The Ponmudi hill station is located in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala, and is located around 55 kilometers away from Trivandrum city. Ponmudi hills are a part of the western Ghats and is also known as Golden Peak. The first thing that travellers to Ponmudi notice is the thick tropical forests that carpets the foot of the hill range. Hairpin bends, steep climb and mist covered stretches marks the route to Ponmudi from Kallar, located at the base of the village.
Ponmudi hill station is part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea and is at an altitude of 1100 metres above sea level. On the way to Ponmudi, the thick tropical forest greets one at the foot of the Ponmudi hill range. The road passes under a canopy of thickly matted foliage. The forest recedes gradually giving way to neatly clipped tea bushes.
Located close to Agasthyar Hills, one of the biggest peaks in Western Ghats, Ponmudi offers excellent trekking and camping opportunities. Trekking through the thick forests one gets to see assortment of mountain flowers, unusual butterflies and small rivulets. However, the incline is steep and the trek rigorous.
The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ponmudi hills and here you can visit some of the most amazing wildlife species. Some of the major wildlife species that can be seen at the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary includes sambar, Asian elephants, leopards, Malabar grey hornbills, lion-tailed macaques, etc.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Ponmudi is from October to March. Another great time to visit the hill station is immediately after the monsoon season when the entire region is carpeted with luscious greenery.
How to Reach:
By Road:
Trivandrum airport is the nearest airport to Ponmudi and is connected well to the other major Indian cities and is just around 58 kms away from Ponmudi.
By Bus:
There are also regular public transportation system from Thiruvananthapuram to Ponmudi and travelers can make use of it to reach Ponmudi from Thiruvananthapuram.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is also at Thiruvananthapuram and is 55 kms away.