First time this season: Temperature drops below zero, this district in Kerala shivers in cold

IDUKKI: Tourists are flocking in large numbers to Munnar, often called the “Kashmir of the South,” to experience the cold weather. The first sub-zero temperature of the season was recorded in Munnar early on Saturday, with the mercury dipping below zero degrees Celsius at the Sevenmallay section of the KDH Plantation. On the previous morning, a low of two degrees Celsius was reported at the Chenduvara estate of the Kannan Devan Company.

Following reports of the temperature dropping to two degrees, many visitors have been travelling to Munnar to enjoy the chill. The lowest temperatures recorded included three degrees Celsius at the UPASI centre, four degrees at Lakshmi Estate, five degrees at Sevenmalai, and six degrees at Mattupetty. Silent Valley and Devikulam recorded a minimum temperature of seven degrees Celsius.

Snowfall was also reported on the grasslands in the Chenduvara factory division. Despite the snowfall, the clear skies and wide views of the valleys below have added to the scenic beauty of the region. Earlier, on the 15th, temperatures had touched zero degrees Celsius at Chenduvara and the UPASI centre. The nearby areas of Vattavada and Kanthalloor are also experiencing severe cold. Munnar’s cold season typically begins in November and lasts until January.

Since early December, resorts and hotels in Munnar have been operating at full capacity. Tourists from neighbouring districts and nearby states are visiting in large numbers. The rush is expected to continue until early March, with weekends, especially Saturdays and Sundays, seeing the heaviest crowds. Munnar’s tourism sector had faced prolonged difficulties following the 2018 floods and later the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, which further affected the industry. However, the tourism sector in Munnar is now showing clear signs of revival.