Have you ever seen the monsoon clouds arrive, somewhere between the months of May or June?
Unless you are from Kerala, you may not know what I am talking about.
Before I moved to Mysuru, I had no idea of the beauty of the arrival of monsoon. Till then monsoon was just another season of the year when the rains come and raincoats and umbrellas make their annual appearance.
Monsoon clouds are formed deep in the Indian ocean, and travel many kilometers to reach the shores of India with clockwork precision. But have you ever wondered, why do they come only to Kerala?
Indian summers are hot, we know that (duh). The intense heat of the summer days heat up the land all over India so much that the air above the land too becomes hot and expands. When the air expands, it raises above. The space left behind by the raising hot air is quickly filled up by cool air. This cool air in turn gets heated up and raises. This cycle continues throughout the summer and makes the air above the entire India to have a low pressure. The rule of nature is to fill up the areas of low pressure by winds from high pressure. The monsoon clouds are pulled toward the Indian peninsula by the low pressure created above the land.
The monsoon arrives at the tip of our peninsula, divides into two parts. One going in to Arabian sea and the other entering the Bay of Bengal. The monsoon then spreads across the whole country over the course of three months.
That is the science behind monsoon winds.
But the beauty of the arrival is a song of the heart, the yearning of a parched soul and the hope of life.
Monsoon hits Kerala and within a day or two, it hits Mysuru. Its arrival is a poetry in motion. I have seen it arrive, sometimes early, sometimes late but breathtaking every time.
My balcony (which has lent itself to my blog name) faces the east and my view of 180 degrees includes the famous chamundi hills. The water-laden black monsoon clouds come from the south west direction and slowly occupy the bright blue summer sky from one corner to the other. The weather changes from hot to cool in a matter of minutes and the anticipation of a cool rain raises the mood of my heart. I sit in my jhoola and watch the rainbow forming just before it starts to rain and then vanish as the downpour begins.
The smell of the earth when the first rain hits the ground is the most heavenly. Did you know it is called “petrichor”?
Over the next few days, the clouds keep coming from the southwest. Not every cloud that comes in opens up. Some of them seem to be in a rush to go somewhere. I see them move away towards the north east very fast. It feels like the thirsty rest of India is calling the clouds and they want to keep that date.
Carrying a liter or two of water in a bottle becomes a burden after a few minutes but the clouds carry tonnes of liters of water and dance in the sky. This really fills me with wonder and amazement.
I marvel at the beauty of God’s creation and His eternal love for His creation. The feeling of thankfulness of being able to witness this every year fills me with gratitude.
The arrival of the annual monsoon is an event not to be missed from my balcony.
I’m participating in the monthly blog hop called #WordsMatter hosted by Corinne, ShaliniR and Parul
This month the theme is “When it rains”.
42 talented bloggers tag each other in turn to write on the theme. I got my tag from Sulekha Rawat who blogs at sulekharawat.com and I pass on my tag to Ramya Abhinand who blogs at meotherwise.com
Have fun reading all the blogs of this blog train and enjoy the rains!
It crosses Udupi on it’s way to Mysuru if I’m not mistaken. But do book me a seat on your balcony to watch the arrival of the monsoon next time. 😋
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Always! Not only monsoon, all year round, it is heaven on the jhoola of my balcony.
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What a beautiful view from up your balcony! I know what you are talking about when you say about the downpour in May and June 🙂 Much-needed in Kerala because of the nasty summers though.
Thanks for participating in the Words Matter blog hop. Hope you have fun 🙂
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I am looking forward to read everyone’s posts.
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I love monsoons. They are everything I need. A cup of coffee, raindrops on the window pane, lush green surroundings and a long drive. The view is lovely!
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Yes, the way the nature transforms with rains is amazing!
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What a gorgeous view, and you’ve not only captured the rainbow, but the otherworldly light that surrounds everything it touches!
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Thank you Holly! Yes, these rainbows are divine. The camara is just my phone!
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I’ve seen the arrival of the monsoon clouds, yes. 🙂 Reminded me of childhood days when I visited Kerala during vacations. I didn’t know the science behind monsoon clouds though. Learn something new each day. 😀
PS: Lovely view from the balcony. Could be a wallpaper.
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It has been a long standing dream of mine to watch the monsoon arrive at the Kerala coast. God willing, may be someday, fingers crossed.
I am glad you liked the science bit in my blog. I was not so sure of it whether to leave it in or delete it altogether. But then I am a science enthusiast so I left it in! I am happy I did. Thanks for that 🙂
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Quite a writing Meena. While reading, I was sitting in your balcony 🙂
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Thank you Guru! Glad you enjoyed
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Oh that rainbow is gorgeous. Rains are best watched from a balcony and the view form yours is indeed beautiful.
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Thank you!
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Can i sit with you for a while in the balcony and enjoy the monsoons please😀
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Of course, most welcome. We will have all the snacks to go with them too. 😁😁
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What an informative article Meena. Learnt some from the forgotten Geography. “pertrichor” is the word you used. Hope it is in English language for me to refer the Dictionary. Way to go Meena. Beautiful balcony view and a breathtaking photograph and a vivid description from your end. Life is beautiful. Wherever I am.
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Thank you so much! Petrichor is one of the most fragrant word in English! Enjoy the rains!
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Was that a double rainbow in the picture? Or am I still blind with aww! Lovely read and amazing view you have there.
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Thanks keerthi! I can see only one rainbow! Are there two?
Yes, the view is awesome!
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I also see one more light rainbow on its right… Wow, a description par excellence… I could imagine the image… Fortunate to see the monsoon clouds arrival, both in Kerala and Mysuru…
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Thank you!
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I have seen the clouds forming and then moving towards land. Slowly and fast. Sometimes rushing as if there is an emergency. Darkening each day till it finally pours!
Love your balcony and the view!
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Thank you sunita!
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Beautiful sight – and I understand the choice of name, Meena. Haven’t the rains gone a bit crazy this year, though?
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Thanks Corinne! Yes, my balcony is great in all seasons. Yes, we did have lot of rains this year
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What a gorgeous view from your balcony. No wonder you have an entire blog on that. Loved reading the science of monsoons after a long time. I am sure after it hits Mysore, it reaches Bangalore too 🙂
Thanks for joining #WordsMatter, Meena. So good to have you around. I am looking forward to reading you in the October edition.
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Thanks parul! I’m looking forward to that too
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I’d love to sit on the jhoola of your balcony, some day, to enjoy the view.
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Always welcome, Apeksha!
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Lovely. ‘Petrichor’, didn’t know about this. I Love watching the white fluffy cloud service start collecting around May…
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Thank you!
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