Munnar's Chokramudi Hills Open to Tourists as Neelakurinji Blooms After 12 Years

The Chokramudi hills near Munnar in Kerala's Idukki district are set to welcome visitors from August 24, following the rare mass blooming of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), a flower that blossoms once every 12 years. The Forest Department announced the opening on Wednesday, allowing tourists to witness the hillsides carpeted in violet and blue during the ongoing Onam season.

Devikulam Range Officer E.D. Arun Kumar said the entry point will be near the Devikulam Range Office on the Munnar–Bodimettu stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway. Entry fees have been fixed at ₹200 for adults and ₹50 for children up to 18 years. Visiting hours are from 7 am to 4 pm daily.

To manage visitor flow and avoid congestion, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate special bus services from the Munnar depot to Devikulam. Tourists can park their vehicles in Munnar and take a KSRTC bus to the site. Bookings will be available through the Forest Department website, with online reservations opening shortly.

Neelakurinji expert and botanist Dr. Jomy Augustine said the mass flowering across Chokramudi hills is expected to peak in the first week of September. “The flowering has already begun, and the blooms will intensify during the Onam days,” he said.

The Chokramudi hills are part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its biodiversity. The Neelakurinji plant belongs to the Acanthaceae family and is found mainly in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats. The last major bloom in Munnar occurred in 2018, drawing thousands of tourists.

Meanwhile, visitors to Meeshapulimala, the highest peak in the region, will have to wait longer. The peak falls under the jurisdiction of the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), which reported only isolated blooming so far. KFDC Managing Director Raju K. Francis said the area will be opened only after widespread flowering occurs, expected in September.

For Meeshapulimala, the KFDC plans to allow 750 tourists per day at a ticket price of approximately ₹1,200 per person, which includes travel and food arranged by the corporation. A dedicated mobile booking application is being developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to streamline reservations.

The opening of Chokramudi hills is part of a regulated tourism initiative to balance conservation with public interest. Authorities have urged visitors to follow guidelines, stay on designated paths, and avoid littering to protect the fragile ecosystem.