Kurinji walkathon held in Munnar
A walkathon was held in Munnar to honor the late conservationist G. Rajkumar and raise awareness about the fragile Neelakurinji ecosystem. Experts warned that the region's grasslands are under threat, emphasizing the need for continued conservation efforts.
Why it matters
The Neelakurinji bloom is a significant ecological and tourism event, and its survival is tied to the preservation of unique high-altitude grasslands.
Munnar hill station, the hub of the Neelakurinji bloom, witnessed a Kurinji walkathon on Thursday, to commemorate G. Rajkumar, the renowned “Save Kurinji” crusader who passed away on January 15, 2026.
Organizing committee convenor M.J. Babu said the walkathon and accompanying seminar raised awareness about conserving the rare Neelakurinji and its fragile ecosystem. “The programme was conducted as a mark of respect for Rajkumar, who lived for Kurinji,” said Mr. Babu.
Devikulam Sub-Collector V.M. Arya flagged off the walkathon from the old railway station. Idukki District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt delivered a commemoration lecture online, noting that if the Kurinji is to survive, the grasslands must be preserved.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Pramod G. Krishnan, who delivered a talk on Kurinji conservation, warned that the grasslands in Munnar are facing extinction.
“We cannot imagine Munnar without the Neelakurinji, the Muthuvan tribal community, and the Nilgiri tahr,” said Mr. Krishnan.
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