September 6th & 7th 2014
Neelakurinji is a shrub which was found in the shola forest of western Ghats and Neelagiri hills. It's also called as Strobilanthes Kunthiana. The Name Neelagiri hills came from the purplish blue flowers which blossoms only once in 12 years.
On first week of October I heard the news that these flowers were start to blossoms near Baba Budan giri. So decided to explore the Chandradrona Mountain range of Western Ghats. I will not give detailed explanation here because I had already covered these ares in September 2013, you can find details here Exploring Chikmagalur.
Charmadi Ghat Section
Temple at Jenukallu (Middle of the Ghat road)
Monkeys
Fog covered road
Bus Stop
Road to Mullayyana Giri
View from the top
Mullayyanagiri Temple
Gateway to Heaven
Honnmmana Halla falls
Preetham my pillion rider
Way to Baba budangiri
Road Construction work on progress
Clouds
Scenery on the way
After spending on whole days at Chandradrona hill range unable to find the single flower, actually I got this news from TV9, they telecasted that massive flowering started near Baba budangiri, while en quire about with locals peoples they also do not have any idea were these flowers start to blossom, but this trip was an amazing experience, high blowing wind, foggy mountains and all gives an immense pleasure to body and soul...
So.... "In Search of Neelakurinji" is not closed but just begin, hope I will complete my mission by 2018 because according to kurinji.in next massive flowering in the Nilgiris-Plani-Munnar belt expected only in 2018 if man permits.
