Neelakurinji That Blooms Once In 12 Years Is Now In Full Glow In Karnataka's BRT Tiger Reserve

The hills of Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, have turned purple as it is witnessing a rare phenomenon.

Neelakurinji, a rare flowering plant that is seen only in the Western Ghats and blooms only once in 12 years have bloomed in the hills.

BCCL

Earlier this month, Neelakurinji flowers were seen in the BRT forest and Punajanuru wildlife range.

According to forest officials, this is the first time Neelakurinji flowers have bloomed in the hills here.

Officials of the Karnataka Forest Department have decided to document the rare occurrence of flowers.

BCCL

¡°I have witnessed the Neelakurinji blooming here for the first time. This would be recorded as per the norms. Besides, it would be verified whether the Department has recorded about Neelakurinji flowers in the region earlier,¡± BRT Range Deputy Conservator of Forests Santosh Kumar

While it is a rare phenomenon, the sight is off-limits for tourists as it falls under the tiger reserve.

Earlier this year, Neelakurinji had bloomed in Mandalpatti and Kote Betta and Kumara Parvata of Coorg in Karnataka.

BCCL

Bababudangiri hills in Chikkamagaluru district also have seen Neelakurinji bloom this year.

Neelakurinji (Strolinathes Kunthiana) is a plant that belongs to the family of Acanthaceae. There are some 500 species of Neelakurinji that are found across the Western Ghats, mostly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Though most of the species blooms only once in 12 years there are some that flower every six years.

Irrespective of the duration, when it blooms, Neelakurinji turns entire hills into a purple carpet.

BCCL

The most famous Neelakurinji site is in Munnar, Kerala where a massive bloom happened in 2018.

The next bloom is likely to happen in 2030 in Munnar. But both in 2020 and 2021 isolated blooming of Neelakurinji was reported from Kerala.

Like the rest of Western Ghats, Neelakurinji too is facing the threat of extinction due to the destruction of the ecosystem.

western ghats

Recognised by UNESCO as one of the world¡¯s eight most important biodiversity hotspots, Western Ghats contains more than 30 percent of all species of plant, fish, reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal found in the whole country.

The chain of mountains cover an area of around 140,000 sq. km. in a 1,600 km long stretch that is interrupted only by the 30 km Palghat Gap.

It is estimated that the Western Ghats has lost 20,000 hectares of its area over the last 17 years because of deforestation.

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