The Neelakurinji season ends at Chokramudi and Korandakkad

Neelakurinji flowers in the Chokramuda hills, near Munnar, in Idukki. | Photo credit: Sandeep Vellaram

Neelakurinji’s next flowering season is coming to an end at Chokramudi and Korandakkad in the Munnar hills, though active flowering will soon develop at Meesapulimala.

This year, Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) flowered mainly in Chokramudi hills which come under forest department and Korandakkad under Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP). Several smaller hills across Munnar also witnessed blossoms this season.

As the season ends, raids on the stricken Chokramudi hills have marked a remarkable revival for the flower. In August 2024, a section of Chokramudi hills in Bison Valley panchayat hit the headlines after illegal construction and widespread encroachment on revenue land. Following reports of human rights abuses, locals in the Bison Valley formed the Chokramudi Conservation Council and launched widespread protests that prompted the government to take over the disputed land.

For the past two months, the once endangered pistes across Chokramudi have remained covered with a blue carpet.

Noted botanist and Neelakurinji expert Jomy Augustine described the bloom as a natural ecological revival. “Once the flowering season is over, the seeds fall to the ground by January and new seedlings sprout by June. By 2038, these hills are expected to witness another mass bloom,” said Dr. Augustine.

He added that the revival of Kurinji highlights the urgent need to protect such sensitive ecosystems. Chokramudi opened for tourists on August 24 and closed on October 10, while Korandakkad welcomed visitors between September 2 and closed on October 10. According to officials, thousands of tourists visited both destinations to catch a glimpse of the purple-blue slopes.

Meanwhile, the bloom is moving to higher altitudes in Meesapulimala, which is managed by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC). KFDC Managing Director Raju K. Francis said the hills are expected to open to visitors from next week. “KFDC is finalizing arrangements to welcome tourists,” he said.

Experts noted that the Meesapulimala flower will peak during the last week of October and will last till December as Neelakurinji usually starts flowering at lower altitudes before progressing to higher altitudes.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 19:46 IST