Poetic Ponmudi

Even though I have visited Ponmudi earlier (of course it was some 15 years back), it didn’t occur to me that such a marvelous place lies within 1½hrs journey from Trivandrum. When my brother suggested Ponmudi trip for Onam, I wasn’t that excited. I was, like, oh what is there in Ponmudi. But the journey completely changed my mindset.

We started off at 1530 hrs from the city and reached Golden Peak, the KTDC resort just after 1700 hrs passing the 22 hairpins and several silver streams of ice cold water. After a tea at the resort canteen, we explored the picturesque scenery around the hill, where the resort was located. It was misty and chilly, but luckily rains eluded us at that time so we could enjoy a nice evening. At night a heavy downpour was there and that probably shattered our hopes of a campfire.

Next day morning by 0730 hrs we were ready to go uphill, but as the visiting time is strictly 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs, we went downhill and roamed a bit exploring rare spots and keeping our cameras busy. Then at 0800 hrs we could go uphill. The sight of the valley through the journey and from the hill top was breathtaking and not less magnificent than Munnar or Vagamon. The vast green land totally takes us to another world of serenity. That scenic beauty made the trip worth it. The view of the clouds moving over the hills, and the hide and seek of the sun was mesmerizing. One moment we had zero visibility because of the mist and couldn’t identify the person standing next to us, but the next moment it was all sunny and bright.

We had a buffet break fast at the cafeteria, and a very good traditional feast was arranged as lunch, complete with three ‘payasam’s. Contrary to the common belief the resort and surroundings are neatly maintained and is quite peaceful. There is even KSRTC Service right upto the resort.

After lunch we started our journey back. Even though we wished to visit Meenmutty, coz it included a bit of a trekking we decided to come again for a Meenmutty-Kallar exclusive visit. But all had this satisfaction of a well spent holiday.

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പൊന്മുടി - (The Golden Peak) is a hillstation in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Its located 61 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 connected to Trivandrum by a narrow winding road which offers a scenic view on the way to Ponmudi. The climate is always pleasant and it serves as a base for trekking and hiking. The tea-gardens here are also famous.

Other attractions near Ponmudi include Golden Valley and a number of rivulets and rapids, some even across the road. Located in a rich forest area, this whole place may be of interest to those who are interested in tropical vegetation. There is also a rich wildlife around these hills. Golden Valley is a sneak peek offered to the beauty of the hills. It is an access point to the river Kallar. Well-rounded pebbles, lush green trees, the cool water, fishes and the sheer wilderness of the park enthrall the visitor.

Another attraction in the region is Agasthyarkoodam which is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats and the highest peak (1868 m) in the district. This peak is famous for its wilderness, and can be accessed only with permission from the Forest Department. Meenmutty Falls is also a famous attraction in the range.