Hello friends,

Here is a flower: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/503673639/

Physical location: Mangalore
(Wikimapia - http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=12886079&x=74857063&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2)
Habitat like Western Ghats, though geographically coastal region.

Found growing in damp (moist) soil, under cover of large tree, slope kind of terrain.
(Please consider that rains may have affected the growth).

At Flickr, as discussed, this specimen may be a member of Zingiberaceae. I have strong feeling that this specimen has some relation with cardamom, may not be botanically though.
OR a far and wild feeling - some orchid ...

Thanks, best wishes,
Dinesh.

Dinesh, there are some plants in the ginger family where the flower comes out first, directly from the ground, and leaves emerge later. Kaempferia is one such genus.
Also, u r right that it looks very much like a cardamom. People frequently confuse between Bada elaichi plants and Alpinia plants. Lets continue the search...