A map to guide you through Bengaluru’s pink Tabebuia bloom

As Bengaluru turns into a blush-tinted canvas this season, a city-based techie has ensured that residents no longer have to rely on chance sightings to experience the spectacle. Faris Mohammed, a lead product designer at a Bengaluru-based agentic analytics company, has launched an interactive website www.blrbloom.com that tracks neighbourhoods where pink Tabebuia trees are in full bloom.

Originally from Malappuram in Kerala and a Bengalurean for nearly a decade, Mr. Mohammed describes the project as a hobby that quickly grew into something larger. “Every year, we have this beautiful pink blossom season, but there was no single place to know exactly where and when it was happening,” he told The Hindu.

The idea first struck him on a traffic-clogged evening along Outer Ring Road(ORR). Spotting a Tabebuia tree in full bloom, he wished for a tracker similar to Japan’s extensive cherry blossom forecasts and festivals. “Sometimes I would notice blooms on my way to the office, but later could not recall the exact location. I felt it would be nice to create something that helps people find them easily,” he said.

Built in less than four days for its initial version, the platform was first populated with curated bloom spots. A turning point came when Mr. Mohammed discovered the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) tree census data via OpenCity’s website. The census catalogues around 21,000 trees across the city, providing a robust base to map Tabebuia trees more accurately.

Community-driven model

The bloom-tracking system works through a community-driven model supported by two data sources: GBA’s census data and user contributions. Residents can search for trees near them through the census layer or add new bloom sightings, even in areas where census data may not exist. Users can upload images, indicate the number of trees blooming, and specify the stage of flowering.

The website incorporates an automated lifecycle progression to reflect the natural blooming pattern of Tabebuia. Once a bloom is added, it moves through defined stages, ‘budding’ to ‘partial’ in four days, ‘partial’ to ‘peak’ in three days, ‘peak’ to ‘full glory’ in two days, and finally to ‘fading’ after four days, mirroring the flower’s short but striking lifecycle.

Mr. Mohammed, who does not come from a development background, said the project posed both technical and design challenges. “I had to figure out data storage, integrations, and how to fetch and present information. Integrating the census data and displaying it meaningfully on the map was a learning curve. Equally important was crafting a user-friendly interface so first-time visitors could explore and contribute without feeling overwhelmed,” he explained.

Records 20,000 visits in a week

Launched on February 22, the response has exceeded expectations. Within a week, the site recorded over 20,000 visits and about 500 community spottings. “I never expected it to grow beyond a personal hobby project. The community support has been incredible,” he said.

Interestingly, some users have found practical benefits beyond photography and leisure walks. As Tabebuia trees contribute to pollen levels, a few residents shared that the app helps them plan outings to avoid clusters of blooming trees, a use case Mr. Mohammed had not anticipated.

While the current focus is on Tabebuia rosea, he envisions the platform evolving into a broader seasonal tracker. “I see it scaling to cover different blooming seasons across Bengaluru. The more people use it, the more accurate and useful the data becomes,” he noted.

Beyond aesthetics, the initiative could foster greater urban biodiversity awareness. “Even I am learning along the way about the different trees and flowering seasons in our city. I hope it encourages people to appreciate and preserve Bengaluru’s green heritage,” he said.

For Mr. Mohammed, the pink blossoms are a welcome pause in the city’s relentless rush. “When you are travelling amidst traffic and chaos, seeing trees in pink bloom feels like a blessing. The fact that it is fleeting makes it special. You anticipate it every year”.

His message to Bengalureans is simple: “Enjoy the pink blossom season while it lasts. It is a reminder of the natural beauty our city still holds.I hope people take a moment to appreciate these trees, and that it inspires a broader conversation around preserving and celebrating the green heritage of our city”.