The Blue Mountains

The Nilgiri hills are  known as the blue mountains. The Nilgiri hills (of Tamil Nadu)  has got this name not bcoz its blue in colour but, from the purplish blue flowers of Strobilanthus kunthiana.

Locally it is known as Neelakurinji where 'Neela' means blue.

This plant is a shrub with small purplish blue flowers mainly found in Nilgiri hills and Palani hills ( of Western Chats of Southern India). It is also seen in the Shevroys of Easter Chats and in Idukki district of Kerala.

These plants flower only once in 12 years. It flowered last again in 2006 in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. When they bloom ,they cover  the hills like a carpet ...

Tamilnadu government has taken various measures  to conserve this endangered plant and one of it is Kurinjimala sanctuary,  which is  meant  for  the protection of Kurinji. 

This plant is associated to an ancient diety , Kurinji Andavar ,of tribes of Palani hills. The Kurinji Andavar Temple  is also involved in conservation of these plants.

The beauty of this flower has always attracted the poets and writers from the ancient days and has  reference in  many literatures.

So now if you want to see this beautiful blue lady you have to wait till 2018...