Second Neelakurinji bloom carpets Munnar tea estates, trekking opens

A fresh wave of Neelakurinji flowers has transformed the tea plantation hills of Korandakkad and Mattupetty near Munnar into vast expanses of violet, even as the bloom at Chokramudi continues to pull in large crowds.

The flowering has been observed on land owned by the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) company, situated at an elevation of about 6,000 feet above sea level. This is the first mass bloom in these specific areas since 2014. The current flowering cycle began in late August, gradually painting the slopes in shades of purple and blue.

To accommodate the influx of nature enthusiasts, KDHP has opened the hills to visitors for trekking from September 3, with an entry fee applicable. The trekking route commences along the Munnar–Top Station road, and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is operating shuttle bus services to and from the entry point for the convenience of tourists.

The new trekking route at the Korandakkad entry point, located near High Range School, was formally inaugurated by Devikulam MLA A. Raja. The ceremony was attended by several officials, including Devikulam Sub-Collector V.M. Arya, KDHP Executive Director and CEO Amir Abbas Khan, and presidents of the Devikulam and Munnar panchayats.