The decade long wait is over – Neelakurinji aka Kurinjimalar is all set to bloom again, covering the Nilgiris in its bluish glory. Kurinji is a shrub found across the western Ghats and what makes it special is its decade-long blooming period.

Neelakurinji reaches full bloom only once in every 10-12 years, covering the whole of Niligiris with purplish-blue flowers, and it’s from these flowers that the mountain got its name. Each shrub reproduces only once in their lifetime and dies after reaching full bloom and the cycle starts all over again as the new seeds begin to sprout.

Kurinji flower is sighted across mountains in Kerala , Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The last major blooming was sighted in 2006. 12 years later, in 2018, environmentalists and tourists are expected to be flocking to Kodaikanal and Munnar to witness the mass blooming.

Kurinji flowers are expected to be in full bloom by July 2018. Munnar, noted as the ideal place for Kurinji Malar sighting, is just an overnight drive away from Chennai. In case you are not driving, there are direct buses from Chennai to Munnar.

The hills will be bathed in a dreamy shade of blue from July to October 2018. So, are you ready?