Munnar records -1°C, tourism sector eyes big push

The Munnar hill station in Idukki recorded the lowest temperature of the season on Saturday, with the mercury dropping to -1° C at Sevenmallay. As temperatures dropped to sub-zero levels, grasslands and valleys were seen carpeted in white frost in the morning.

According to data from the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) tea research foundation, temperatures touched 0° C in Chenduvarai, Silent Valley, Letchmi, Devikulam and at the UPASI headquarters in Nallathanni. Devikulam recorded 1°C. The R&D centre at Mattupetty recorded 2°C. This follows a previous seasonal low of 2°C recorded on Friday.

Climatologist Gopakumar Cholayil said that sub-zero temperatures were likely to persist. “The current weather pattern is favourable for continued sub-zero temperatures,” Mr. Cholayil said.

Earlier than usual

Climate experts noted that these freezing temperatures had arrived earlier than usual this year. Normally, Munnar does not see sub-zero temperatures until the last week of December.

The local tourism sector is expecting a heavy surge in visitors eager to experience the chilly weather and frost-covered landscapes.

Rise in bookings

G. Sojan, coordinator of My Munnar Movement, an initiative to promote local tourism, said that news of the cold snap had already led to an influx of travellers. “Tourism stakeholders are receiving huge bookings and inquiries for the coming days,” said Mr. Sojan.

The winter season typically begins in December and peaks with extreme cold in the last week of the month. Experts noted that in recent years the winter season in Munnar extended up to February.

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) managing committee member Vinod Vattekkatt said that while IndiGo flight cancellations initially impacted the tourism in the hill station in the first week of December, the early onset of winter helped the industry recover. “The early start of winter in Munnar has helped us overcome the initial crisis. Most resorts and hotels are now receiving high volumes of bookings and inquiries, a trend we expect to continue until January 30,” said Mr. Vattekkatt.

“Both tourists and tour operators have been closely monitoring Munnar’s weather patterns. When they see favourable conditions, bookings rise. For the past several years, Munnar’s winter pattern has shifted, with sub-zero temperatures typically occurring in late December, January, and the first week of February. However, this year the frost began in the second week of December itself, providing the much-needed boost to the tourism sector,” said Mr. Vattekkatt.