Tourists visiting this hilly paradise should note that the local language of Munnar is Malayalam. Even Tamil is widely spoken throughout the length and breadth of this region. If you are not well-versed with either of these languages, there is no need to worry as most of the locals know English as well.

Food

Apart from picturesque landscapes and a pleasant climate, Munnar is also a food lover’s delight. You will love the food in Munnar as the local Kairali cuisine caters to every taste and palate. If you are a vegetarian, try the Kairali thali that comprises of a tender coconut kheer, vegetable pachadi (salad), mixed vegetable stir fry, puli enji, mixed vegetable thoran, rice with rasam and sambhar, among others, that are all served on a banana leaf.

If you enjoyed this thali, you will love the breakfast served here where you can savor umpteen dosa and idlis. Also, try idiyappam with vegetable stew, that is available in restaurants only before 10 am.

There are also a lot of options for non-vegetarians like Kerala style Malabar parotta and rice that are served with fish and meat. You can try delicacies like fish in Kerala curry that is available at the Mezbaan Hotel and the Silver Spoon restaurant. For a relaxed evening with good non-vegetarian food, go to the Thattu Kada, that opens at 6 pm in the evening and stays open till 1 am.<readmore>

Good news for chai lovers as there are plenty of cardamom tea plantations all around Munnar and you can sip on a piping hot cup of cardamom chai whilst touring this city.

Weather

Munnar is one of the most ideal locations in Kerala as it is situated 1600 meters above sea level. This means that the weather in Munnar is always pleasant, whether it be the summer, winter or monsoon season. The natural beauty and the refreshing mountain air make this an ideal holiday destination.

Summers last from March to June and the temperature fluctuates between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. By the end of June, the monsoons start, leaving this entire hillside misty and cold. The weather keeps getting colder, reaching its peak in December and this is the beginning of winter. This winter season lasts till February. It can extremely cold with temperatures dipping as low as 5 degrees Celsius.

If you are planning a trip here, ideally the best time to visit Munnar would be from September to May. However, the favorable climate of Munnar makes it all year round holiday destination.

Fairs and festivals

Munnar is a land of many colorful festivities and one of the important festivals of Munnar is the Attukal Pongala. In this festival, all the womenfolk bake a pudding that is offered to the temple goddess, Attukal. Later on, the chief priest sprinkles holy water on the entire town to bless it.

Besides this, the Thrissur Pooram Festival is another momentous Munnar festival that is celebrated towards the end of May. In this festival, the mahouts and their elephants head out in the streets in a procession. These animals stand in royalty while the beats of the Panchavadyam can be heard. These beats are played on cymbals, conch, drums and the trumpet.

Other festivals of Munnar include the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race that is held on the second Saturday of August on the Punnamada lake. You will get to witness a colorful spectacle comprising of decorated boats and floats. There are separate races for women. Another important festival of Munnar is the 10-day harvest festival of Onam. This festival begins at the end of August and continues through September. Make sure you watch the snake boat races during this festival which are one of the liveliest boat races in this region.