Which of the following is not an area of low precipitation?
Explanation:
To determine which option is not an area of low precipitation, we must understand the factors influencing rainfall in India, primarily the monsoon winds and orographic effect. \nOption (A) Leh: Leh is located in the Trans-Himalayan region, which lies in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas. The monsoon winds are blocked by the high mountain ranges, preventing moisture from reaching this region. Consequently, Leh experiences extremely low precipitation, making it a cold desert. Therefore, this is an area of low precipitation. \nOption (B) Windward side of Western Ghats: The Western Ghats are a mountain range running parallel to the western coast of India. During the monsoon season (June to September), the moisture-laden south-west monsoon winds strike the western slopes (windward side) of the Western Ghats. This causes orographic rainfall, where the air is forced to rise, cool, condense, and precipitate heavily. As a result, the windward side of the Western Ghats receives very high precipitation, often exceeding $200 \text{ cm}$ annually. This is precisely why it is *not* an area of low precipitation, but rather an area of high precipitation. \nOption (C) East of Sahyadris: The Sahyadris are another name for the Western Ghats. The region to the east of the Western Ghats is the leeward side or rain shadow region. After crossing the Western Ghats, the monsoon winds descend on the eastern slopes, warming up and losing their moisture-carrying capacity. This leads to significantly reduced rainfall, making it an area of low precipitation. Therefore, this is an area of low precipitation. \nOption (D) Interior of Deccan Plateau: The Interior of the Deccan Plateau, much like the East of Sahyadris, falls largely within the rain shadow zone of both the Western and Eastern Ghats. The monsoon winds lose most of their moisture on the windward sides of these mountain ranges. As a result, the central parts of the Deccan Plateau receive comparatively low rainfall, making it an area of low precipitation. Therefore, this is an area of low precipitation. \nBased on this analysis, the Windward side of the Western Ghats is the only option that is *not* an area of low precipitation; instead, it is known for very high precipitation due to orographic rainfall.