The wettest location on the planet receives 22 times more precipitation than London and experiences downpours so severe that venturing outdoors becomes hazardous.

In the UK, it has been a truly miserable winter. Cornwall and County Down recorded their wettest January on record, while Northern Ireland saw its wettest January is 149 years. Across the UK, 26 stations set new monthly records for the highest January rainfall. Daily records also fell. Plymouth recorded its wettest January day in 104 years. And February has been no better so far. As of February 9, southern England had seen 72% of its monthly average.

However, there is a place in India that makes such soggy efforts look pathetic. Mawsynram stands within the verdant woodlands of the Khasi Hills in India’s far eastern region above Bangladesh and boasts stunning scenery, but endures relentless rain.

Mawsynram records approximately 11,873mm of annual rainfall, nearly 11 times the 1,109mm drenching notoriously damp Glasgow and 22 times London’s yearly 585mm.

Jyotiprasad Oza has spent his entire life in the town, earning his livelihood guiding inquisitive travellers through TourHQ. Visitors journey from across the globe to witness existence in Earth’s wettest locale, with tourists frequently travelling from America and Britain.

“We get about 10,000 tourists a year. During rainy time people like to visit because it’s very heavy rainfall, especially June to September,” Jyotiprasad said just as the rain clouds – somewhat predictably – began to open above him.

Mawsynram’s precipitation differs markedly from rainfall elsewhere. Once it begins, it can continue unabated for days. Frequently, locals will rush indoors when the deluge begins, only to discover the downpour hasn’t ceased for an entire week.

During a single day in June last decade, an extraordinary 1,003mm of rain descended upon the town – double the amount London experiences across an entire year. The consequences of such extreme precipitation on Mawsynram can prove absolutely catastrophic.

“During the time of heavy rainfall it is impossible to go outside. We can’t do our daily walk. We are not supposed to go outside during the rainy time. Sometimes children can’t go to school during the rain. It is quite dangerous,” Jyotiprasad explained.

Landslides and flooding pose a genuine risk to life once the monsoon rains arrive, whilst power supplies are frequently disrupted and fresh water systems become overwhelmed. Apart from the hazards of living in such conditions, the unrelenting humidity leaves some residents yearning to relocate to a considerably drier place.

“We prefer to move to where it gets less rain,” Jyotiprasad said, noting that very few people choose to settle in the area.

The explanations for the town’s remarkably high precipitation levels are numerous. Positioned 1,400m above sea level, the settlement experiences a highland climate that becomes more extreme due to the warm, humid air that ascends from the Bay of Bengal throughout the monsoon season, combined with the positioning of the Khasi Hills that blocks the airflow from the bay.

The inhabitants of Mawsynram have devised distinctive methods and approaches to prevent the rainfall from entirely disrupting their way of life. Numerous homes are constructed to be soundproof to block out the thunderous drumming sounds of the downpour.

Traditional full-body umbrellas, known as Knups, are a favoured means of staying dry when a heavy waterproof coat and wellington boots simply aren’t sufficient. These are large shell-shaped contraptions that are crafted from bamboo and banana leaves.

The rainfall is not the sole reason visitors flock to Mawsynram. The stunning scenery, vantage points and cascading waterfalls throughout the region are hugely popular with nature enthusiasts. A particular attraction are the Nohkalikai Waterfalls, which rank as the fourth tallest in the world.