Onam is the season of flowers and the time for the flower markets to come alive. The aroma of jasmine, chrysanthemum, marigolds, and more fills the air. To enjoy the season at its best as a tourist, you should head to various flower plantations and gardens inside and outside Kerala. Here are a few places to check out if you want to buy flowers or click some pictures in the backdrop of a floral panorama.
The ever-reliable Thovala
Thovala, aka Thovalai, is famous for its flower markets and farms that extend for kilometres. It is about 85 km from Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and is one of the main places from where the flowers arrive at Thiruvananthapuram's Chalai bazaar. Thovala is known the best for its sweet-scented jasmine flowers in addition to the marigolds and other seasonal flowers.
The flower-filled village will be bustling for the next 10 days, leading to Thiruvonam. Many people, including visitors from Kerala, arrive in Thovala to buy flowers. With Vinayaka Chaturthi falling on Saturday and numerous weddings scheduled for the auspicious Sunday, demand for flowers is expected to surge further. In the months of Meenam and Medam, flower prices were high due to reduced production. However, with increased cultivation, flowers are now reaching markets in greater quantities, stabilizing prices.
Rajesh, a local trader, confirmed that large volumes of flowers are arriving from nearby villages like Pazhavoor, Kumarapuram, and Panakudi, including varieties such as wild jasmine, oleander, jasmine, and morning glory. Flowers like roses and jasmine are brought in from Salem, Madurai, Nilakottai in Dindigul, and Hosur. The price of flowers per kg on Thursday were as follows: Jasmine - ₹700; wild jasmine - ₹400; chrysanthemum - ₹160–₹180; hibiscus - ₹30; milk white chrysanthemum - ₹250; paneer rose - ₹90; small rose - ₹250; white oleander - ₹450; regular rose - ₹200; tube rose - ₹300; basil (tulsi) - ₹30; lilac (vadamalli) - ₹40; kozhunnu - ₹120, and lotus - ₹3 per flower.
Sundarapandiapuram
Rolling farmlands with paddy fields, kilometers of flower farms in full bloom, a rock formation that served as the shooting location of the Tamil movie 'Anyan'... Sundarapandiapuram has to offer a lot to tourists during the Onam season. A trip to Sundarapandiapuram, which is about 122 km from Thiruvananthapuram, can be a relaxing drive, too.
Hosur, Trichy and Gundlupet
From Kerala, you can reach Hosur by train or road, Trichy by train or flight, and Gundlupet by road. In Hosur, you can explore expansive flower plantations and bustling markets like the Hosur Flower Market. Trichy offers rich floral displays and local flower farms like the Sengalipalayam Flower Garden. Gundlupet features beautiful flower fields like the Bangalore-Kanakpura Flower Farms and various traditional markets.
Kudumbashree to sell flowers
Kudumbashree's flowers will also lend a vibrant colour to Onam celebrations this year in Kerala. Flowers like chrysanthemum, jasmine, and lotus are ready for harvest across the State’s horticulture farms. Last year, 1,819 farmer groups cultivated flowers on 780 acres of land. This year, 3,000 women farmer groups have cultivated flowers on 1,253 acres. These blooms will be available at over 2,000 Onam markets starting September 10 through Kudumbashree outlets and other vendors.
