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Why does Cherrapunji in northeastern India receive exceptionally heavy rain?

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A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans. — Asia Map showing the countries and national capitals of Asia.

Cherrapunji, located in the Shillong Plateau of northeastern India, experiences exceptionally heavy rainfall primarily due to orographic precipitation.1

During the monsoon season, moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal sweep across the region. As these winds encounter the steep southern face of the plateau, the air is forced to rise. This ascent causes the air to cool, which reduces its moisture-bearing capacity and results in the copious, sustained rainfall characteristic of the area. This process is a classic example of how mountain ranges act as a barrier to prevailing winds, forcing moisture to be deposited on the windward side.123

Because of this geographic interaction, Cherrapunji consistently ranks among the wettest places on Earth, with an average annual precipitation of approximately 450 inches (11,430 mm).13