Neelakurinji

The word ‘Neela’ means ‘blue,’ and the tribals of the area have given it the name kurinji. The last time they were observed was in 2006, and the best time to see them is in August and October. This beautiful panorama was last seen in 2018 from Munnar’s Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala, and Eravikulam National Parks.

Kurinji or Neelakurinji, scientifically known as Strobilanthus Kunsthaus, is a flower found in the Western Ghats of South India’s shola woods. The plant is called after the Kunthi River, which runs through Kerala’s Silent Valley National Park and is home to a large population of the plant. Kurinji is a plant that belongs to the Strobilanthus genus in the Acanthaceae family and was first discovered in the 19th century. There are around 250 species in this genus. In India, there are approximately 46 species. Kurinji is located at an altitude of 1,300-2,400 meters and grows to a height of 30 to 60 cm.

History of Neelakurinji:

The Paliyan tribal people are thought to have used it to determine their age based on the blossoming of the Neelakurinji flower. The wildflower grows to a height of 30 to 60 cm on hill slopes between 1300 and 2400 meters above sea level, where there is little or no timber forest. The flower is odorless and has no medical value. The purplish-blue Neelakurinji flowers gave the Niligiri Hills their name, which literally translates to “Blue Mountains.” 

The flower carries a lot of legendary importance. The flowering of Kurinji is considered auspicious by both the Muthuvas of Munnar and the Todas of the Nilgiris. However, they are forbidden from removing the plant or its withered twigs until the seeds have matured ten months after the flowering.

Interesting facts about Neelakurinji: 

• In the years 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018, the uncommon observations of the blooms were carefully demonstrated.
• During the offseason, when they are growing, the neelakurinji plants blend in with the surrounding flora.
• When the flowers bloom, they produce a magnificent purple haze over the valley. A once-in-a-blue-moon sight, this is the rarest of rare sights.
• Plietesials are plants that have peculiar blooming cycles with long intervals in the flower world.
• The kurinji flower is a bright blue bell-shaped blossom with a bright color.
• Every species in this genus has a unique flowering pattern, ranging from an annual blooming cycle to a 16-year blooming cycle.
• Honey bees are responsible for pollinating the flowers. These bees collect honey that is exceptionally tasty and nutritious.
• Apart from the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, including Idukki district, Agali hills, Palakkad, and Sanduru Hills in Bellary, Karnataka, are home to the wonderful growth of Kurinji flowers.

Munnar: 

This magnificent panorama may be seen from Kovilur, Kadavari, and Eravikulam National Parks in Munnar which is a town in the Western Ghats mountain region in the southern Indian state of Rajmala, Kerala. The endangered Nilgiri Tahr, as well as various other rare animals, birds, and butterflies, can be found in Eravikulam National Park. The park provides a breathtaking view of the tea plantations and undulating hills blanketed in mist. When the hill slopes are covered in a carpet of blue due to the flowering of Neelakurinji, the park becomes a popular attraction.

Shola Forest: 

The Neelakurinji, one of 46 Kurinji species known in India, is native to the Shola forest in the Western Ghats. The Sholas are a tropical mountain forest in South India’s valleys, nestled among rolling grasslands. With the Neelakurinji in bloom, the Shola woodland, which is part of Kodaikanal’s princess hills, now displays spots of blue. 

Bloom of Neelakurinji in Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve: 

The Neelakurinji flowers, which bloom once every 12 years at Madalpatti in Madikeri and attract thousands of tourists, are now flowering in the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve. They were also spotted near Mullayanagiri in Chikkamgaluru a few months ago. Karnataka Forest Department officials have decided to record the rare occurrence of flowers and stated that in BRT it is a pristine Neelakurinji that blossoms only every 12 years. Because BRT is located at the crossroads of the Eastern and Western Ghats, it is a great location for Neelakurinji to thrive.

Saving Kurinji from various threats: 

The shola woodlands and grasslands, which were once home to this plant species, have been transformed into tea and coffee plantations. Exotic species such as Pinus, Wattle, and Eucalyptus have been indiscriminately planted on a wide scale, encroaching on the original habitats of this endangered plant species. The ecology has been further harmed by increased tourism, encroachment, water depletion, and the disposal of plastic garbage. 

To prevent such a magnificent panorama from becoming extinct, the government laid the foundation of the Kurinjimala Sanctuary in the Idukki villages of Vattavada and Kottakamboor. This sanctuary, which covers 32 square kilometers, runs campaigns and events to raise awareness about ecosystem conservation. Locals have also established a temple to the Hindu God Kartikeya in order to preserve neelakurinji blooms. The state governments are also taking steps to increase awareness and hold events to convey information about the loss of Neelakurinji flower.

Conclusion: 

Because Neelakurinji, also known as Strobilanthus kunthianus, grows in grasslands and shola woodlands at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,400 meters, it is critical to preserve and develop the ecosystem.