Ponmudi

Ponmudi

Morning View from Ponmudi
Elevation 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Translation പൊന്മുടി (Malayalam)
Location
Ponmudi

Kerala, India

Range Western Ghats
Coordinates 8°45′37″N 77°07′00″E / 8.76028°N 77.11667°ECoordinates: 8°45′37″N 77°07′00″E / 8.76028°N 77.11667°E
Climbing
Easiest route Hike

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.

Roofs of the cottages at Ponmudi

Tourism

Ponmudi is connected to Trivandrum by a narrow winding road offering scenic views on the way to Ponmudi. The climate is pleasant year-round. Trivandrum serves as a base for trekking and hiking. There are also tea gardens in the area. There are 22 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.Agasthyarkoodambiosphere Reserve is another popular attraction covering Neyyar, Peppara, Shendumey Wildlife Sanctuaries and divisions of Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur, and Thiruvananthapuram

Ecology

Ponmudi hills and road

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, many of which are endangered and threatened. Birds endemic to this region include the Painted Bush Quail, the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the Wayanad Laughing Thrush, 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. 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 Malabar Flying Frog and the Malabar Tree Toad.

Kallar and Menmutty Falls

Kallar and meenmutty falls

Kallar situated en route to the popular 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.

Menmutty Falls is one of the main attraction located near by Ponmudi hills and is around 45 km from Thiruvananthapuram city.This waterfall is about 3 km away from the Kallar-Ponmudi road. The main attractions are water falls and the small natural pools and rocks located beside the way to the water fall. 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.

See also

References

    More about Ponmudi

    External links