Plan your trip · Munnar
What's on in Munnar
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Munnar — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Munnar right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Munnar
Munnar's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Munnar
Neelakurinji bloom
🗓️ every 12 yearsThe hills turn blue when the kurinji flowers together — the last was 2018.
Planning: In every other year, note Eravikulam closes February–March for the tahr calving season.
Across Kerala
Onam
🗓️ August–SeptemberTen days of flower carpets, feasting on a banana-leaf sadya, and snake-boat races on the backwaters.
Planning: The state effectively stops for it; book houseboats and trains well ahead.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Munnar's calendar follows both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Onam is celebrated with flower carpets and a sadya meal, while many Tamil families on the tea estates mark Pongal in January. Christmas is a big occasion at the town's old churches, and the Christmas and New Year holidays bring the year's biggest crowds. Once every 12 years or so, the neelakurinji bloom turns the Eravikulam hills blue and draws visitors from across India.
Festival dates change each year, and many follow the lunar calendar, so check the dates for your year before booking. If you plan to visit Eravikulam, also check that it is not in its usual February–March closure.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Munnar
- Book rooms early for Christmas, New Year, Onam and any neelakurinji season.
- Expect heavy traffic on the roads into Munnar during festival holidays.
- Carry a warm layer for evening events, as nights are cool.
- Dress modestly for temple festivals and church services.
- Ask before photographing people at religious ceremonies.
- Start early on busy days, as queues at Eravikulam can be long.
Questions
Munnar — FAQ
What are the main festivals in Munnar?
Onam, Christmas, Pongal and Diwali are among the main festivals. Christmas is celebrated at CSI Christ Church and Mount Carmel Church, and Pongal is marked by many Tamil families on the tea estates.
Is Munnar busy at Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The last two weeks of December are among the busiest of the year, with cold, clear weather. Book rooms and taxis well ahead and expect traffic on the roads to the viewpoints.
When is the next neelakurinji bloom in Munnar?
The large bloom on the Eravikulam hills was last seen in 2018, and the next is expected around 2030, usually between August and October. The exact timing depends on the plants, so check closer to the time.
Is Onam celebrated in Munnar?
Yes. Onam usually falls in August or September and is celebrated with flower carpets and a traditional sadya meal on a banana leaf. It is also a holiday period, so Munnar gets busy.