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         Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala.Onam brings together a multitude of colours and flavours from across God’s Own Country, and the celebrations reach their apex on the auspicious day of Thiruvonam.Onam Festival falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali. Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala.       Onam is celebrated at this time of the year primarily for two reasons. One is that this is time for the visit of once a great king of Kerala- King Mahabali. According to a common belief the king visits the earth from his kingdom in Underground (Patal) and blesses his subjects who leave no stone unturned to welcome their much revere

    In 2018, the beautiful hills of Munnar shall once again attract people from across the planet to view a very special phenomenon in person. This monumental event is the blooming of the Neelakurinji flower, which appears once every 12 years. The world awaits the turning of the Munnar range into a blanket of beautiful blue. It is easily among the most magnificent sights in the world.       Neelakurinji or 'Strobilanthes kunthianum' blooms in 40 or so varieties, a majority of them being blue in color. 'Neela' literally translates to 'blue' and kurinji is the name given to it by the tribals of the area. Last seen in 2006, the time for viewing them begins in August and lasts up to October. In Munnar, one can view this great sight from Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park. Eravikulam is incidentally home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, hosting a majority of the remaining population of the species on the planet.         The flower has