Ponmudi (the Golden Peak) also known as Kashmir of Kerala is a

hill station A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia (particularly in India), but also in Africa (albeit rarely), for towns founded by European colonialists as refuges ...

in the

Peringamala Peringamala is a grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. There are two places named Peringammala, the other one is between Balaramapuram and Venganoor which is on the southern side of the Thiruvanantha ...

gramapanchayath of

Trivandrum District Thiruvananthapuram District (), is the southernmost district in the Indian state of Kerala. The district was created in 1949, with its headquarters in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, which is also Kerala's administrative centre. The present d ...

of Kerala in India. It is located 22km west of

Vithura Vithura, also known as the Hill City Of Trivandrum, is located 36 km from Thiruvananthapuram capital of the Kerala state in India. Vithura is the culmination of the crossroads to many tourist, cultural, and religious centres. Surrounded by ...

town, 53 km north-east of

Trivandrum City Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populatio ...

, 78 km south-east of Varkala town and 69 km north-east of Kovalam Beach at an altitude of . Ponmudi (

Varayadumotta Varayadumotta (Malayalam: വരയാടുമൊട്ട) is the tallest peak in the Ponmudi mountain range (Western ghats), Nedumangad taluk, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. As its name come from Nilgiri tahr / Varayadu. It is one of the is ...

) peak is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea. Ponmudi is a popular honeymoon destination in South India. The normal temperature of Ponmudi is between .

Attractions

Ponmudi is connected to Trivandrum by a two-lane highway (SH2 & SH 45). The last 18 km starting from Anapara has scenic views, as it winds through the mountains and tea gardens. The travel along this stretch provides a thrilling experience as drivers and riders have to navigate 22 Hairpin turns. Ponmudi is also a popular spot for backpacking and trekking. The climate is pleasant year-round. 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 Kallar may refer to: Places India * Kallar, Kanhangad near Kanhangad, Kerala, India * Kallar, Trivandrum in Trivandrum district in Kerala, India * Kallar River, a tributary of the Neyyar river in India, flowing through Tamil Nadu and Kerala ...

. Flowing through 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. Located about 1.5 km from the hill station, is the Ponmudi Falls. Around 3 km from the Ponmudi Resort, is the Deer Park. The Meenmutty Falls, another tourist 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 and accommodates a variety of wild animals and birds like Asian elephants, sambar, leopards,

lion-tailed macaques The lion-tailed macaque (''Macaca silenus''), also known as the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. Characteristics Lion-tailed macaques are covered in black fur, and have a striking gray or silver ...

, Malabar grey hornbills, etc. Another main attraction in the region is

Agasthyarkoodam Agastyaarkoodam is one of the peaks in the Western Ghats of Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu, India. This peak is a part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve which lies on the border between the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli d ...

, one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats, with the highest peak at 1868 m. This peak is known for its wilderness, and can be accessed only with the Forest Department's permission. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is another attraction covering Neyyar, Peppara, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and divisions of Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur, and Thiruvananthapuram

Ecology

The landscape of Ponmudi is an interspersing of valleys and hills with forestland and plantations. Ponmudi is having an extensive importance of biodiversity, which plays a major role in maintaining the ecological balance of the area. Ponmudi is host to 283 species of

birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

, many of which are endangered and threatened. Birds endemic to this region include the

painted bush quail The painted bush quail (''Perdicula erythrorhyncha'') is a species of quail found in the hill forests of India. They move in small coveys on hillsides and are distinguished by their red bills and legs. They have a liquid alarm call and small grou ...

, the Malabar grey hornbill, the Wayanad laughingthrush, the broad-tailed grass bird and the Nilgiri pipit. The grasslands of Ponmudi are the breeding grounds of the broad-tailed grass bird, a threatened species. Fifty-nine per cent of the 483 bird species in Kerala are found at Ponmudi. Of the 16 species of birds endemic to the Western Ghats, 15 are at Ponmudi. Of the 332 species of butterflies in the Western Ghats, 195 are found here. Of the 37 butterfly species endemic to the Ghats, 24 are found at Ponmudi. The spot puffin, a rare butterfly, has been sighted at the Kulachikarai-Panayam-Merchiston area where ISRO's land comes. Similarly, Ponmudi is also host to many species of reptiles and amphibians, including the highly endangered

Travancore tortoise The Travancore tortoise (''Indotestudo travancorica'') is a large forest tortoise growing up to in length. The species was first described by George Albert Boulenger in 1907. It primarily feeds on grasses and herbs. It also feeds on mollusc ...

, the

Malabar Gliding Frog The Malabar gliding frog or Malabar flying frog (''Rhacophorus malabaricus'') is a rhacophorid tree frog species found in the Western Ghats of India. Pictures The term "gliding" frog refers to its ability to break its fall by stretching ...

and the

Malabar tree toad The Malabar tree toad (''Pedostibes tuberculosus''), or warty Asian tree toad, is a species of toad found in forests along the Western Ghats of great Karnataka or Deccan. It is a small species and is found in wet tree hollows or leaf bases con ...

. Nilgiri tahr is also found in Ponmudi hill top.

Kallar and Menmutty Falls

Kallar situated en route to the hill station of Ponmudi, Kallar gets its name from the River Kallar, which flows through the region. Kallu means 'stone' and Aru means 'river', hence the name Kallar. The river is well known for its abundance of attractive, round-shaped boulders and pebbles, especially in the upper reaches and middle portion of its course. Here one can take a dip in the crystal clear waters to cool off, and also watch the many rapids and small pools that dot a good part of the river in this area.

Meenmutty Falls, Thiruvananthapuram Meenmutty Falls is a waterfall located from Trivandrum city in Thiruvananthapuram District in the Indian state of Kerala, India. The falls are located near the Ponmudi hill station, Thiruvananthapuram district and Agastya Mala Biosphere reserve ...

is one of the main attractions located nearby Ponmudi hills and is around 45 km from Thiruvananthapuram. This waterfall is about 3 km away from the Kallar-Ponmudi road. The main attractions are waterfalls and the small natural pools and rocks located beside the way to the waterfalls. In order to reach the place, one has to take a long trek that passes through dense forests, upon taking special permission from the Forest Department. A guide will be sent along with tourist groups to the falls. Facilities for trekking are easily provided at Kallar Vana Samrakshana Samithi, which is a forest protection group at Kallar.

Gallery

File:Ponmudi ktdc.jpg, Interpretation Centre File:Ponmudi travelogue 1.jpg , Ponmudi Hills and Road File:Kallar and meenmutty falls.jpg , Kallar File:PONMUDI.jpg, Ponmudi File:Ponmudi panorama.jpg , Ponmudi Panorama

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 VITHURA 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 Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , is an international airport which serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and fifth international airport of In ...

References

More about Ponmudi

External links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2qdiybXW_s
Ponmudi - Kerala TourismKerala Hill Stations
{Tourism in Kerala , state=collapsed Hill stations in Kerala Populated places in the Western Ghats Mountains of the Western Ghats Mountains of Kerala Tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram district Geography of Thiruvananthapuram district