At a close look, Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), an ordinary shrub, may not impress you. But come to Munnar when the entire hill sides get covered with the blue carpet of these flowers, you will be simply spellbound with the beauty of the scene. However, one has to wait for another twelve years to bear witness to this unique sight because Neelakurinji blooms only once in twelve years and it last bloomed in the year 2006.

This plant grows lavishly on the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats. In Kerala, it is at Munnar in Idukki district that the dazzlingly beautiful Neelakurinji flowers draw in thousands of visitors. Situated about 1600 metres above sea level, Munnar is rich with a wide variety of flora and fauna and has a glamorous place in the tourist map of Kerala with its mesmerising looks.