Frost-covered pastures at Chenduvarai near Munnar in Idukki on Monday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Munnar hill station in Idukki is witnessing the early arrival of winter as the mercury plummets. This year’s lowest temperature of 3°C was recorded at Chenduvarai tea estate under Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) on Monday morning. Frost was also recorded in the area.
The United Planters Association of South India (UPASI), a tea research foundation in Munnar, recorded a temperature of 3°C on Monday. The temperature at Letchmi Estate was 4°C and at Sevenmalai 5°C.
The automatic weather station at Kundal near Munnar installed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum temperature of 6°C. According to climate experts, Munnar is witnessing an early winter after 2018.
It will be below zero by Christmas
Climatologist Gopakumar Cholayil said temperatures could go as low as zero during Christmas week. “Currently, the conditions are favorable for cold weather. No depression or heavy rain warnings have been issued so far. The hilly areas, including Munnar, will witness further dips in temperatures in the coming days,” Mr. Cholayil said.
Tourism stakeholders are expecting an influx of tourists to the hill station in the coming days to enjoy the cool weather. “The cancellation of IndiGo flights initially affected Christmas and New Year bookings to Munnar. Now the situation has changed and we are getting bookings and enquiries,” said a tourism stakeholder.
“Tourists, especially north Indians, come to Munnar to enjoy the cold in December and January. We hope the early arrival of winter will attract more tourists,” he said.
The normal winter season starts in Munnar in November. Extreme cold is experienced in the first week of January usually with valleys and hills covered in frost. But this year, the mountain station has been experiencing extreme cold since the second week of December itself.
Published – 15 Dec 2025 20:54 IST
