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The Tamil Nadu State Horticulture department and the Nilgiris hospitality sector have taken efforts to help tourists see the unique Kurinji flower blossoming in the Nilgiris.
“Tourists have to travel a long distance to interior areas to witness hillocks now in purple because of the Kurinji blossom.
“To help those who cannot do this, we have displayed flowers brought from such pockets in the Ooty Government Botanical Garden. This will benefit visitors in the current autumn season,” Joint Director of Horticulture N Mani told BusinessLine .
“Likewise, we welcome the initiative by the Gateway Hotel Coonoor to help tourists witness the bloom in its Kurinji lawn. These are initiatives to bring Kurinji to tourists’ doorsteps,” he said.
“Tourists get titbits of information such as the fact that the flower called Neela Kurinji in Tamil is associated with the naming of Neela Malai or Nilgiris from the video presentation at our reception area. They get value-addition when they witness the actual blossom in our Kurinji lawn. This is highly helpful to those on short stay,” Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan said.
“Botanically, this shrub is called Strobilanthes kunthiana . It grows in select pockets of the Western Ghats, including Nilgiris, with varying blossom cycles, from annual to 16 years, but mostly once in 12 years, which makes it unique. It is uncommon in gardens,” Gateway Housekeeping Manager R Nagaraj explains to tourists.
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