Why are there great variations in India's climate?

There are great variations in India's climate because of presence of different physical features and the large extent of the country. Following are the factors that cause variations in India's climate:

1. The places lying to the north of Tropic of Cancer experience continental type of climate while places lying to the south of Tropic of Cancer experience hot climate with average temperature of 25°C to 27°C throughout the year.
2. The places situated on the vast east-west coastline of India experience equable or maritime type of climate with annual temperature range of about 3°C to 5°C whereas the places in the interior north have the annual temperature range upto 20°C.
3. The Monsoon are erratic, unpredictable, irregular and unevenly distributed. Due to this the annual rainfall varies from about 1187 cm at Mawsynram in Cherrapunji, the highest in the world to less than 25 cm in Thar desert in Rajasthan.
4. Places situated at higher altitudes are cooler as compared to places in the plains.
5. Presence of the Himalayan range also influences the climate of India by obstructing Siberian winds and intercepting Monsoon winds.