The Rain Temple of Behta
Villagers say the ceiling of an old temple near Kanpur starts to drip about a week before the monsoon arrives.
What was reported
In the village of Behta Bujurg, near Kanpur, stands an old Jagannath temple, now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Its age is uncertain.
Villagers say that about six or seven days before the monsoon rains arrive, drops of water appear on the stone ceiling above the sanctum. Small damp patches are said to mean light rain, and heavy drops a strong monsoon. Farmers have long watched it to plan their sowing.
Explanations offered
No detailed scientific study has been published. The likely explanation is condensation: as warm, humid air arrives ahead of the monsoon, moisture collects on the thick, cool stone, much as water forms on a cold glass. That would make the temple a natural humidity gauge.
- When
- Ongoing
- Where
- Behta Bujurg, Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Witnesses
- Villagers and visitors
- Status
- Unexplained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.