Mount Carmel Church, Munnar

Munnar Mount Carmel Basilica is a Catholic basilica and pilgrimage centre in Munnar, Kerala. The church is known for its wood-framed windows and a statue of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

History
The church was started in a shed in 1898 by a Spanish priest, Fr. Alfonse Maria De Los Angeles, OCD on land given by the management of tea estates. The church was set up to cater to up workers who mostly came from neighbouring Madras presidency(now Tamil Nadu) and Southern Travancore(now parts of present day kanyakumari district and Sengottai taluk) work in the tea plantations. The present structure of the church was constructed in 1909. Fr. Alphonse was buried inside the church in 1916 after he succumbed to malaria.

On 21 January 1934, the foundation stone of a new church in Munnar was laid, and the present church was blessed on 17 April 1938, by Bonaventure Arana, OCD, the first bishop of Vijayapuram. On 5 February 1943, the Munnar community was raised to the status of a parish. The 125th anniversary of the church was celebrated in 2022.

On 27 March 2024, it was announced that the church had been conferred the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis. The ceremony for the elevation is planned for 25 May 2024.