Onmanorama Lite App
Unlike many seasonal flowers, neelakurinji flowers look their best throughout the day, according to local people.
As compared to neelakurinji, kalkurinji's shrub grows on rocks and thus the name ('kal' means stone or rock in Malayalam).
This year, it has bloomed in the Parunthumpara area of Peermade in Idukki.
According to the Forest Department, the purpose behind the move is to protect the ecologically important Kallippara hills in the Western Ghats.
Ever since the flowers were discovered in the hill slope in the first week of October, it attracted a large number of travellers and photographers to Kallippara
According to officials, over 3,000 travellers boarded the special bus services to enjoy the sight of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) blossoms at Kallipara.
If favourable weather conditions prevail, Neelakurinji would be in bloom for two more weeks.
The bus will be operated from the Munnar depot of the KSRTC, starting its service at 9 am.
Neelakurinji has bloomed widely in the Kallippara hills known as Engineer Heights (Mett) which is one-and-a-half kilometers away from Kallippara.
Results 1-9