For many visitors, seeing the hills of Munnar covered in blue-violet Neelakurinji flowers is the kind of travel memory worth photographing. But for two youths, an attempt to turn the rare bloom into an Instagram moment has resulted in a case by the Forest Department.The two youths are facing legal action after allegedly plucking Neelakurinji flowers and posting photographs of themselves with the blooms on Instagram. The incident took place in Munnar, where the flowers have returned to the hills after nearly 12 years, drawing tourists and nature lovers to the region.According to Kerala Kaumudi, the Forest Department registered a case against a youth from Kuttiyar in Munnar and another from Ernakulam after photographs of the incident surfaced on social media. One of the photographs reportedly showed a youth holding freshly plucked Neelakurinji flowers and wearing a crown made from the blooms. The picture subsequently went viral, prompting the Forest Department to investigate.
What exactly happened?
The photographs reportedly brought the incident to the attention of forest officials, who then began an investigation. The Forest Department had already issued directions against plucking Neelakurinji flowers following their bloom in the Chokramudi area of Munnar.The case was registered based on the photographs and other evidence available on social media, according to forest officials. The Forest Department is now preparing the necessary documents, including a mahazar, and will submit them before the court as part of the proceedings.The issue is not simply about picking a few flowers for a photograph. Neelakurinji is a protected plant, and damaging or removing the flowers is prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Why is Neelakurinji so special?
Blooming of Neelakurinji in the hills of Munnar, Kerela (Photo: Kerela Tourism)
Neelakurinji, scientifically known as ‘Strobilanthes kunthiana’, is famous for its unusual flowering cycle. The plant typically blooms once every 12 years, transforming parts of the Western Ghats into striking shades of blue and violet.That rarity is precisely why the flowers attract such intense attention when they appear. Munnar has once again become a major attraction for travellers hoping to witness the natural spectacle, with the current bloom being reported in areas including Chokramudi and the Mattupetty-Korandakkad hills.But the popularity also creates a conservation challenge. A flower that takes years to return cannot be treated like an ordinary roadside bloom that can be picked and carried home.
What punishment can they face?
The Forest Department has made it clear that visitors cannot pluck or damage Neelakurinji plants in areas where they are blooming.According to Kerala Kaumudi, Neelakurinji is listed as a protected plant under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act. Plucking or destroying the flowers or plants can attract a fine of up to Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.The case is also a reminder for travellers visiting destinations where rare natural phenomena are on display. A photograph may last forever on social media, but the flowers being photographed are part of a fragile ecosystem.
