Neela-giri or Blue Mountains
<p><em>Birthplace of sacred rivers, land of thundering waterfalls and deep gorges, and home to the guardians of our climate, the Nilgiris – India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – encompass the country’s largest network of Protected Areas.</em></p>
<p><em>The documentary film </em>Nilgiris: A Shared Wilderness<em> is a story of hope, fragility, and interconnected futures – where humans and wildlife share space within the blurred boundaries of a changing world.</em></p>
<p>Rising over two kilometres above sea level, the Nilgiris have remained isolated from the surrounding lowlands for at least 20,000 years, creating unique ‘Sky Islands’ that are home to species found nowhere else. Like their mist-shrouded peaks, the Nilgiris still hold many secrets. Even the origin of their name, <em>Neela-giri</em> or ‘Blue Mountains’, is wrapped in mystery. Some believe it comes from the distinct blue haze that veils the mountains when seen from afar; others trace it to the legendary Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years. A land of sacred peaks and secret creatures, the Nilgiris stand suspended between folklore and science, history and myth.</p>
