Munnar, a beauty draped in mist

Munnar is one of the most preferred destinations for the holiday travellers. The misty greenery and the chill it brings attract many. Munnar is not an expensive destination and that adds to its value as a prime tourist spot.

Munnar is now draped in mist and the temperatures have dropped significantly. Winter came to Munnar somewhat belated last year. Usually, the temperatures start dropping in November. But onset of the last winter was in January 2019. The temperature now is hovering around 6 degree celsius and is expected to fall to subzero levels by next week.

During winter, the whole Munnar landscape gets covered in mist. Even the lush green meadows turn white. Understandably, the place is thronging with tourists. Rajamala has restricted the entry of tourists to 3500 per day. However, thrice as many visit the place during the peak season. Many also come to enjoy the boat ride in the Mattupetty reservoir operated by the DTPC and the Hydel Tourism. The reopening of the Devikulam Gap road after the maintenance work to small vehicles should encourage tourists from other states to make it to Munnar. Currently, the roads leading to Munnar are in good shape.

The green, undulating landscape of Munnar, now veiled in mist should be an ideal weekend destination. The tea plantations have in some way restructured the geography of Munnar and have neatly merged with the surroundings.

Apart from the unmatched scenic beauty, Munnar has also some footprints of history. Many of the earliest buildings in Munnar were built during the British era. The first tourist bungalow in Munnar, the CSI church and the cemetery were all built during that period. The tomb of Eleanor Isabel May, the wife of a British tea plantation manager, is in this cemetery.