Neelakurinji flowers

Neelakurinji is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India. Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years.
'Neelakurinji' in Full Bloom at Munnar. Kerala Forest Department will be deploying more wildlife watchers in the hills and valleys of high range Munnar to protect 'Neelakurinji', the rare purplish blue flowers which bloom only once in 12 years.The blossoming of the beautiful flowers in Munnar in Idukki district, located in the biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats, is attracting a large number of tourists and nature enthusiasts to the hill town.