Question

Give a geographical reason for the following:

Central Maharashtra receives less rainfall than Western Maharashtra.

Answer 1

Yes, Central Maharashtra receives less rainfall than Western Maharashtra, and this difference is due to the Western Ghats and their impact on the monsoon winds.

• Western Maharashtra, which includes areas along the Western Ghats (like the Konkan coast and cities such as Mumbai and Pune), receives heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon season. The Western Ghats act as a barrier, forcing the monsoon winds to rise and release moisture on the western side of the mountains, resulting in heavy orographic rainfall.
• Central Maharashtra (which includes areas like Marathwada and Vidarbha) lies on the leeward (or rain-shadow) side of the Western Ghats. As the monsoon winds descend after crossing the mountains, they lose most of their moisture, significantly reducing rainfall in this region.