The Western Ghats hold many secrets, but arguably, the most intriguing ones are held by the rare species of flowers that adorn this delightful slice of heaven.
These days, the Western Ghats are blooming with Karvi flowers. Every eight years, this shy purple beauty turns this untameable landscape into a fairy tale wonderland. These beautiful flowers are mostly found in the pristine hills of Lonavala.
Karvi flower (Strobilanthes Callosus) is not just a plant but a story of hope, resilience, and patience. The plant hibernates for seven long years, its thin stems disappearing into the jungles of the ghats. But every eighth year, like clockwork, it reveals itself in all its glory, with patches of lavender colour draped over the hills for miles on end.
The First Karvi Flowers of the Season
The first Karvi bud brings a lot of anticipation and a message of the patience and resilience needed to metamorphose into a thing of beauty.
The first time the Karvi flowers bloom in full glory, they fill the hills with a tinge of lavender. The softness and contrast of the violet hue with the lush green surrounding mountains make the views breathtaking and heavenly.
Walking along the green path, the wild foliage surrounds you on both sides. The road is alive with the vibrant energy of tall natural trees and shrubs, with scattered post-rain light shimmering through the still partially clouded sky. Though the Karvi is still hidden in the dense growth ahead, the anticipation builds. One gets a palpable sense of the prestine treasure that lies ahead.
Upon observing the Karvi flowers closely, their beauty becomes even more striking. The bright violet shades perfectly contrast the lush green flora surrounding them. Each petal is fragile, without any marginal anomalies, and when observed with a keen vision, a transformation into an embellished piece of art that nature drapes at the end of an eight-year-long journey can be appreciated.
The end or a new beginning?
The final image lingers—a single Karvi stem, broken and fallen, its vibrant bloom now withered and mingling with the soil. Once a symbol of life and resilience, it has returned to the earth, its colour faded, surrendering to the unyielding forces of nature.
The Karvi flower, with its rare and fleeting bloom after years of quiet dormancy, reminds us of life’s delicate balance between patience and brilliance. Its story is one of transformation, urging us to embrace the rhythm of growth and rest and to find meaning in the waiting.
For those fortunate enough to witness the Karvi’s brief flowering, it is more than a visual delight—it celebrates time, endurance, and nature’s quiet wisdom. Whether admired by dreamers, photographers, or nature lovers, the Karvi is a testament to the strength in life’s cycles. Its bloom may fade, but its legacy of resilience and beauty endures, etched in the heart of the hills and those who take a moment to stand and stare.
Copy Editor: Aaryanshi Mohan