennai — northeast monsoon
Climate reference · Tamil Nadu
A Coromandel-coast reference for northeast monsoon rainfall.
- Tamil Nadu receives an important share of rain in October–December.
- Approximate educational reference point; not a surveyed site boundary.
Malabar coast — Kochi climate reference
Regional climate reference · Kerala
A warm maritime reference on the windward southwest coast.
- Compare southwest monsoon rainfall with the drier leeward Deccan at Pune.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.
Ganga plain — Lucknow climate reference
Regional climate reference · Uttar Pradesh
A northern plain reference with hot summers, cooler winters and monsoon rainfall.
- Seasonality differs from the low-latitude maritime coast; winter disturbances can influence northern India.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.
Deccan interior — Hyderabad climate reference
Regional climate reference · Telangana
An interior plateau reference for seasonal rainfall and a marked dry season.
- Compare interior water limitations with the wetter Western Ghats; this label is not an exact Köppen polygon.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.
Punjab — winter rainfall reference
Regional climate reference · Punjab
A northwest plains reference for winter weather influenced by western disturbances.
- Winter rainfall can benefit rabi crops; weather events are different from long-term climate normals.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.
Andaman Islands — maritime climate reference
Regional climate reference · Andaman and Nicobar Islands
A tropical island reference with ocean influence and humid conditions.
- Compare ocean-moderated temperatures with the more continental northern plains.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.
Spiti — cold desert reference
Regional climate reference · Himachal Pradesh
A high-altitude trans-Himalayan valley with strong rain-shadow effects.
- Aridity is possible in cold regions; temperature alone does not determine precipitation.
- Approximate educational reference point, not a surveyed boundary or homogeneous regional classification.