A large number of local tourists visited Horton Plains National Park over the long weekend to witness the rare blooming of the Nelu flower, which occurs only once every 12 years.
According to environmentalists, different Nelu species flower at intervals of 7 to 12 years. Once the plant blooms, it dies a phenomenon often described as the flower being “born from the death of its mother.”
Sri Lanka is home to around 35 Nelu species, of which about 30 are endemic. The flowers, seen in white, blue, purple, and pink, are currently in full bloom across several areas of Horton Plains, including Pattipola, Ohiya, Kirigalpottha, and Thotupolakanda.
Environmentalists noted that the last mass Nelu bloom in the park occurred in 2013, with the next expected around 2037.
Meanwhile, police have deployed additional officers to manage heavy traffic along the Pattipola–Horton Plains road due to the influx of visitors.
