 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ponmudi" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(October 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Ponmudi | |
|---|---|
 Morning view from Ponmudi | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,100 m (3,600 ft) |
| Coordinates | 8°45′37″N77°07′00″E / 8.76028°N 77.11667°E /8.76028; 77.11667 |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Malayalam |
| Geography | |
  Ponmudi Ponmudi (India) Show map of India | |
| Parent range | Western Ghats |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Ponmudi[1] (the Golden Peak) is ahill station in thePeringamala gramapanchayath ofThiruvananthapuram district ofKerala inIndia. It is located 22km west ofVithura town, 53 km north-east ofThiruvananthapuram City, 78 km south-east ofVarkala town and 69 km north-east ofKovalam Beach at an altitude of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). Ponmudi (Varayadumotta) peak is a part of theWestern Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to theArabian Sea. Ponmudi is a popular honeymoon destination in South India. The normal temperature of Ponmudi is between 14 and 25 °C (57 and 77 °F). During the winter season, the temperature drops between 10 and 19 °C (50 and 66 °F) especially during the night time. The lowest temperature in Ponmudi ever recorded is 8°C.[2]
Ponmudi is connected toThiruvananthapuram 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 22Hairpin turns.[tone] Ponmudi is also a popular spot for backpacking and trekking.[citation needed] The climate is pleasant year-round.[3]
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.[4] A variety ofwildlife inhabit the hills. The Golden Valley offers vistas of the hills and access to theKallar River. 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 53 km2 (20 sq mi) and accommodates a variety of wild animals and birds likeAsian elephants,sambar,leopards,lion-tailed macaques,Malabar grey hornbills, etc.
Another main attraction in the region isAgasthyarkoodam, one of the highest peaks in theWestern 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
The landscape of Ponmudi is an interspersing ofvalleys andhills 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 ofbirds, many of which are endangered and threatened.[5] Birds endemic to this region include thepainted bush quail, theMalabar grey hornbill, theWayanad laughingthrush, thebroad-tailed grass bird and theNilgiri 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 inKerala are found at Ponmudi. Of the 16 species of birds endemic to theWestern Ghats, 15 are at Ponmudi. Of the 332 species of butterflies in theWestern Ghats, 195 are found here. Of the 37 butterfly species endemic to the Ghats, 24 are found at Ponmudi. Thespot 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 endangeredTravancore tortoise, theMalabar Gliding Frog and theMalabar tree toad.Nilgiri tahr is also found in Ponmudi hill top.
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 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 denseforests, upon taking special permission from the Forest Department. A guide will be sent along with tourist groups to the falls. Facilities fortrekking are easily provided at Kallar Vana Samrakshana Samithi, which is a forest protection group at Kallar.
TheTrivandrum Ponmudi Rope way Project is a proposed initiative aimed at enhancing tourism and improving connectivity in the Ponmudi hill station, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The project involves the construction of a ropeway system to provide easier access to the scenic hilltop, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. It is expected to attract more visitors to the area, supporting the local economy and promoting sustainable tourism. The project is being developed with a focus on environmental considerations and safety standards
