This explanation is doled out daily to prospective purchasers of apartments in and around Mumbai. They also claim that the West is the coolest location in the building (See another entry for the explanation of that myth)
There are two reasons why this myth has been perpetuated: One is due to hastily read information from climate books, and other is due to the glib explanation given by self-serving real estate agents all over Mumbai. Similar myths exist in practically all cities. Only the direction differs.
Why is it a myth?
Ok. If you feel a breeze, just hold up a book against the direction of the breeze and see what happens. The breeze will obviously change its direction locally. One must remember that the actual paths travelled by a breeze is due to complex thermodynamic and aerodynamic principles. Each object in the path of a breeze is a factor that would affect its direction and speed. When we plan a building, the immediate context cannot be forgotten. Each building in the neighbourhood, the surface finishes of the ground, the layout of roads, all would change the direction of the breeze locally.
Unfortunately, many climate books indicate wind direction at a macroclimate level using instruments that is placed about 100 metres or almost thirty storeys up into the sky, with no obstructions around. Unfortunately, many of us don't have the time to get into such details...hence the myth
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