In pictures: The once-in-12-years neelakurinji blooms in India

IN MUNNAR, there’s a phenomenon that sweeps across the Anamalai Hills, turning the mounds into a purplish blue carpet.

Located in the southern portion of the Western Ghats in southern India, Anamalai Hills (also known as the Elephant Mountains) is home to lush vegetation such as coffee and tea plantations, teak forests, and dense monsoon forests including rosewood, sandalwood, and sago palms.

But also, the famed purplish blue neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana).

Neelakurinji is a tropical shrub the blossoms only once in 12 years. Their seeds subsequently sprout and continue the cycle of life and death.

It would take another 12 years for the seeds to sprout again, growing up to 30 to 60 centimeters in height.

Witnessing the gorgeous neelakurinji blooms in India is truly a once-in-12-years experience. Source: Shutterstock.

So far, the documented bloomings took place in 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, and 2006.

It’s so significant that the Paliyan tribal people living in Tamil nadu used it as a reference to calculate their age.

This year, the 3,000-hectare Anamalai Hills are expected to burst into generous blooms of purple and blue, and the spectacle is expected to last until October.

The event draws butterflies, honeybees, and other insects, but also curious tourists from all over the world. In fact, one million tourists, including travelers from Europe and the US, are expected to visit this amazing place this year, according to forest ranger officer Lekshmi Rajeshwari.

Take a look at why witnessing the neelakurinji blooms should be on your travel bucket list this year:

#neelakurinji?#exprorersclub#exploring#tripinhighland#picoftheday?#idukki__diarys?

A post shared by Althaf Ameer (@althaf_ameer_chamakkalayil) on Jan 6, 2018 at 2:58am PST

on May 30, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT

#neelakurinji? #chokramudipeak #munnartrip #highaltitude #trekking #frnds? #myphotography

A post shared by Sebin Baby (@s_b_aldo) on Oct 22, 2016 at 11:34am PDT

A post shared by Ajmal AjuZz (@aj_ma_l____) on Jul 11, 2018 at 8:26am PDT

##neelakurinji?##munnar

A post shared by Satheesh Tisty (@satheeshtisty) on Jun 2, 2018 at 6:58pm PDT

A post shared by Akshäý Sathêêsh (@_akshay_satheesh_) on Nov 30, 2017 at 1:23am PST

#neelakurinji ? waiting #munnar ?

A post shared by ArUN BaBy (@_.baby_rider._) on Dec 3, 2017 at 3:17am PST

Meanwhile, the Western Ghats and Anaimalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, are currently under consideration by the Unesco World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

In anticipation of the influx of tourists, the Indian government also has plans in place to restrict the number of visitors to the Eravikulam National Park, the prime destination where neelakurinji will bloom, to protect the park.

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Source: travelwireasia.com