Neelakurinji flowers bloom in Munnar after 12 years

The rare Neelakurinji flowers have begun blooming in large numbers across the hills of Munnar, Kerala, marking a natural event that occurs only once every 12 years. The purplish-blue blooms of Strobilanthes kunthiana have been observed in the Korandakadu, Chokramudi, and Mattupetty areas.

First spotted in the Devikulam Forest Range on August 24, the flowering is expected to spread across the high-altitude slopes throughout September. This specific bloom is distinct from the mass flowering seen in Eravikulam National Park, which last occurred in 2018. The fleeting spectacle has drawn significant interest from photographers, nature lovers, and tourists.