Amount of Rain:

Wettest Place: Mawsynram in Meghalaya holds the world record for rainfall, getting over 400 cm (4 meters!) of rain in a year.
Driest Places: Parts of Rajasthan (like Jaisalmer) and Ladakh get very little rain, sometimes less than 10 cm in a whole year.

When it Rains: Most of India gets most of its rain during the monsoon season (June to September). However, the coast of Tamil Nadu gets a lot of its rain later, in October and November, from different winds and storms.

Other General Trends:

Coast vs. Inland: Coastal areas have a 'moderate' climate – not too hot, not too cold. Inland areas (far from the sea) have an 'extreme' or 'continental' climate – very hot summers and very cold winters.
Northern Plains: As you travel from the eastern part of the Northern Plains (like Bihar) to the western part (like Punjab), the amount of rainfall generally decreases.

3. Big Factors That Control India's Climate (Controls)

These are the main reasons why India has the climate it does.
a) Latitude (Distance from the Equator):
- The Earth is round, not flat. The sun's rays hit the Earth differently depending on how far you are from the Equator (the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth).
- Places near the Equator get direct sunlight all year, making them hot. Places far from the Equator (towards the poles) get slanted sunlight, making them colder.
- The Tropic of Cancer (an imaginary line at $23.5^\circ N$) cuts right through the middle of India.
- This means that the part of India south of the Tropic of Cancer is in the tropical zone (hot all year). The part north of it is in the sub-tropical zone (hot summers, but cooler winters).
b) Altitude (Height Above Sea Level):
- The higher you go, the colder it gets. This is because the air becomes thinner at higher altitudes and cannot hold heat as well.
- For every 1000 meters (about 3,300 feet) you go up, the temperature usually drops by about $6.5^\circ C$.
- How it affects India: The mighty Himalaya Mountains are very high (average 6,000 meters). They act like a giant wall, blocking the extremely cold winds that blow from Central Asia during winter. This keeps India much warmer than other countries at similar latitudes.
c) Pressure and Wind System:
- The air pressure and the way winds blow are very important for climate. These are affected by latitude and altitude.
- Coriolis Force: This is a force caused by the Earth's spinning. It makes winds (and ocean currents) bend.
  - In the Northern Hemisphere (where India is), the Coriolis force bends winds to the right.
  - This is also known as Ferrel's Law.
- Trade Winds: Normally, India would be in the path of the Northeast Trade Winds. These winds blow from subtropical high-pressure belts towards the Equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, they blow from the northeast.
  - Historically, these winds would be dry over India because they blow over land.
  - However, the special conditions of the monsoon change this dramatically.
d) Distance from the Sea (Continentality):
- Water heats up and cools down much slower than land.
- Coastal Areas (near the sea): The sea keeps the