The Beauty of Munnar - Neelakurinji

Munnar is a serene location in Kerala which rises when three mountain streams merge i.e. Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. This beautiful hill station was once the summer resort of the former British Raj in South India. Munnar is also known as the ‘Kashmir of South India’. Among the exotic flora found in the grasslands here is the Neelakurinji as this flower bathes the Anamalai hills in purplish blue once in every 12 years. In 2006, it created a huge buzz and tourists in high number visited Munnar just to revel in its beauty. After a long time span of 12 years, in 2018 the Neelakurinji will be blooming again and similarly thousands of visitors are expected to hit the scenic hills in Kerala to witness the extravaganza that will last until October. As soon as the monsoon hits the state, August is ought to be the best time to visit Kerala and experience this dreamy sight. These flower plants are spread over 3,000 hectares of rolling hills in Munnar. Neelakurinji is a shrub which is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India. The famous Nilgiri Hills got their name from the flowers of Neelakurinji as it means blue and Nilgiri also signify the colour blue. Every shrub reproduces once in its life span and dies after blooming and then their seeds take twelve years to sprout again. The purple colored flowers are a treat for butterflies, honeybees as it holds a huge amount of nectar. These belong to the genus Strobilanthes which consists of around 450 species and 146 of them are found in India and around 43 in Kerala. 

There are five mesmerizing places which should be visited in Kerala to have a scenic view of the Neelakurinji flowers:

1. Pothamedu- Pothamedu is located at a distance of 6 kilometres from Munnar and can be reached by a shared or hired taxi. This place provides the travelers an opportunity to enjoy exotic tea and coffee plantation and aromatic cardamom fields as well.

2. Attukal- Attukal is situated in the secluded corner of Pallivasal and there is a waterfall located right outside the city. This place is at its best during the monsoon season.

3. Rajamala - Rajamala is a part of Kerala’s biggest hill, Anamudi and has adventurous trekking trails. This will give you an opportunity to trek around the valley and head to Eravikulam National Park.

4. Eravikulam National Park - Eravikulam National Park is known for being enrich with flora and fauna. You can find rare species of birds, animals and butterflies which are hardly to be seen anywhere else in India.

5. Devikulam - Devikulam lies in Idukki district of Kerala and you can experience chilly air, green slopes and low hanging clouds in this hill station. This place will help you experience a large collection of lakes, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries.

Neelakurinji is all set to attract the tourists with its flower power and it is most likely to target 8 lakh tourist arrivals during the blooming season in Munnar. Kerala has always looked after their tourism in an effective manner, from regulated vehicles and parking spots to effective waste management; they look after each and every possible thing to maintain the attraction of tourists. 

Mr. P. Bala Kiran, Director of Tourism Department, Kerala also stated that the best time to visit Kerala is during Neelakurunji blooming because there was a 34.31 percent rise in tourists last year as compared to 2016. This distinct life cycle of the shrub makes the Anamalai hills a must visit destination for travel enthusiasts. Kurinjimala Sactuary in Idukki district of Kerala runs the Save Kurinji Campaign Council which organizes campaigns and programs to conserve the Neelakurinji plant. These long interval bloomers were last seen in 2006 and if one happen to miss the sight of the beautiful blooming flowers this year, so they will only get to see them next in 2030. The Neelakurunji blooming cycle is used as a local age calculator by the Paliyan and Puliyan tribe, the very first settlers of Kodaikanal. The natives add twelve years to their age with every new bloom.

The Tamara Kodai which is a 160 year old restored monastery property is known as the best place to stay for the witnessing of Neelakurinji bloom. The blooming this year has ensured the fourth most important location for the Western Ghats. The ecosystem plays a vital role in the flowering as it brings the water to the Amravati River which is a tributary of Kaveri River, the main source of water in Tamil Nadu.

It is said that in the beginning of 1980s, attempts were made by many to destroy the Neelakurinji shrubs and plant trees so that it can provide them with monetary benefits in near future. There are many people who are illegally holding the land which is home to Neelakurinji. The drastic change in climate due to human activities like encroachment and tourism is a threat to these shrubs which at least need a balanced climate of mist and rain to grow and bloom. The weather in Munnar has seen a great shift over the years, earlier Munnar experienced cold weather every month but today due to high rise buildings, the weather of this state is no different from the rest of India. The Government of Kerala has also decided to introduce a series of measures to protect the Eravikulam National Park such as to restrict the number of people entering the park and amount of time they spend over there otherwise there will be a huge crowd gathered which will end up disturbing the cleanliness and hygiene of the place. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary was declared in 2006 when the last mass bloom took place. This was done in order to protect the Neelakurinji and its habitat. This sanctuary provides the rarest and most spectacular view of the mass blooming and that is why this area is mostly encroached by resorts, hotels and other monetary benefits. So if you are planning to visit somewhere this monsoon, Neelakurinji blooms should be on your list.