Neelakurinji season concludes in Chokramudy and Korandakkad
The Neelakurinji blooming season has concluded in Chokramudy and Korandakkad in the Munnar hills, with a new bloom anticipated at Meesapulimala. This season marked a significant revival for the rare flower in the encroachment-hit Chokramudy hills, attracting thousands of tourists and underscoring the critical need for ecosystem protection.
Why it matters
The resurgence of the Neelakurinji flower, particularly in areas previously impacted by encroachment, highlights the success of conservation efforts and the importance of sustainable tourism for preserving sensitive ecosystems.
Another Neelakurinji blooming season is drawing to a close at Chokramudy and Korandakkad in the Munnar hills, even as an active bloom is set to unfold at Meesapulimala soon.
This year, Neelakurinji ( Strobilanthes kunthiana ) bloomed primarily across the Chokramudy hills, which is under Forest department, and Korandakkad under the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP). Several smaller hills across Munnar also witnessed blooms this season.
As the season winds down, the encroachment-hit Chokramudy hills marked a remarkable revival for the flower. In August 2024, a section of Chokramudy hills in Bison Valley panchayat made headlines following illegal construction and large-scale encroachment on revenue land. Following reports of the violations, local residents in Bison Valley formed the Chokramudy Protection Council and launched widespread protests, prompting the government to take over the disputed land.
For the past two months, the once-threatened slopes across Chokramudi remained carpeted in blue.
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