Nilgiris-ku varumbodhu 2030 calendar-la oru date mark panunga — enna nu sollaren

Born in Ooty. Living here ....

There's something happening in 2030 that most people in Tamil Nadu don't know about.

The Neelakurinji flower — Strobilanthes kunthiana — blooms once every 12 years. When it does, the entire Nilgiris hillsides turn electric purple-blue. The mountains are literally named after it. Nilgiris = Blue Mountains. Named after the colour this flower creates.

The last bloom was 2018. I saw it. You cannot prepare yourself for what it looks like — entire hillsides, one colour, as far as you can see.

The next bloom is 2030.

The Paliyan tribe of Tamil Nadu traditionally tracked age by this bloom cycle. Not calendars. The flower. My grandmother did the same thing.

The honey produced by bees feeding on Neelakurinji nectar is said to last up to 15 years without spoiling. Traditional knowledge, not verified by science, but locals here have believed it for generations.

2030 is four years away. If you haven't added it to your calendar — do it now. Book accommodation early. The 2018 bloom saw overwhelming crowds because people found out too late.

This is one of the most extraordinary natural events in South India. It happens once in twelve years. Don't miss it.