Kurinji flower

Once every 12 years, the hills of Munnar turn blue. People flock in great numbers to view the blooming of the Neelakurinji. Biologists and nature loves alike mark their calendars for this great event that is expected next in 2018. The world awaits the turning of the Munnar range into a blanket of beautiful blue. It is easily among the most magnificent sights in the world. The flower has shown up in areas around Munnar like Mattupetty and Top Station. From August to October every 12 years, these areas are primed for viewing this natural wonder. 1600 m above sea level, Munnar is one of the most beautiful locations in Kerala and the world. Its tea plantations, hill ranges, plantation bungalows and a vast variety of rare flora and fauna have enthralled people for centuries. It is also home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr whose population is currently being conserved at the Eravikulam National Park. One can even visit the Anamudi Peak, the tallest in South India, which has some of best trekking trails in the country. People love the view at Top Station, the highest point on the Munnar-Kodaikanal Route. Other places of interest in the area include Marayoor, Echo Point, Anayirankal and Valara Waterfalls. If kurinji is what gets you to Munnar, stay back and let this paradise on Earth take over your senses. It has never disappointed anyone who made the journey. Getting there Nearest railway station: Angamaly about 108 km from Munnar and Kottayam, about 147 km Nearest airport: Madura...

In 2018, the beautiful hills of Munnar shall once again attract people from across the planet to view a very special phenomenon in person. This monumental event is the blooming of the Neelakurinji flower, which appears once every 12 years, and can only be viewed here in Munnar. Neelakurinji or 'Strobilanthes kunthiana' blooms in 40 or so varieties, a majority of them being blue in colour. 'Neela' literally translates to 'blue' and kurinji is the name given to it by the tribals of the area. Last seen in 2006, the time for viewing them begins in August and lasts up to October. In Munnar, one can view this great sight from Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park. Eravikulam is incidentally home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, hosting a majority of the remaining population of the species on the planet. Botanists and nature lovers alike mark their calendars in anticipation of this event. Standing amidst the Neelakurinji, one is transported to a different dimension altogether. One can view the shorter variation (about 2 ft.) at higher spots and longer variations (about 5 to 10 ft.) are seen at lower spots. Specialized tours of this rare phenomenon are available during this time period around the area and treks are organised to view this masterpiece of nature. It is like a secret glimpse into heaven, allowed only once every 12 years. Getting there Nearest railway station: Angamaly, about 109 km; Ernakulam, about 145 km away. Nearest airport: Cochin International ...

Kurniji is the famous flower which makes the Neelgiri hills blue. Kurinji is a bright blue bell-shaped flower found on the hill slopes of the Western Ghats at an altiltude between 6000 to 7000 feet. The unique feature of this flower is that it blooms once in 12 years! The species name kunthiana has been derived from the River Kunthi which flows through the rich expanse of the renowned Silent Valley National Park in Kerala. Kurinji flower normally grows on the hill slopes where there is little or no tree forest. It is a tall, bushy, shrub with branches reddish, hairless. Leaves are up to 6 x 3 cm, elliptic, hairless above, leathery. Flowers are borne in spikes 3-5 cm long, cylindric, 2-5 on flower-cluster-stalks in leaf-axils; involucral bracts 2-3, elliptic, woolly; floral bracts 12 x 4 mm, ovate-tapering, tawny velvet-hairy; bracteoles 7 x 1.5 mm, linear-lanceshaped. Flowers are many; calyx 1 cm long, sepals tapering; flower 2.5 cm long, blue, hairy. Nilgiri means blue mountains and it is suggested that the gregarious flowering of the blue flowered S. kunthiana gave the hills their name. In the picture above, a blue Kurinji covered hill is seen. Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in Tamil Nadu. • Is this flower misidentified? If yes,

Neelakurinji is blooming; Kerala, the God’s Own Country is all set to change its colour. Yes, you heard right! This year, India’s Spice Capital is going to shed its natural green colour, and will wear the enchanting shade of blue! And to witness this magical change, you must book your dates, and head towards the scenic Eravikulam National Park in the gorgeous hill station of Munnar. This year, the Neelakurinji flower is all set to enchant the Nilgiri Hills once again after 12 long years! It was in 2006, when Neelakurinji bloomed for the last time. With a total life-span of about three months, flowering will begin this August and will continue till late October. Visit the picturesque Eravikulam National Park in Munnar between August-October to witness how the Niligiri Hills gets blanketed by these purplish-blue flowers this year! 1Know More About Neelakurinji Indigenous to the Western Ghat’s Shola forests, Neelakurinji or Kurinji (scientific name: Strobilanthes kunthianus) is a plant that belongs to the ‘Acanthaceae’ and genus ‘Strobilanthes’. This plant is rare, and usually grows at an elevation of 1,300-2,400m. Being favourable, the Nilgiri Range in Munnar serves as the blooming found of this rare species. Neelakurinji is a species that synchronises its flowering period, but within a period of twelve years. They grow all at once; though blooming might vary with a few days, they mostly grow at the same time profusely. Life span for the species also follows synchronisation;...

Description of Kurinji Flower: Gregarious flowering of Kurnji or neelakurinji (StrobilanthesKunthiana) is a bright blue bell-shaped flower found on the hill slopes of the western ghats at an altitudebetween 6000 to 7000feet. The Kurinji flower is native of South India, growing in the Kodaikanal Palani ,Anamalai and Nilgris in Tamilnadu. Kurinji is a shrub that used to grow abundantly in the shola grasslands of the western ghats in South India above 1800 mtrs. The Nilgris hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. Kurinji (strobilanthesKunthiana) and a large number of other plant species synchronise their flowering (reproductive phase) within large local populations at a particular site. Black Kurinji (StrabilanthesLurides) and white Kurinji (StrabilanthesUrceolaris) is another two varieties of Kurinji available in Kodaikanal hills. Kurinji flowers have started blooming on upper Kodaikanal hill. Plants on roadside and on top of the hill near these village s have blue flowers. A few plants in Bryant park too hae started blooming. Though there were about 50 varieties of Kurinji , the blue variety alone would bloom once in 12 years, environmentalists said. Its clustered blooms can be seen between June’2018 to December’2018. The peak season will be between August’2018 and September’ 2018. It dies after blooming and re seeds and blooms again in twelve years. The ...

• • • • Karnataka’s Mandalpatti Hills get covered by rare flowers which bloom once every 12 years Karnataka’s Mandalpatti Hills get covered by rare flowers which bloom once every 12 years Neelakurinji -- also known as Strobilanthes kunthiana -- bloom once every 12 years, and belong to a shrub found in the Shola forests of the Western Ghats in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Nature is a wonderful thing. It reminds of the fact that even amid all the tension, the world is a beautiful place. Neelakurinji — also known as Strobilanthes kunthiana — blooming in Mandalpatti Hills in Karnataka’s Kodagu district is proof. It is said that these flowers bloom once every 12 years. They belong to a shrub found in the Shola forests of the Western Ghats in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, Nilgiri Hills, which means ‘blue hills’, get their name from the bluish-purplish flowers that are Neelakurinji. The Kurinji flowers grow at an altitude of 1,300 to 2,400 metres. While the shrub is usually 30 to 60 cm high, it can grow well beyond 180 cm, too, under congenial conditions. The plant belongs to the genus Strobilanthes which, it is said, was first scientifically described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in the 19th century. The genus has around 250 species, and 46 of these are found in India alone. Most of these flower species have an unusual flowering behaviour, which results from annual blooming to a 16-year blooming cycle. ALSO R...

Neelakurinji Flowering Season is an intriguing occurrence that takes place once in twelve years. Eravikulam National Park in Munnar happens to be the perfect destination to head to, if you wish to witness lush green valleys getting painted in hues of blues and purples, as far as your eyes can see. With the arrival of monsoon this month, the rare Neelakurinji flowers started blooming, weaving a panorama that truly is dream-like. Since, these beautiful flowers will be around only between June and October this year, it’s apt to say your much-awaited trip to Munnar has to turn into reality ASAP. This blog features all the important information you will seek in order to plan an impromptu escape for Neelakurinji season in 2022 – such as – tips, budget, facts, ideal duration, how to reach and so much more. Count this as your guiding light, and give it a read while you pack your bags for a trip that will have you say ‘It bloom my mind!’ (pun intended). Though there are a myriad of hillscapes beautified with flowers of different hues, but Munnar’s Neelakurinji Season, as mentioned, is a phenomenon which takes place one in 12 years. Neelakurinji blooms in this locale in abundance, unlike any other place; you may however stumble across patches of these flowers in neighboring areas. This is when the lush green valleys turns blue-purple as far as your eyes can see. This sight indeed is a treat, something you could only imagine. Must Read: How to reach Munnar is an easily accessible des...