Neelakurinji bloom attracts tourists to Munnar tea plantation

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Neelakurinji flowering at Korandakkad area under Kanan Devan Hills Plantations near Munnar. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Even as the Neelakurinji bloom continues to draw thousands of tourists to the Chokramudi hills near Munnar, another large-scale bloom has been reported on tea plantation land at Korandakkad and Mattupetty.

According to the officials, vast carpets of violet blossoms have blanketed hills owned by the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) company at an elevation of 6,000 feet above sea level. The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) last witnessed a mass bloom in these areas in 2014. The current flowering began in late August, turning the slopes into shades of purple and blue.

KDHP opened the hills to visitors on September 3 for trekking upon payment of an entry fee. The trek route begins along the Munnar–Top Station road, and visitors can take KSRTC shuttle buses to and from the entry point.

Devikulam MLA A. Raja inaugurated the trekking route at the Korandakkad entry point near High Range School on Thursday. Devikulam Sub-Collector V.M. Arya, KDHP Executive Director and CEO Amir Abbas Khan, Devikulam panchayat president Saranya, Munnar panchayat president S. Vijayakumar, and KSRTC assistant transport officer Nijamudeen were among those present.

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