Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082850840200.htm

Kerala

A carpet of flowers on the hills

PURPLE BLOOMS: Neela kurinji in full bloom at Thontimala in Santhanpara grama panchayat, Idukki district.

It is a carpet of purple-blue flowers in the vast area of Thontimala in Santhanpara grama panchayat in Idukki district.

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) has flowered in abundance on the hills near Kattappana. The neelakurinji in the area started blossoming nearly a week ago. For travellers on the Kochi-Madurai National Highway, it is a scene to behold in the vast stretch of Mathikettan Ranges.

The kurinji flowers in Thontimala are bigger than those in Munnar and the plants have buds, suggesting that more flowers will bloom in the days to come.

Considering the interest of people in seeing kurinji flowers, the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has organised a daily trip to Santhanpara from Munnar.

“We are planning a daily trip from Munnar office of the DTPC. A meeting in this regard will be held in Munnar on Thursday,”’ DTPC secretary M. Rajesh told the The Hindu on Wednesday.

According to him, there is no off-season for tourists this time in the district and all the hotel rooms in Munnar have been booked. “The DTPC is planning to make it an opportunity to bring tourists to Santhanpara to see the kurinji flowers without damaging the flowering cycle,”’ he said.

Neelakurinji last blossomed in Munnar hills in 2006 and it attracted a large crowd of visitors there. A month ago, Kazhuthakkulam Mettu near Cheriyar in Santhanpara also witnessed the flowering of neelakurinji plants that grow in mountains at a height of 1,600 metres above the sea level. Santhanpara grama panchayat and Pooppara Merchants’ Association have initiated steps to protect neelakurinji plants in the area and bring tourists to Thontimala.

The plants are 30 cm to 60 cm high. It is estimated that there are over 200 species of Strobilanthes in Asia. In Kodaikanal and Nilgiri, there are nearly 30 species. Neelakurinji plants that blossom only once in 12 years, attract large number of honey bees.

The plants are considered to be a symbol of the bio-diversity of the Western Ghats. The name “kunthiana” is derived from the river Kunthi that flows through the Silent Valley National Park.

Since the flowering season of the plant is between August and December, many tourists are expected to visit the little known village of Thontimala.

“We are trying to make arrangements to receive visitors coming here,”’ said an official at the grama panchayat and added that the focus is to protect the plants too.

Giji K. Raman