Neelakurinji flowers bloom in Nilgiris once every 12 years, nature’s magic

Chennai: The Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu are now witnessing an amazing scene that happens only once every 12 years. The blooming of the Neelakurinji flowers, known for the beauty that attracts people of all walks of life. The nature lovers and tourists across the world are going there to see the remarkable magical scenery because this phenomenon doesn’t happen on a regular basis and takes place only once every 12 years.

It is said that the Nilgiris got their name from the magical blue colour of the beautiful Neelakurinji flowers. The scientific name of these flowers is Strobilanthes kunthiana. They were recently included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2024 as “vulnerable,” emphasizing the importance of their protection.

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An IAS officer named Supriya Sahu shared several attractive photos and a video of the Neelakurinji flowers on X (formerly Twitter), which enticed the attention of a huge number of people, those who have interest in nature. Had great English romantic poet ‘William Wordsworth’ alive, he would have appreciated Sahu’s post because he was a great lover of nature.

This rare flowering phenomenon happens when the plant reaches maturity, typically after a 12-year cycle. The blooms won’t remain for a long time; they will last for just several weeks, an unbelievable display of natural beauty. One of them commented that these rare flowers should be protected at any cost.

Sahu posted the visuals with a caption: “Kuttan, a Toda tribesman, proudly sits among the blooming Neelakurinji flowers in the Nilgiris. His post received a huge response, views, and likes. One of the users said that “these rare flowers must be protected by all means.”