Munnar's Neelakurinji season ends as new bloom begins at Meesapulimala

Bloom Season Updates

Another Neelakurinji blooming season is ending at Chokramudi and Korandakkad in the Munnar hills. This year, the flowers bloomed mostly across the Chokramudi hills under the Forest department and Korandakkad under the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations, along with several smaller hills.

Revival and Tourism

The Chokramudi hills saw a remarkable revival after facing illegal construction and large-scale land encroachment in August 2024. Local residents in Bison Valley formed the Chokramudi Protection Council to protest, leading the government to take over the land. The slopes stayed covered in blue for the past two months. Chokramudi was open to tourists from August 24 to October 10, while Korandakkad welcomed visitors from September 2 to October 10, drawing thousands of people.

Next Bloom Phase

Botanist Jomy Augustine said seeds will fall by January, new seedlings will grow by June, and the next mass bloom is expected in 2038. Meanwhile, a new bloom is moving to higher elevations at Meesapulimala, managed by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation. KFDC managing director Raju K. Francis stated that arrangements are being finalized to open the hills to visitors next week. Experts note that this bloom will peak in the last week of October and last through December.

Context

Neelakurinji is a rare plant that flowers only once in many years, drawing large crowds of nature lovers to the hill stations of Kerala. Flowers typically begin blooming at lower elevations before moving up to higher mountain slopes as the season progresses.