India’s monsoon transforms the country into a lush, misty paradise but behind the postcard-perfect greenery lies a season of landslides, flash floods,…
1/101. Kedarnath, Uttarakhand | Rainfall around the Kedarnath shrine is unpredictable, but when it hits, it can trigger landslides that block the only road to the shrine, stranding pilgrims mid-journey. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
2/102. Char Dham Highways, Uttarakhand | The Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri highways cut through some of India’s most slide-prone gorges, and authorities routinely suspend the yatra when red alerts are issued. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
3/103. Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh Highways | Leh itself sits in a rain shadow, but the access roads via Manali and Srinagar turn into high-risk zones during monsoon, with landslides and slushy stretches making the journey unpredictable. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
4/104. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, Meghalaya | Receiving over 10,000 mm of rainfall annually, these two towns live under monsoon cloud for weeks, turning roads into rivers and washing away the very trekking trails tourists come for. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
5/105. Darjeeling, West Bengal | Frequent landslides in the region can shut down highways, halt toy train services, and cut off towns for days, while thick fog swallows the very views travellers come here for. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
6/106. Munnar and the Western Ghats, Kerala | Munnar’s dreamy hills see intense and relentless monsoon rainfall, part of a wider pattern across the Western Ghats that has produced some of India’s deadliest landslides, including Wayanad’s in July 2024. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
7/107. Mumbai and the Konkan Coast, Maharashtra | High tides batter Mumbai’s shoreline while flooding cripples transportation, and weekend treks to nearby forts like Lohagad become dangerous due to slippery rocks and limited rescue access. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
8/108. Sikkim | Sikkim’s unpredictable rainfall pattern combined with its mountainous terrain makes landslides common during peak monsoon, with average monthly rainfall of 60 to 70 cm often triggering flood-like conditions. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
9/109. Assam | Interconnected by the Brahmaputra, Barak, and over 50 tributaries, Assam faces recurring floods each monsoon, with bank erosion alone washing away nearly 8,000 hectares of land every year. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
10/1010. Goa | Rough seas and restricted water activities strip Goa of its main draw during monsoon, with beach shacks and night markets pulled down and many parties cancelled due to torrential rains. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
