Not a foreign country, but a state in southern India. The trees are filled with blue-purple flowers. Tourists stand mesmerized. Because if you want to witness such a rare sight, you have to wait more than a decade!
After almost 12 years, the hills of Munnar in Kerala have started to be covered with blue-purple flowers again. The high hilly grasslands of the Western Ghats are now wrapped in the blue-purple carpet of Neelkurinji. The most amazing feature of Neelkurinji is its flowering cycle. Certain species of this tree flower about every 12 years. Thousands of trees burst into flower at the same time and the vast slopes of the hills are like streams of color (Munnar).
Chokramuri hill became the center of Neelkurinji this year. Certain parts of the area have therefore been opened for tourists and a large number of people are already flocking to see the flowers. There is also the Mattupetty–Korandakkad region. According to Kerala Tourism, Neelkurinji eruption was seen earlier in 1990, 2002 and 2014 in Mattupetty-Kannimala area. Also this year there have been reports of Neelkurinji blooming in Ikka Nagar, Engineering College Road and some other hilly areas near Munnar city.
Neelkurinji is part of the highly sensitive upland ecosystem of the Western Ghats. Its flowering time is very important for the environment. So the authorities have issued a ban, tourists should not pluck flowers, leave the designated path and not go too close to the trees. Access is restricted to several areas, so as not to damage the habitat of this rare flower.
Various arrangements are made for tourists to drive from Munnar to Neelkurinji Gardens. Chokramuri Kurinji Garden is particularly notable among these. Different entry fees are also prescribed to enter such gardens. This arrangement has been made so that tourists do not go inside and damage the trees.
If you want to visit Kerala before the Puja holidays, do not miss this chance to see Neelkurinji.