Munnar Hills to Turn Violet as Neelakurinji Blooms After 12 Years
The grasslands of the Munnar hills in Idukki district are set to be painted violet once again, marking the arrival of the Neelakurinji flowering season. This year, the Neelakurinji is expected to bloom across the Chokramudy, Meeshapulimala, Edalimedu, Sevenmalai, and Gundumala hills.
On the Chokramudy hills, some plants have already started blooming, signalling an early onset of the season. According to officials, the Strobilanthes kunthiana species of kurinji, which blooms once every 12 years, will carpet these areas. Notably, Chokramudy is also known for issues related to land encroachment and destruction of Neelakurinji habitats.
Botanist Jomy Augustine said the blooming outside the protected area of the Eravikulam National Park (ENP) highlights the urgent need to protect these unprotected sites. “The hills will be painted violet in September and October, 2026. This time, flowering is occurring in natural grasslands,” he said. “Only the Strobilanthes kunthiana species will bloom this season.”
Writer and journalist M.J. Babu warned that with blooming happening outside protected zones, there is a high risk of tourists damaging the plants. “The government should ensure measures to avoid destruction of this protected species. Lakhs of people are expected, and the hill station cannot handle such a massive crowd. Public transport should be arranged to gateways of Munnar,” he said.
To ensure a smooth season, the district administration convened a meeting of various departments at the Devikulam Subcollector's office on July 9, 2026. Representatives from the Forest department, police, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), and wildlife organisations attended.
DTPC secretary Jitheesh Jose announced that the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) would develop a mobile app for tourists to book slots to visit Chokramudy and Meeshapulimala. “The other flowering areas fall under Kanan Devan Hill Plantations, and the Subcollector will interact with the company. Another meeting and site visit are planned,” he said.
District Collector Dineshan Cheruvat said the administration plans to implement app-based booking for crowd management and will use public transport, including KSRTC buses, to mitigate traffic. KFDC managing director Raju K. Francis noted that Meesapulimala is the highest trekking point south of the Himalayas and home to rhododendrons, Nilgiri tahr, and indigenous species. “The surge in visitors may be detrimental to the fragile ecosystem. The KFDC will carry out a carrying-capacity study to monitor and control visits,” he said.
