Munnar, a top destination in Kerala and one of the most popular hill stations in South India, boasts year-round pleasant weather and cool, misty winds.

The rainy season in Munnar from July to September is a magical affair that transforms this charming hill town in the Nilgiris into a fairytale! Though one has to take precautions while visiting Munnar in the rainy season, the thrilling experiences it provides make up for it! During the monsoon, this lush paradise in the Western Ghats transforms into a refreshing retreat enveloped in mist, with a temperature well below 22°C.

Most choose not to visit Munnar during the wet season, but the few who do are met with the most breathtaking landscapes and enriching natural experiences the Nilgiri Mountain Ranges can bestow!

Let us see why you must experience the rainy season in Munnar at least once, what you can do there, and the precautions you must take to stay safe.

ALSO SEE – Best Places to Visit in Munnar

The Rainy Season In Munnar- Your Complete Guide

While Munnar is a year-round destination, monsoon in Munnar has a beauty of its own.

Here are some reasons why it’s the perfect time to visit Munnar.

1. Cool and Misty weather

Munnar’s monsoon weather is nothing short of amazing! The town enjoys refreshingly cool weather with chilly winds in the monsoon and the sight of rains over tea gardens makes it memorable.

The fact that it’s the least humid in the rainy season as compared to other cities in Kerala or India makes it all the more ideal for a family  getaway or honeymoon package!

ALSO SEE- Munnar Temperature, Weather, Season and Climate for each month

2. Affordable transport and Accommodation

Munnar is most budget-friendly in the monsoon season. Flights are cheaper, cabs and buses operate at lower fares, and hotels and resorts roll out package deals and discounts to lure in travelers in the offseason.

Luxury resorts like Spice Tree Munnar, Tea County Munnar, and The Panoramic Getaway offer rooms at rock-bottom rates along with stunning front-row views of the dramatic rain-drenched landscapes of Munnar!

ALSO SEE – 15 Best Munnar homestays for an Authentic Holiday

Monsoon Grande Munnar, designed to offer a comfortable and scenic stay in the rainy season, offers luxury rooms with a view of Munnar’s most beautiful tea estates and hills along with special discounts on Ayurvedic massage therapies.

3. Refreshing Green natural Surroundings

The rainy season in Munnar revives and rejuvenates the vegetation of Munnar and breathes new life into its rich foliage.

The landscapes turn greener and vibrant. Munnar is most tranquil at this time with its hills, forests, and tea plantations covered in a soft, dewy mist.

4. Less crowd and more sightseeing options

Since most people like to visit Munnar in the summer and winter seasons, you’ll find fewer tourists around Munnar in monsoon.

There won’t be long queues at ticket counters, overcrowded tourist attractions, and over-booked restaurants.

5. Majestic waterfalls

Waterfalls flow in their full might and splendor during the monsoon season. Several famous landscape photographers and videographers flock to Munnar to capture the breathtaking beauty of its fierce waterfalls in the rain.

It’s the perfect time to visit gems like Attukal Waterfalls and Cheeyappara Falls. However, one must exercise caution while visiting waterfalls in Munnar during this season and maintain optimum distance.

ALSO SEE – Top 8 Munnar Waterfalls

6. Photographers Delight-Munnar in Monsoons

Munnar is the favorite destination of photographers and filmmakers in the monsoon season. The rainy season in Munnar brings along countless photo opportunities, luring in shutterbugs from around the country.

The tea estates, lakes, waterfalls, and valleys of Munnar, soaked in vivid colors and swirling wisps of mist, look utterly dramatic in the rain!

Kolukkumalai, Attukal Waterfalls, Top Station, Mattupetty Dam, Pothamedu Viewpoint, Lockhart Gap, Meesapulimala Peak, and Chinnakanal Waterfalls are some of the best places for photography in Munnar in monsoon.

Things to do in the rainy season in Munnar

Contrary to popular belief, there are tons of things you can do in Munnar in monsoon.

While most touristy activities like hiking and boating are discontinued in the monsoon to ensure the safety of travelers and locals, there’s still a plethora of options you can explore to make the most of the rainy season in Munnar.

Here are some low-risk activities you can enjoy instead.

1. Tea Plantation tours

You can roam around the resplendent tea gardens of Kolukkumalai and Kannan Devan Hills in Munnar rain. Click tons of pictures and watch the native women pluck dewy tea leaves during a drizzle.

Even the spice plantations of Munnar are a treat to the senses in the rain! It not only revives the greenery of tea and spice plantations, but also intensifies the aroma of plants like cardamom, pepper, vanilla, coffee, and tea.

Just make sure you wear sturdy rubber mud boots or waterproof trekking shoes and walk carefully.

2. Nature walks in the wilderness

You can go on guided walks in the Eravikulam National Park, the home of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. You’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of this revered nature reserve in the rain.

Guests also find themselves entranced by the many wildflowers and colorful herbs that choose to bloom only in the monsoon season in Munnar’s Eravikulam National Park.

Anamudi Peak and Pothamedu Viewpoint are also relatively safe for guided walks on days with less rainfall. Just make sure you wear a raincoat with comfortable and water-resistant trekking shoes and always listen to your guide.

ALSO SEE – Meesapulimala Trekking – Best Tips on Booking, Stay , Tour and Route

3. Authentic Kerala cuisine

There’s no better weather to enjoy the hot and spicy culinary delights of Kerala!

Steaming Kadala Curry, Beef Stew, Puttu, Appam, Karimeen Pollichathu, Malabar Parotta, and Sadya taste best in the cool monsoon weather of Munnar!

Enjoy the company of piping hot Munnar tea, sizzling banana fritters, and views of rain-drenched Munnar valleys and lakes in the rainy season in Munnar.

ALSO SEE- Top 10 Famous Food in Munnar to try with Delightful Local Tips

4. Tea Museum Visit

You can visit the Tata Tea Museum in Munnar in any season. The advantage of doing it in the monsoon is fewer crowds, shorter queues, and a more insightful experience of tea processing at your desired pace!

Munnar Tea Museum is the best place to learn about the history and heritage of tea cultivation in this region while also getting to taste a variety of tea flavors!

Low tourist footfall also means you might be able to bag some extra discount at the in-house store!

ALSO SEE – Top 5 Munnar Tea Estates That Are A Must-Visit For All

5. Explore waterfalls (with caution)

It’s not a terrible idea to visit select waterfalls in Munnar if you exercise extreme caution, stay within the designated safe zones, and wear the right footwear and a raincoat.

Attukal Waterfall, Chinnakanal Falls, Nyayamakad Falls, and Lakkam Waterfall, are particularly exquisite during the monsoon season!

Surging with all their might, these cascades turn into a divine milky-white vision accompanied by crystal clear pools, radiant greenery, dewdrops sparkling in the light, and swirling mist adding a soft, hazy effect to the whole scene!

ALSO SEE – Attukad Waterfalls – Best time to Visit

6. Visit Mattupetty Dam and Lake

This postcard-perfect lake is particularly captivating during the monsoon season in the Nilgiris. And the fact that it’s entirely secluded at this time is a cherry on the cake!

While boating is discouraged in the rain, it’s a magical experience to sit in a shaded corner on the banks of the lake and enjoy surreal views of the misty lake, scenic hills, and dramatic cloud formations above them all!

When you’ve had your fill of Mattupetty Dam, proceed to Lockhart Gap for its rain-soaked panoramic views of mountain peaks, valleys, lakes, rivers, and tea estates.

ALSO SEE – Mattupetty Dam – Best Time to Visit, Timings and Fare

7. Ayurvedic Spa Treatments

Monsoon is regarded as an ideal time to indulge in Ayurvedic treatments. The wet and humid weather tends to open the body’s pores and lets it absorb oils and ointments to the fullest, offering a deep sense of calm and relaxation!

Munnar is among the best places in Kerala for holistic Ayurvedic Spa therapies and massage sessions.

Many wellness centers and Ayurvedic resorts in Munnar like Sitaram Retreat, Somatheeram, and Sprise Munnar offer special monsoon packages and big discounts on Ayurvedic therapies.

You must also attend the various Spa events, Ayurveda workshops, and herbal tours organized here in July and September every year!

ALSO SEE – Best time for Ayurveda Treatment in Kerala

8. Martial Arts and Festivals

The rainy season in Munnar also lets you enjoy several cultural festivals like Onam. Like in other places in Kerala, Onam is celebrated in Munnar (in August/September) with grand festivities, feasts, Kathakali and Thiruvathira dances, decorations, and flower rangolis!

10 days before Onam, Munnar hosts the Athachamayam Festival with colorful processions, folk dances, Kalaripayattu performances, and sacred rituals in temples.

You can also see the Aadi Monsoon Festival in August where the locals offer prayers, perform rituals, and cook meals near lakes and rivers.

The Marayoor Sandalwood Festival, organized in honor of Munnar’s naturally grown sandalwood forest, runs throughout the monsoon.

It’s a vivid blend of workshops, exhibitions, seminars on forest conservation, and markets selling handicrafts, oils, honey, and traditional crafts made out of sandalwood.

All in all, Munnar in monsoon is a riot of rich experiences that you won’t get to enjoy in other seasons!

Safety tips for the rainy season in Munnar

The rain in Munnar makes it undeniably beautiful and worthy of a visit.

However, there are certain precautions you need to take while visiting Munnar in monsoon to ensure the safety of your loved ones and yourself!

• The hilly areas in Munnar are prone to landslides, especially during heavy rainfall. Keep a tab on weather conditions, stay updated on road conditions, and do not drive on days with torrential rainfall.
• Carry waterproof gear like jackets, raincoats, windcheaters, umbrellas, and water-resistant trekking shoes to stay as dry during the wet season in Munnar as possible.
• Opt for guided tours of plantations, hills, forests, and wildlife sanctuaries. It’s always better to traverse muddy terrain with an experienced local guide who is familiar with the surroundings and safety protocols.
• Many activities like boating, rock climbing, rappelling, paragliding, and trekking in certain regions are off-limits in Munnar in monsoon. Respect local safety laws and do not engage in such risky activities on your own.
• If you’re carrying a camera, use protective gear and a rain cover to keep it dry.
• Tread muddy and slushy terrain around hills and waterfalls with extreme caution. Wear mud boots or waterproof trekking shoes with a good grip, walk slowly, and always listen to your guide on where you can and cannot step!
• Do not head out without a flashlight with extra batteries, an extra pair of clothes, a dry towel, a plastic bag to keep your belongings dry, a small snack, and insect repellent.
• Early mornings and evenings in Munnar are the best times for catching its mist-enveloped landscapes and for avoiding crowds.

The rainy season in Munnar offers the most serene holiday experience imaginable! The cool, misty weather and the breathtaking views of rain-drenched foliage will certainly lift your spirits! Browse our range of Munnar tour packages and book a dreamy monsoon getaway in the Nilgiris right away! Happy tripping!