AMAZING TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN INDIA
Ponmudi (
Malayalam: പൊന്മുടി) (the
Golden Peak) is a hill station in the
Thiruvananthapuram district of
Kerala in
India. It is located 55.2 km north-east of
Trivandrum city at an altitude of 1100 m. It is a part of the
Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the
Arabian Sea.
Ponmudi is blessed with scenic splendor and natural beauty, Ponmudi has a carpet of thick tropical forest that rolls down to the foot of the hill range.
No doubt, the salubrious atmosphere and the twisted trails across clear streams must have contributed to her health.
Location : 8°45′
37″N 77°07′00″
E / 8.76028°
N 77.11667°E / 8.76028; 77.11667
Transport
Road transport
Ponmudi hill station is well connected to
Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala by a wide network of roads. Buses ply from the main bus stand in
Trivandrum and
Nedumangad at periodic intervals. Taxis are available from the
Central Station at Trivandrum and
Airport.
Rail
Nearest railway station is
Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.
Air
Nearest airport is
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Ponmudi is connected to Trivandrum by a narrow winding road offering scenic views on the way to Ponmudi. The climate is pleasant year-round. Ponmudi serves as a base for trekking and hiking. There are also tea gardens in the area. There are 30 hairpin curves in the short route which makes the travel a definitely thrilling experience.
Other attractions near Ponmudi include
Golden Valley and a number of rivulets and rapids, some even across the road. The lush forest area has tropical vegetation. A variety of wildlife inhabit the hills. The Golden Valley offers vistas of the hills and access to the
Kallar River.
Flowing though a wilderness area, it has rounded pebbles, cool water, fish, and lush green trees.
Some notable tourist attractions located in Ponmudi are
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary,
Echo Point and various trekking spots. Mist-laden valleys, especially Golden Valley near Kallar River, also draw tourists.
Travelers can find a deer park and wood and stone cottages coloured in bright hues while visiting here.Located about 1.5 km from the hill station, is the Ponmudi Falls.
Around 3 km from the Ponmudi Resort, is the popular
Deer Park. The
Meenmutty Falls, another popular attraction of the region, is about 3 km from the Kallar
Main Road. Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the outskirts of Ponmudi, is a preserve spread across 53 km2 and accommodates a variety of wild animals and birds like
Asian elephants, sambar, leopards, lion-tailed macaques,
Malabar grey hornbills, etc.
Another main attraction in the region is
Agasthyarkoodam, one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats, with the highest peak at 1868 m. This peak is famous for its wilderness, and can be accessed only with the
Forest Department's permission. Agasthyarkoodam
Biosphere Reserve is another popular attraction covering
Neyyar,
Peppara, Shendumey
Wildlife Sanctuaries and divisions of Achencoil,
Thenmala,
Konni,
Punalur, and Thiruvananthapuram