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Located in Idukki district of Kerala, Munnar the ‘Kashmir of South India’, situated at a height of approximately 1600 meters above the sea, cuddled in the lap of alluring Western Ghats and surrounded by the Annamalai Hills will rejuvenate your senses. Munnar tourism known for its finest tea plantations in the world was discovered by Scottish planters. Munnar is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India and a one of the most popular places to visit in Kerala. No sightseeing trip to Kerala is complete without a visit to Munnar.
Munnar is definitely the heartbeat of Kerala with terraced tea plantations, sparkling waterfalls, meandering misty lanes, intriguing wildlife sanctuaries, and the beautiful cloud-kissed visible and hidden hills covered in lush greenery, which attract people’s eyes, soothe your mind and soul with its very first glimpse. Munnar is one of the best and most visited hill stations in the entire country, tucked away with pleasant climate it is frequented by visitors all around the year.
The weather is moderate throughout the year. The average maximum temperature recorded during day time is 20-degree Celsius and during the night it can vary to 10-degree Celsius. The weather in Munnar is pleasant where summers are mild, winters are cool, and the monsoon rains are moderate.
Checkout season wise weather break up of Munnar climate if you want to enjoy the full grandeur of this destination also it would of great help to plan your trip accordingly.
Beat the heat of the summer season by treating yourself to the luxury of being in a hill station like Munnar. It offers a great relaxing weekend getaway from the everyday hassles of life. Summer in Munnar records a maximum temperature of 35-degree Celsius and a minimum of 19-degree Celsius.
This hill station is an ideal escape for leisure travelers and weekenders. If you’re planning an escape from the humid summers of the city, this place becomes a retreat from the harsh sun. Summer is the perfect time to go Munnar sightseeing especially visiting the tea estates. The refreshing climate in the summer attracts lots of tourists to Munnar giving a boost to Munnar tourism. The evenings can get a little chilly, so wearing a light sweater can be comforting also, carry light cotton clothes to deal with the humidity in the day time.
Leave the heat behind in the cities and enjoy the pleasant weather of Munnar. Some of the best things to do in Munnar during the summers are Eravikulam National Park, Anamudi Peak, Pallivasal, Tea Museum and much more. You can also opt for adventure sports during the summer season, such as rappelling, rock climbing, cycling, and paragliding. Don’t forget to get some memorable photographs to cherish your summer vacations.
Munnar enjoys nature’s beauty in abundance with its many natural attractions and tourist places which are open during summer. Adventure seekers can plan a trek to Anamudi (over 2,500 meters high). Children can ride an elephant at Carmelagiri Elephant Park, movie buffs can explore the place where Ang Lee’s Life of Pi was shot. Nature lovers can explore tea plantations and spice gardens and can watch colourful butterflies and birds at Eravikulam National Park, Visiting Mattupetty Dam for a refreshing boating experience or cycling through the idyllic town would refresh your senses. Munnar is the proud owner of one of the ancient and unique civilizations of the world. Ancient rock structure Muniyara Dolmens belong to the early Neolithic Age built with huge slabs of stone, also called megaliths is a very rare site, which shouldn’t be missed.
Munnar is also known for festivals among them is Thrissur Pooram Festival; an elephant’s procession festival, which is celebrated in the month of April or May every year. Amazing fireworks all through the night is an enticing experience that needs to be seen once in a lifetime.
Monsoons in Munnar has the charm of its own. Rains could hamper your travel plans and local sightseeing, however, people who love “rains” and smell of “freshness” would definitely enjoy being here at this time of the year. Munnar is at its beauty during monsoon and the area becomes lovely with streamlets; temperatures fall up to 2-degree Celsius during monsoon.
Monsoon gives a whole new look to this place. Lush green foliage, expansive tea plantations appear at its best, a haven of vibrant colours, and amazing photographic opportunities amidst the hills add to the magical, mystical charm of the hill station. Check out shimmering rain from glass window of your cottage and get relaxed by listening to the rhythm of raindrops; enjoy reading your favourite book along with a sip of hot coffee.
Sparkling streams, full-bloomed flower gardens, and sloshing waterfalls make it more enticing plus discounts on hotel tariffs due to off-season is the icing on the cake. So you can avail the best deals when looking for places to stay in Munnar.
Your monsoon trip to Munnar becomes most memorable due to the majestic famous pristine waterfalls like Lakkam, Attukal, Nyayamakad, Chinnakkal, Kuthumkal, Cheeyappara, Valara, and Thoovanam which are a few kilometres away from Munnar.
During this season it rains cats and dogs; an average of 533 mm rain is recorded during June – July; so try to avoid visiting during the night this time as roads become really slippery and sightseeing or other activities like trekking or mountain biking are risky. During monsoon be careful of leeches; residing in the bushy ground and grassy areas as they might latch onto your skin and doesn’t fall off easily until enough blood is sucked. So carry salt along with you or splash your feet and footwear with saltwater before venturing out.
The place remains tranquil, serene calm, less crowded and more refreshing for you. Make memories forever with perfect photogenic shots and cherish it for life.
Monsoon is also celebrated with Nehru Trophy Boat Race scheduled on the second Saturday of August in every year on Punnamada Lake. The opening ceremony of this extravagant affair is a colourful sight of adorned floats, boats, and traditional performances.
Prepare yourself for the bone-chilling cold as you go higher up the Terrain. The minimum temperature plunge to 10-degree Celsius so carry heavy woollens clothes and jackets is an absolute necessity.
Pretty fresh dawns and charming dusk make this place perfect for a family vacation. Honeymooners will love the pleasant charm of the winter months at Munnar. The base temperature along with chilly winds and snowfalls create a romantic aura ideal for an excursion or a cosy stay with a romantic ambiance.
Adventure enthusiasts can go for trekking, mountain climbing, hiking, and rappelling in the surrounding hills. They should also go during this time as it is the best season to visit Munnar. Hiking to mountains and gazing unmatchable views from the top is an experience you won’t ever forget. Lazing under the canopy of stars during night time is refreshing and relaxing.
The blooming season transforms Munnar into an ethereal setting covered with proliferating azure flowers. One among them is Neelakurinji flower which blooms in every 12 years. Don’t forget to book a rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage during the trip.
If you visit during winter, you got to check the famous Onam festival celebrated with full gusto in Munnar. Also, watch the famous snake boat races held at numerous places on the palm-fringed lagoons. Keep your point of shoot ready for clicking some Insta-worthy shots.
The quiet environment attracts the traveler to relax in the lap of Mother Nature. It has an invigorating climate and can be visited throughout the year. To conclude, There is always more to a place than its hot selling points, try to explore offbeat places to experience Munnar different. The hills have a different story tell with each season and have their own mesmeric spell from summer charm to adventurous winter to aesthetic monsoon you need to experience all of these. Explore Munnar during your visit to Kerala to experience and cherish memories for a lifetime!
While Munnar itself has many delights, there are a number of other places around Munnar which will also leave you enthralled.
Situated at a distance of 90 km from Munnar, Kumili is known as the Gateway to Thekkadi. It is a place tucked away in forests of the Ghats. It is a lesser known place around Munnar which is why the place is free from urbanization and commercialization. However, this is a popular tea and spice plantation zone and traders often come here to deal in these items. The bus stand here has buses from all over the state. The Thekkady Lake is very scenic and picaresque and is the center of many trekking and nature activities. Photographers looking forward to capturing the beauty of out of the way places often come here. There are a number of lodges and budget hotels around here and be sure to buy some flavorful tea for your family from here.
Peermade lies at a distance of about 100 km from Munnar and is a place blessed by Mother Nature. The region has a perpetual blue green color because the lushness of the hills. The region is a perfect spot for nature lovers and it is the ideal location if you want to find out about coffee, tea or spice plantations. The region especially grows cardamom and spice traders come here in huge numbers to replenish their stocks. The rubber plantations here along the hills make for a very pretty sight. Peermade is situated 950 m above sea level, so it has a wonderfully cool climate and makes staying here a pleasure. Be sure to visit the Thrissanku Hills, a hill of three peaks, and the trails around it are wonderful for hiking. Amritha Medu is another popular point.
Located at a distance of 97 km, Periyar lies in the mountainous terrains of the Western Ghats and it is also the sight of the Periyar National Park. The region is surrounded by the Pandalam Hills and the Cardamom Hills and the park itself is known for its impressive tiger population. Boat safari is the Periyar Lake is another popular activity here and bird watchers find it an ideal location to indulge in their passion. The guided nature walks here are especially informative and the bamboo rafting is sure to give you a unique experience, priced at INR 1000 for 3 hours of rafting. Be sure to visit the Mangala Devi Temple here, the temple of the guardian goddess of the region. The entry to the park itself is a mere INR 25 for the adults and INR 5 for children and timings are from 6 am to 5 pm.
Chalakudy is located at a distance of about 125 km from Munnar and it is dotted with quaint villages, old temples and modern theme parks. The town is located right by the Chalakudy River and it is one of the most charming places you will ever visit. The people who come here are mostly on the lookout for a place to relax and the views of nature will keep you entranced. One of the most important places to visit here is the Holy Land Replica of St. Mary’s Church and the architecture is stunning. The suspension bridge over Thumboormuzhy Dam offers stunning views on both sides of the dam. The Rosary Village here is another quaint place to visit.
Chances are Munnar will offers you some delicacies which you will be surely be tasting for the first time and sure to fall in love with. The most popular delicacy here is Appam with Stew. The Appam is a rice pancake and it is served with a stew of meat or vegetables in deliciously creamy coconut gravy. Puttu and Kadala curry is another popular delicacy, which is rice cake cooked with coconut shavings and served with a spicy gram curry with tamarinds and mustard seeds. Noollappam, a kind of South Indian noodles is another delicacy here and it is mostly served with egg curry.
For those who love chicken, trying out Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu is a must as it is a spicy fried chicken dish which is finger licking good. You cannot of course leave Kerala without trying the Kerala prawn curry and although Munnar is a hill town, fresh prawn is brought here from the coasts of Kerala to make this amazing dish. The same can be said for Kerala styled fish and there are a number of fish options to try. Beef Fry and parotta is a much favored dish among the population here and is a staple during major festivals.
Shopping in Munnar is fun and the prices here are pretty reasonable, even for tourists. Do not leave Munnar without buying some tea for your family and the Tata Tea Museum is the perfect place to buy some unique blends of tea. The Greenland Spices Supermarket is the best place to fill up your stock of spices and whole spices here like cardamom, fenugreek, asafetida, black pepper, mustard, poppy and cloves are the best spices to be brought here.If you are looking for eco- friendly clothing, then you have to head to Aranya Naturals. The unique topography of Munnar sustains many trees and plants and the natural dyes from them are used to print clothing which is ecological. One can buy shawls, stoles, scarves and sarees from here with ethnic print and they make for great gift items as well.Head to Munnar Market if you are looking for assortment of items like aromatic oils, handmade chocolates and fresh coffee beans. You will come across woolen garments shops as well and the markets are a great place to buy light woolens. If you are on the lookout for buying handmade crafts items, then visit Johnson’s Wood Craft which is known for unique items made from wood, brass and copper and the artifacts are sure to adorn the shelves back home.
Munnar will provide you with plenty of options when it comes to accommodation because the hill town is always teeming with tourists. You will find both luxury as well as budget options here. You can easily book rooms according to your preference from the OYO app. The hill view hotel rooms are of course the most in demand. You can also choose hotels depending on their distance from the bus stop and the railway station. There are lodges and guest houses as well and you will always find friendly staff here who will greet you with warmth and look to your needs with care.
Munnar is easily accessible by road as both National and State Highways go by it. The NH 49 passing from Kochi to Dhanushkodi goes right by it and it is about 150 kms from the former. Two major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva, with another one at Udumalaipettai. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport about 110 kms away and Coimbatore and Madurai airports are both about 165 kms away. You can get cabs and taxis from the bus stop, station and airport to take you to your destination in Munnar or transport can also be arranged from your hotel.
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April 15, 2024 
