Neelakurinji bloom blankets Nilgiri hills in purple, draws visitors to Gudalur

Nilambur: The Nilgiri mountains have once again turned shades of purple as the rare Neelakurinji flowers bloom across the region. Hilltops throughout Gudalur taluk are now covered in the striking blue-purple blossoms, drawing large numbers of visitors eager to witness the spectacle.

Tourists, however, are not permitted to enter the forest areas where the flowers are in bloom. Instead, many are travelling to designated viewpoints in Gudalur, where the Neelakurinji can be admired from a distance.

Neelakurinji grows in the shola forests and grasslands of the Western Ghats. The flowers are renowned for their mass blooming, which typically occurs once every 12 years, transforming entire mountain slopes into a carpet of blue and purple. The Nilgiri hills are believed to have derived their name from this spectacular phenomenon.

Only once in 12 years?

Interestingly, the flowers do not bloom in exactly the same location during each cycle. As a result, Neelakurinji can often be found flowering in different parts of the mountain ranges even before the 12-year cycle is complete.

This season, the blooms are particularly abundant across the high-altitude ranges in and around Gudalur taluk. Areas including Nadukani, Thavalamala, Oveli, Seenakolli, Kundampuzha, Suchimalai (Needle Rock), Paattavayal, Nambalakode, Panthalur and Cherambadi are all covered in the vibrant blossoms.

As Neelakurinji is a rare and ecologically significant plant, plucking the flowers or damaging the plants is prohibited by law.