Southern parts of India, including the state of Tamil Nadu and the Kodagu and Madikeri hills in Karnataka, have been treated to the rare sight of blooming Neelakurinji flowers – which in some cases only blossom once every 14 years.
The Neelakurinji shrub – aka Strobilanthes kunthiana – has 250 varieties and blooms at varied times; between every five to 14 years. This type of plant is known a "plietesial," meaning it dies after a single bloom.
This flower is native to the Western Ghat region of India.