El Niño, tourism curbs dampen monsoon travel in Malnad Karnataka

Published 4 August 2026 · local

With reduced rainfall due to the El Niño effect in June and July, as well as restrictions and the closure of some camps by the

With reduced rainfall due to the El Niño effect in June and July, as well as restrictions and the closure of some camps by the Forest and Tourism departments, monsoon tourism has been badly hit in the Malnad region of Karnataka. \Homestays and association members across Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Agumbe, whom The Hindu spoke to, said the monsoon season has been dull compared to previous years, when thousands of tourists thronged the region to enjoy the rains and scenic views of hill stations and waterfalls. Ibrahim, who owns a heritage estate and runs a homestay in north Kodagu, said the rainfall deficit in June and July left tourists, especially those from North Karnataka and Bengaluru, disappointed, forcing many to cut short their stay. “There was a decrease in footfall over the past two months, but we believe it might pick up soon.

At present, we are receiving heavy rains in Kodagu, so once the rains moderate, footfall will definitely increase,” he said. Meanwhile, Farhan, owner of another homestay, said the closure of Raja’s Seat by the Department of Tourism has also affected tourism. “Either tourists avoid coming to Kodagu fearing landslides, or they stay away altogether because of the closure of such important attractions,” he said. In Chikkamagaluru, tourist footfall has been moderate due to the rainfall deficit. Sarita, who owns a private homestay in Kallugudde village, said, “This year, rainfall has reduced by 60% compared to last year. Likewise, the number of tourists is either moderate or low. Despite the lack of rain, the mist continues to attract visitors. However, most homestays are not making a profit as the prices of commodities have increased and workers’ salaries have also gone up.

But in a bid to attract tourists, our charges have remained unchanged.” She said the reduced rainfall has affected business, even though visitors continue to enjoy the region’s misty weather. Meanwhile, Prasanna, owner of a homestay in Mudigere, said, “The IT crowd that earlier used to visit during weekends has reduced drastically. With tourism rules being relaxed in other States, many tourists prefer travelling there instead of exploring destinations within Karnataka.” ‘Agumbe not the same’ A similar trend has been noticed in Agumbe, once known as the place receiving the highest rainfall in the State. Sunil, a member of the hospitality and service team at a private homestay in Agumbe, said, “We have beautiful waterfalls and viewpoints in Agumbe. Unfortunately, due to the lack of rain, there is little or no water in these places.” He said they now inform guests in advance about the situation.