About Ponmudi

Country: India | State: Kerala

Ideal Trip Duration: Full Day

Nearest City to Ponmudi: Trivandrum (57 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Ponmudi: November to March

Peak Season: December to February

At a distance of 15 km from Kallar, 57 km from Trivandrum, 102 km from Kollam, 131 km from Kanyakumari, 167 km from Tirunelveli, 172 km from Kottayam, 178 km from Alappuzha, 225 km from Tuticorin, 233 km from Kochi, 267 km from Madurai, 298 km from Munnar, and 371 km from Rameswaram, Ponmudi is a small hill station located in the Peringamala Panchayat of Trivandrum district, Kerala. Also called as 'Kashmir of Kerala', it is one of the offbeat hill stations in Kerala, and among famous places to visit near Trivandrum.

Ponmudi, meaning the Golden Crown, is nestled in the lap of rolling hills of the Western Ghats that run parallel to the Arabian Sea. Situated at an altitude of 1100m, Ponmudi is surrounded by scenic hills, spice plantations, tea estates, natural springs, and winding streams. Ponmudi was founded by Rishi Parshuram, a prominent Indian mythological figure. Fondly called as local Ooty of Trivandrum, the place offers magnificent views of mountains from almost all the points as part of Ponmudi tour packages.

Ponmudi is blessed with scenic splendor and natural beauty. It has a carpet of thick tropical forest that rolls down to the foot of the hill range. The valley offers vistas of the hills and access to the Kallar River. Ponmudi Waterfalls, Deer Park, River Kallar, Kallar Meenmutty Falls, Golden Valley, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary are prominent places to visit in Ponmudi. The grasslands of Ponmudi are the breeding grounds of the broad-tailed grass bird, a threatened species. Apart from sightseeing, Ponmudi is also famous for Ayurvedic medical treatments.

Trekking to Agasthyarkoodam, the highest peak in the region, is the most popular activity here for adventure buffs. At an altitude of about 1868 m, the Agasthyarkoodam peak is in the form of a sharp cone and is home to rare herbs and medicinal plants. This peak is famous for its wilderness and can be accessed only with the Forest Department's permission. A large amount of rare flora and fauna can be seen here including mountain flowers, wild orchids, and exotic butterflies. Varayadumotta is another popular trekking trail in Ponmudi that offers a panoramic view of the hills along with the Nilgiri Tahrs. One can go for the short trekking trail that starts from Kallar River Bridge just before Ponmudi and continues along the banks of Kallar River upstream till Meenmutty Waterfalls.

About 60 km, Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport to Ponmudi and has well-connected flights from all the major cities of India including Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata. Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is about 58 km from Ponmudi. It has well-connected trains from Bilaspur, Tirunelveli, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Kozhikode, Madurai, Dibrugarh, Nagercoil, Gandhidham, Silchar, Bengaluru, Kollam, Mangalore, Jamnagar, and Guruvayur. Ponmudi has regular buses from Trivandrum, Kollam, Allepey, and Palakkad. Ponmudi Bus Station is the nearest bus stand that has regular KSRTC buses from Trivandrum, Kollam, Allepey, and Palakkad. There are 22 hairpin bends along this short route which makes the journey a thrilling experience.

There are several cottages and dormitory accommodation facilities in Ponmudi to stay and explore the nearby places. Also, the Government Guest House offers 24 rooms and 10 stone cottages.

The winter season from November to March is the best time to visit Ponmudi when the climate is extremely pleasant and welcoming. The whole place looks mesmerizingly beautiful enveloped in mist. During this period you can not only witness the place in its full glory but also indulge in enjoying the various activities that this place has to offer including mountain climbing, paragliding to trekking, and rafting.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Poor
STD Code: 047289
Languages Spoken: Malayalam, Tamil, English & Hindi
Major Festivals: Details Not Available
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Ponmudi

By Air

Nearest Airport: Trivandrum - Trivandrum International Airport (60 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Trivandrum Central Railway Station (57 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Ponmudi Bus Station (0 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

Waterfall

#1 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 16 km from Ponmudi Bus Station, Kallar Meenmutty Waterfalls is a magnificent waterfall located at Kallar village near Ponmudi, Kerala. It is one of the beautiful waterfalls near Trivandrum, and among the must-visit tourist places in Ponmudi.

Surrounded by the mountain ranges of Western Ghats, Meenmutty waterfall is a small waterfall formed over the Kallar River. Although the waterfall is pretty small in terms of height, the place gives a glimpse of natural beauty that attracts a large number of tourists every year as part of Ponmudi holiday packages. Numerous small natural pools are peppered near this magnificent waterfall. One can find many attractive, round-shaped boulders and bright colored pebbles in the pools.

This serene view of water cascading from the golden peak .....

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Nature

#2 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 16 km from Ponmudi Bus Station, Golden Valley is a charming place located at Kallar near Ponmudi, Kerala. It is one of the beautiful places to visit in Ponmudi, especially people who want to spend some quality time amidst nature.

Settled along the banks of Kallar River, Golden Valley is a picturesque location known for its lush green valley, crystal clear water and golden sand. It is one of the must-visit attractions for every traveler as part of the Ponmudi Tour. The Vamanapuram River takes the name Kallar, literally 'the river of stone', as the riverbed and banks here are crowded with boulders, rocks and smooth pebbles of all shapes, sizes, and colours. The valley has been named after the pebbles and golden stones present at this place. This is also the place where the monsoons form a seasonal confluence of the Kallar river with a tributary.

Golden Valley is an ideal location to spend with family and friends as it offers calm ambiance, meadows for children .....

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Waterfall | Nature

#3 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 40 km from Ponmudi and 43 km from Trivandrum, Manakayam is an eco-tourism spot situated near Palode in Nedumangadu taluk of Trivandrum district, Kerala. It is one of the popular eco-tourism places near Trivandrum and among the top places to visit in Ponmudi.

Mankayam eco-tourism center is situated at Peringamala Section in Palode Forest Range under Thiruvananthapuram Forest Division. The Mankayam River, a tributary of the Chittar River, flows through this scenic tourist spot. Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism. Mankayam acts as the focal point for a huge array of picnic spots in the area.

Situated at an altitude of around 500 m, Manakayam is known for its picturesque milky cascades. The undulating terrain with rocky patches .....

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Adventure

#4 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 48 km from Trivandrum and 33 km from Ponmudi Bus Station, Varayadu Motta is a mountain ridge located in Ponmudi, Kerala. It is one of the popular places of trekking in Ponmudi.

Situated at a height of 1100 m, Varayadumotta is the highest peak in the Ponmudi ranges. Also known as Varayadumudi and Varayattumutti, the place derived its name from Nilgiri tahr / Varayadu, as this place is a favorable home for mountain goats (Nilgiri Tahr) in acute population. Varying elevation and peculiar shape of this hill is unique in the world. It is a protected mountain ridge situated in between Ponmudi hills, Palode (Brimore) hills, and Kallar valley. It includes 13 peaks and the second peak is the highest in Varayadumotta.

Varayudu Motta is the third adventurous trekking in South India after Meesapulimala and Agastyarkoodam. The trekking level can be from moderate to tough. Tough for first-timers, but they will never forget the experience for a long time. The ridge is a protected .....

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Adventure

#5 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 44 km from Ponmudi and 62 km from Trivandrum, Agasthyakoodam is a mountain peak situated near Ponmudi. It is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats and among the popular places of trekking in Kerala.

Perched at an altitude of 6201 feet, Agasthyarkoodam is the second highest peak in Kerala after Anamudi near Munnar (8842 feet), and among the best Ponmudi places to visit. The mountain is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus, as it is believed to be the abode of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara as well as of the sage Agastya, a disciple of Lord Shiva. There is a small shrine on the mountain top with an idol of Agasthya rishi and during the Agasthyarkoodam trekking season, people perform pujas here. The hill range is now declared as Agasthya Vanam Biological Park covering an area of 23 sq. km. Also, it is the source of River Kallar.

Apart .....

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Wildlife

#6 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 32 km from Ponmudi and 40 km from Trivandrum, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located near Ponmudi in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. It is one of the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala, and among the must-visit sightseeing places in Ponmudi.

The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary derives its name from Peppara Dam which is commissioned in 1983 to augment the drinking water supply to Thiruvananthapuram city and suburban areas. The area was formerly a part of the Paruthippally range of the Thiruvananthapuram territorial division. Considering the ecological significance of the area, it was declared a sanctuary in 1983. The terrain is undulating with elevation ranging from 100 m to 1717 m. The area of the sanctuary is 75 sq. km with tropical moist evergreen forests and myristica swamps. It consists of part of the Palode reserve (24 .....

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City

#7 of 7 Places to Visit in Ponmudi

At a distance of 85 km from Kanyakumari, 204 km from Kochi, 266 km from Madurai, 385 km from Coimbatore, 400 km from Trichy, 770 km from Chennai, 622 km from Mangalore, and 746 km from Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the state of Kerala and the headquarters of Thiruvananthapuram district. It is one of the must-include places in Kerala tour packages.

Situated between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Thiruvananthapuram means the City of Lord Anantha in Sanskrit and Malayalam. The name derives from the deity of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, one of the must-visit places as part of Trivandrum tour packages. Trivandrum is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland.

The city once formed a part of the kingdom of Travancore, which had its capital at Padmanabhapuram. Even now most of the buildings .....

Distance (From Ponmudi): 57 Kms
Trip Duration (From Ponmudi - Including Travel): Full Day
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