Kurinji blooms to spread a violet carpet over Munnar hills in Kerala soon

The grasslands of the Munnar hills in Idukki will soon be painted violet, marking the arrival of another Neelakurinji flowering season. This year, the Neelakurinji is expected to bloom across the Chokramudy, Meeshapulimala, Edalimedu, Sevenmalai, and Gundumala hills in Munnar.

On the Chokramudy hills, some plants have already started blooming, signalling the early onset of the season.

According to officials, the Strobilanthes kunthiana species of kurinji, which blooms once every 12 years, will carpet Edalimedu and Sevenmalai, near Mattupetty; the highest peak of the Meeshapulimala; and the valleys and hills of the Chokramudy hills. Interestingly, Chokramudy, where the flowering has begun, is also an area known for issues regarding land encroachment and the destruction of Neelakurinji habitats.

Steps needed to protect sites

Botanist Jomy Augustine said Neelakurinji blooming outside the protected area of the Eravikulam National Park (ENP) this year highlighted the urgent need to protect these unprotected sites.

“The hills of Chokramudy, Meeshapulimala, Edalimedu in Mattupetty, and Sevenmalai will be painted violet in September and October, 2026. This time, the flowering is occurring in the natural grasslands of these areas,” Dr. Augustine said. “While other Neelakurinji varieties are present on these hills, only the Strobilanthes kunthiana species will bloom this season.”

Writer and journalist M.J. Babu warned that since the blooming was happening outside the protected zones, there was a high risk of tourists damaging the plants. “The government should ensure that measures are taken to avoid the destruction of this protected species. Lakhs of people are expected to arrive in Munnar to witness the bloom, and the hill station cannot handle such a massive crowd. The government should arrange public transport system to the gateways of Munnar, connecting routes like Marayur, Pallivasal and Pooppara,” Mr. Babu said.

Meeting convened

To ensure a smooth Neelakurinji season, the district administration convened a meeting of various departments at Devikulam Subcollector V.M. Arya’s office on Thursday (July 9, 2026). Representatives of the Forest department, police, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Munnar Environment and Wildlife Society (MEWS), and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) attended the meeting.

DTPC secretary Jitheesh Jose announced that the WTI would develop a mobile app through which tourists could book slots to visit Chokramudy and Meeshapulimala.

“The other flowering areas fall under the Kanan Devan Hill Plantations, and the Subcollector will interact with the company to decide on further action. Another meeting will be held next week, followed by a site visit to finalise the steps,” Mr. Jose said.

District Collector Dineshan Cheruvat said the administration planned to implement app-based booking for effective crowd management. “In addition, we will utilise public transport, including Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, to mitigate traffic and crowding at the flowering sites in the Munnar hill station,” Mr. Cheruvat said.

KFDC managing director Raju K. Francis said Meesapulimala was the highest trekking point for ecotourists south of the Himalayas, which was also home to the rhododendrons, Nilgiri tahr and numerous indigenous species, including the Nilgiri pipit bird. ”The surge in visitors expected during the Neelakurinji bloom season may be detrimental to the fragile ecosystem. The KFDC will carry out a carrying-capacity study of the Meesapulimala area, which is with the KFDC, to monitor and control visits, including vehicular movement, to ensure that visitor numbers remain within the ecologically sustainable limits,” said Mr. Francis.