Why is Neelakurinji blooming only once in 12 years?

Neelakurinji is a shrub used to grow plentifully in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats in South India. The Nilgiri Hills, turn blue once in twelve years when the Neelakurinji bloom all together, spreading the landscape with its hue. The hills literally mean the Blue Mountains which got their name from the purplish blue of Neelakurinji flowers. The Western Ghats is famous for its rich flora and fauna, it also saves alive the mystery of Neelakurinji blooming like a tradition. Kurinji and other plant species harmonize their flowering within large local populace at a specific site. Plants can be classified as annuals and perennials plants. Annual plants usually complete their lifespan in one year. They develop from the seed, blossom, yield seeds and die the one season of growing. Perennials plants are live for more than two years and will flower each year and set seeds. Certain kind of perennials blooms only once in their lifetime, set seeds and die. And the future generation of plants is produced from these seeds and then repeat this cycle. So these kinds of plants are also called as monocarpic which flower only after achieving maturity. The time taken by various species of monocarpic to mature may differ. Since bamboo and Neelakurinji plants are those plants of monocarpic there maturity time periods vary. Bamboo usually takes 40 years to develop, mature and flower whereas Kurinji has different species with diverse intervals of flowering. So the Neelakurinji plant matures in 12 years’ time and flowers once in 12 years.

Interesting Facts on Neelakurinji

All tourist come from the nook and corner of the world to witness the beauty of such mysterious flowers which also add extra picturesque beauty to the hilly land, Munnar. You can’t find Neelakurinji flowers in any other region of the world, this makes it rarest of the rare. The Neelakurinji last blooming was in 2006. After the long 12 year gaps now it the time of Neelakurinji blooming in Munnar, this mysterious flower blooming makes Munnar has the top wish list places in the world. The season for kurinji blooming starts in July and lasts till the end of October. Neelakurinji flower can be represented as a symbol of craving for love, joy for the poets and also the symbol of self-awakening of a female. The Neelakurinji prospering is spread through 3,000 hectares of thrilling hills which is shielded in purple or blue colors. Each kurinji plant reproduces once in its lifetime and after flowering, it dies. There are different things that make this flower unique since it blooms only in Munnar. The booming blue flowers shot the place enthralled and the scenic view of the valley adorned in blue is also gives a stunning experience to visitors.

Head to the interesting facts of Neelakurinji flowers:

• The honey collected during the Neelakurinji blooming season has tastier and healthier that comes from the Kurinji flower, so it is sold as Neelakurinji honey.
• During the season, the color shade of flower can be tracked starting from the lighter shades of blue and becomes purplish at the end of the season.
• Flowers blooming begins from the bottom layer and at the end of the season it reaches tops which lets spectacular views for the hilly land.
• Mast blooming of Kurinji is believed to be a survival mechanism of this species.
• Different species of Neelakurinji differ in maturity and intervals of flowering.

Conclusion

As these unique Neelakurinji flowers bloom only once in every 12 years, they pull a large number of tourists to Munnar. The next flowering season of Neelakurnji will be in 2030 which is really a long wait. So if you’re looking to witness the magnificent beauty of the Neelakurinji, create your way to this thrilling hilly land Munnar this year with the Neelakurinji tour package of Lumiere Holidays. Not only the Neelakurinji in the hill is a spectacle worth seeing but the hill land itself has a wonderful beauty which cannot be missed out.