KL-CLIMATE-MUNNAR (CORRECTED)

After flood fury, Kerala's Munnar woo tourists with sub-zero

temperature

(Eds; rpting after changing word in 1st para)

Munnar, Jan 9 (PTI): With broken roads and landslide

scarred RPT scarred mountains, this hill station had been a

mute reminder of the deadly August floods in Kerala, the worst

in a century, which ravaged the state.

But Kerala's Munnar, fondly called the 'Kashmir of the

South' by travel buffs, has once again turned out to be a

paradise for tourists, thanks to the unexpected chilly weather

and snow.

Located 1,600 meters above sea level, the tourist town

was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government

in South India.

The mercury level has plunged to minus degree Celsius

in the last few days, spreading a blanket of snow across its

lush greenery and tea plantations, which has wooed a large

number of holidayers, both domestic as well as foreigners.

The photos of snow-sprinkled grasslands and reports of

the frozen climate of the place have gone viral on the social

media also in no time.

For the last eight days, the mercury level has gone

down to below zero degree Celsius.

It was -2 degree Celsius at the tea plantations and

zero degree Celsius at the town area Tuesday, according to the

weather report.

Local people said it was very rare for the frozen

climate to last for over a week.

Seeking to tap the opportunity thrown in by the

unexpected weather conditions, Kerala Tourism had updated its

Twitter handle with information and photos of the cool

weather.

"We can't get enough of this rather unexpected, but

dreamy Munnar weather.

We can't get enough of this rather unexpected, but

dreamy Munnar weather," one of the tweets said.

The chilly weather has also given renewed energy to

the tourism sector, which had faced the brunt of the deluge

that had ravaged Munnar in August last year.

Hoteliers, home-stays and resorts are receiving good

bookings due to the sudden inflow of tourists.

However, the unexpected snowfall has caused extensive

damage to tea plants, local people said.

Wildlife photographer Praveen Muraleedharan said that

the minus degree temperature at high altitudes and deep

forests of Munnar was common during December end and the first

week of January.

"This may not be a positive sign. It is due to drastic

climate change. We need to conduct proper research into it.

Unfortunately, many are marketing the phenomenon in

Munnar as a snow-fall destination in Kerala," he told PTI.

Located in the biodiversity hot spot of the Western

Ghats, Munnar is a sought-after tourist destination, known for

its vast tea plantations, pristine valleys and scenic

mountains and exotic flora and fauna.