Ponmudi - The Golden Peak

Placed in the Southern part of Kerala, it's easy for me to find some interesting and unknown
places since most of the southern strip are mostly coastal region and the rest being hill stations.
As a huge admirer of both hiking and swimming, I always love revisiting such places whenever
I feel dull or bored. Ponmudi is one such hill station which I had pleasure visiting thrice this year
alone. 55 km away from the capital city of Trivandrum, Ponmudi is blessed with a beautiful topography which will taunt you to come back again. Thanks to a perfect terrain and roads, it is never that hard for one to travel there.

My trip to Ponmudi was a memorable one and I still remember my
first road trip with a bunch of my friends. Having been visited there for a past couple of times, a
Bike Ride to Ponmudi with my friends was the best. Starting the journey from Trivandrum in the
morning, we were able to reach the destination after 2-3 hours of driving and refreshment.
The Hairpin curves were scary at first, but once we started climbing up, we started getting views
that continued to cherish us until we reached the peak. After clearing the legal formalities, we reached the spot and began walking towards the viewpoint. One has to climb the three-storeyed
concrete structure to get a nice view. Taking your children with you is not advisable as the place
itself is quite dangerous.

We got off and the next thing we did was to spend some quality time trading stories and jokes amonst ourselves. In such a perfect place for get-togethers, we spent almost an hour talking and couldn't believe that we strayed ourselves from gadgets for that much time. Just as the evening darkness began subsiding, we decided to get off the place as it is a bit dangerous to climb down the hill after 5 PM as the evening fog begins to congest the roads. 

Ponmudi is a place which serves as a perfect spot for those who love long rides and trekking. If you love hill stations, Ponmudi is a place worth visiting at least a dozen times as one doesn't get enough of it. So, grab a bunch of your friends or relatives and head to Ponmudi to spend your holiday right, instead of being occupied by the four walls of your house. 

Quick Facts about Ponmudi

1. How to reach – Frequent Buses from Trivandrum, well-maintained roads make it easier for two wheelers and four wheelers to reach the spot without much difficulty

2. Nearest town – Palode

3. Nearest railway station – Trivandrum, 59 kms 

4. Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 65 km 

5. Places to stay – KTDC Hotel

6. Best time to visit –Monsoon 

7. Things to do – Get the view of your life from the Ponmudi viewpoint and spend your evening there to experience breezy and refreshing air. Perfect for picnicking and get-togethers. 

8. Is it Child-Friendly - No

Contributed by Sooraj Ram

Brimore, kerala - The foot of Agasthyarkoodam

India, or South India in general is home for hundreds, if not thousands of tourist locations. However, most of the places are hidden under the radar and it is hard to find routes for such places. One among such places that I was fortunate enough to visit was Braemore. Located in the God's Own Country, Kerala, Braemore(or Brimore) is the base station of Agasthyarkoodam, in the Agasthya hills. This beautiful place is 60 km away from the Capital city of Trivandrum. The ideal way of conveyance is a Bike Ride as the place itself has breathtaking scenery en route. If you don't own a bike or car, then to can easily find buses from Trivandrum city. Buses from other neighboring districts have irregular timing so, it is better to check twice before finalising your travel plan.

Once you have reached the spot, it's necessary to clear all the formalities in the Mangayam tourist office by obtaining the entry tickets. Once you have passed the office, you are on your own. 

First destination, the Waterfalls, What else to expect from a base station. However you might not get to see a huge volume of water yet, you can always get to enjoy the coolness and freshness of the water. Brimore authorities have restricted the passage for the Waterfalls but you get to enjoy a fresh shower at the bottom of the Waterfalls. I would suggest you to take a firm step while having a shower as the flow is a bit steep and slippery. Think twice before you dive! 

Unlike most of the places, Brimore can be visited anytime regardless the season. However, as far as I'm concerned, Summer and Monsoon are the best options. The reason why I chose Monsoon as one among my picks is because you could enjoy the next destination, Tea Estate in monsoon. If you love watching the wonders of nature, this is your spot. 

Actually, Brimore is a one day trip and there is no reason for hanging around to spend two to three days. However, to make the best of the allowed time (whether a one day trip or a two day package), it really is essential for you to take the highlight of this place, that is, the 1 hour trek towards Ponmudi (a hill station situated near Brimore). The trek is approximately 1 hour long which takes you around three hills until you reach the spot, Ponmudi. 

If you plan on staying for a day or two, I would suggest you to take the KTDC cottage rooms which are affordable and the best place to spend your time. People are helpful and I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to a few people there. I was told that there was a beautiful lake or stream called Palode, which is a must visit while you are there. It didn't took much time for me to trek back to Brimore and grab my two wheeler to search for Palode.

Palode is located 20 kms from Brimore and this place was the highlight for me. I get to enjoy the cool water and was able to spend some quality time swimming. In my opinion, Palode is the best place for swimming.

It was a long 40 km ride back to Trivandrum yet I was happy that I get to enjoy the trip and I couldn't wait till I get back to Brimore and Palode.

Quick facts


1.       How to reach – Frequent Buses from Trivandrum, Two wheeler and four wheelers are permitted to go inside the forest premises. 
2.       Nearest town – Palode
3.       Nearest railway station – Trivandrum, 59 kms
4.       Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 65 km
5.       Places to stay – KTDC hotel 
6.       Best time to visit –Monsoon
7.       Things to do – Experience the beautiful Waterfalls and spend 1 hour on adventurous trek to Ponmudi
8.       Is it Child Friendly - No, only because the trekking is not that safe for children under 12

Contribution from - Sooraj Ram
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