Munnar
Tea-covered hills, cool air and wild mountain goats in Kerala's highlands, best for a slow stop after the coast.
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Munnar is a hill town in Idukki district, in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Tea estates climb the slopes around it, and the air is noticeably cooler than on the coast. The main draw is Eravikulam National Park, home of the Nilgiri tahr, a wild mountain goat that grazes on high grassy ground. Tea factory visits and viewpoints around town fill the rest of a visit. The usual route in is by road from Kochi, a long drive on winding hill roads.
Munnar suits a slow trip more than a checklist. Days fit around estate walks, drives between viewpoints and early starts in the hills. It pairs well with the backwaters or Kochi. Roads climb and bend, so a short distance on the map can take a long time, and the town where you sleep decides how far you travel each morning. The cooler months, from roughly September to March, are the usual time to go. Two or three days cover the main sights.
Munnar in five
- Allow 4 hours from Kochi, more in rainKochi airport is the nearest big gateway, and the final climb is slow with hairpin bends and tour buses. Leave early and avoid driving the ghat road after dark in the monsoon.
- Choose your base by the roads you will useTown is easiest for buses and food, Chinnakanal puts you near waterfalls, Mattupetty and Kundala sit on the dam and Top Station road, and Devikulam suits quiet estate stays.Where to stay in Munnar
- Book Eravikulam through the official channelThe park is the home of the Nilgiri tahr and is limited by visitor numbers, with a closure around calving season. Check the forest department's current rules and book through the official site only.Munnar in 2 days
- Decide between Munnar and Ooty firstBoth are cool tea-and-lake hill stations, but they sit in different states with different access. Munnar is a few hours from Kochi; Ooty links to Coimbatore and Mysuru.Munnar or Ooty
- Skip July and August unless you like rainHeavy monsoon brings mist, leeches on trails and occasional road closures. If you go, pick a stay with a good indoor spot and a refundable rate.
Things to do in Munnar
See all attractions in Munnar
Need to know
- Airport
- Cochin International (Kochi), roughly 4 hours by road
- Getting there
- Road from Kochi, Kottayam or Madurai; no rail station in Munnar
- Getting around
- Taxis, hired jeeps and state buses; the hills are not walkable
- Best base
- Munnar Town for ease; Chinnakanal or Devikulam for quiet
- Time needed
- 2–3 days; add one for Marayur and Chinnar
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Misty, coolJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Misty, cool
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Dry, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Warm, dryMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AprilRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Warm, busyAprilRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- MayRain29 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°ShowersMayRain
Poor
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 362 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°MonsoonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 367 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Heavy rainJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 529 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 556 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Rain easingSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 317 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- OctoberRain27 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Post-monsoonOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 413 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Post-monsoon
- NovemberRain20 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Green, clearNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, clear
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Cool, busyDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, busy
Average daily high and low in Munnar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Munnar
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 20°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 91%
Munnar
04:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°13°91%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Wed21°13°96%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Thu22°14°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri22°13°100%Friday: Rain. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat21°14°100%Saturday: Rain. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun21°14°100%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 02:03 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Ootyabout 6–7 hours by roadA long transfer to the Nilgiris, better as a one-way leg than a day trip.Read the guide
- Alappuzhaabout 4–5 hours by roadBackwater houseboats at the other end of a Kerala loop.Read the guide
- Marayur and Chinnarabout 1–1.5 hours by roadSandalwood forest, dolmens and a dry-zone wildlife sanctuary.
Before you go to Munnar
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Rules for Munnar, checked
- Most foreign nationals need an Indian visa before arrival. Check eligibility and apply only on the official government portal.Source
- Buy a ticket at the park gate for Eravikulam National Park. It can close for part of the year, so check with the Kerala Forest Department before you go.
- Drones need prior permission in India, so check the Digital Sky rules before flying one over the estates or the park.Source
- Take off your shoes before entering temples and some homes, and ask before you photograph people at prayer.
Munnar FAQ
How many days do you need in Munnar?
Two full days handle the tea estates, Eravikulam and the main viewpoints. Three lets you add Marayur and Chinnar or a long walk. A single day from Kochi is mostly spent in the car.
What is the best time to visit Munnar?
October to February is the sweet spot, with dry roads and cool air. March to May is warmer but fine. The monsoon from June to September is green and wet, with mist and possible road disruption.
Is Munnar worth visiting?
Yes if you want cool weather, tea-hill scenery and winding drives. It is less rewarding in heavy rain or if you want big city sights. Visit in the dry months for clearer views.
How do you get from Kochi to Munnar?
By taxi or car in about 4 hours, or by state bus. The road climbs through the ghats, so leave early. Munnar has no railway station, so the train routes end at Aluva, Ernakulam or Kottayam.
When does the neelakurinji bloom?
It flowers about once every 12 years, with the last mass bloom in 2018, so the next is due around 2030. Ask locally for current bloom reports if you plan a special trip.