Chokramudy hills in Keralam open to tourists as Neelakurinji blooms
The Chokramudy hills in Munnar have opened for the rare Neelakurinji bloom, which occurs every 12 years. Forest officials expect a significant influx of tourists as the hills begin to turn violet, with peak flowering anticipated in September.
Why it matters
The event is a significant ecological phenomenon that boosts local tourism and highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation.
The Chokramudy hills of Munnar have formally opened for another visual treat of the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) bloom, a phenomenon that occurs once every 12 years. The hills have begun taking on a violet shade, with full coverage expected by September. Chokramudy is located within the Devikulam Forest Range in Idukki.
Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhay Yadav inaugurated the flowering season at the Chokramudi Bison Valley Trail trekking centre on Monday (August 24, 2026). Mr. Yadav said 450 tourists visited the site on the opening day.
“The hills are currently experiencing sporadic flowering of Neelakurinji, and a massive bloom is expected in September. The area is currently seeing rain; once sunshine arrives, the bloom will become much more visible. We expect a huge rush of tourists in the coming weeks to witness the violet-carpeted hills,” Mr. Yadav said.
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