Neelakurinji, a rare flowering plant, blooms again in Munnar after a nearly 12-year gap, with hills in the Western Ghats turning blue-violet and purple. Reports say the flowers have started appearing in large numbers, drawing visitors, photographers and botanists to the sight, which is expected to last only a few weeks.
The bloom is concentrated around areas including Korandakadu hills near Mattupetty, with other locations such as Chokramudi also mentioned. Coverage highlights that Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) typically flowers once every 12 years at high altitude, growing roughly between 1,300 and 2,500 metres above sea level in parts of the Western Ghats. Different outlets also note the ecological and cultural significance: the mass flowering provides food for insects and pollinators and links the Kurinji landscape to local traditions and Tamil literature.
While all accounts focus on the same synchronized, periodic blooming event, Times of India adds that Neelakurinji is vulnerable and emphasizes habitat protection. It also points out that Eravikulam will not see the next bloom again until around 2030, underscoring how timing can vary by location.
