Ponmudi, a quaint and beautiful hill station which is located in South of Kerala. The hill station is at an altitude of 1100 meters and is about 60kms from Trivandrum city. Ponmudi is also the perfect romantic getaway. It has beautiful rivulets, an array of mountain flowers, exotic butterflies and much more.
Ponmudi has a lot to offer to its visitors. Golden Valley tops the list of places you should visit. The Valley is about 5kms away from the city center making it approachable. The Golden Valley is situated sideways of Kallar River. You can enjoy a dip in the fresh and clear water of the river. It promises to rejuvenate your body and mind. It is the perfect destination for a picnic with lush green forest and golden sand in the backdrop.
If you are a wildlife lover then you must visit the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located about 17kms away from the city center. The Sanctuary is open all around the year, making it a tourist hub. It is situated sideways the catchment area of the Peppara Dam. It has a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is home to 233 species of birds, 43 species of mammals, 13 species of amphibians, 46 species of reptiles and 27 species of fishes. You can easily find a tiger, sloth bear, deer, leopard, elephant, bonnet, nilgiri languor and many more here. The entry time into the Sanctuary is from 8 am to 4 pm.
Ponmudi is a trekker’s paradise. It has some of the most beautiful trails in the country that many come to enjoy. The most popular tracks are the Chinnappulle, Varayattumotta and Braemoor. All of these treks are supported by trained guides. Other trails that you can enjoy are the Vazahuvanthole waterfalls, Bonafalls and Kalarkad waterfalls. If you do plan to go on any of the treks, it is suggested that you take a local guide with you. This will ensure your safety.
Your trip to Ponmudi is incomplete without visiting the Meenmutty Waterfalls. A 2km trek through the lush green forest to see this picture perfect waterfall is worth every second. Meenmutty in Malatalam means, “Where fishes are blocked”. Here you can enjoy a luxurious picnic mixed with a stunning landscape. Meenmutty Waterfall falls from about 1000 feet over three levels. This gives it a tripe decker effect making it look majestic.
One of the most famous event in Kerela, which is the Aranmula boat race happens in Ponmudi. It is usually held somewhere between August and September. The boat race is a part of the Aranmula Temple festival. The temple is located on the banks of the Pampa River andis about 1700 years old. This heritage sight is devoted to SreeParthasarathy who was the divine charioteer to Arjuna. Here you can see several snake boats competing to reach the final line with thousands of spectators cheering for their team.
Tourists prefer to go on a road trip when visiting this hill station. It’s got beautiful scenery, which one can only enjoy by road. The best time to visit the hill station is between the months of November to May. This is usually the peak season and the temperature is also wonderful.
