Ponmudi hill station is an enchanting getway about 61 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. To reach Ponmudi you could use one of these three ways:
By Air
Thiruvananthapuram international/Domestic airport is the nearest airport, which is located at a distance of 65 km from Ponmudi hill station. There are regular flights to and from Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and other important cities in India. Once you reach the airport, you can hire a taxi to go to the hill station. Both AC (Air conditioned) and non-AC taxis are available.
By Train
The nearest railway station to Ponmudi hill station is the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station - one of the most important railway stations in Kerala. This station is connected with almost all the important cities in the country through regular trains. The price of the ticket vary according to the place of boarding.
To reach Ponmudi, KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) buses are available from Thiruvananthapuram. You may need to shell out around INR 100 for one way ticket. There are regular buses which you can take from the main bus terminus. The other nearest bus station is in Nedumangad.
It's one of the charming hill stations in Kerala, famous for its mist covered hills. Locals in the city prefer to drive to Ponmudi hill station as one of the best ways to spend their weekend.
Weather in Ponmudi hill station
The temperature is pleasant throughout the year and is a 3 hour drive from the city. One can always stopover at the breath-taking Kallar River on the way, which flows parallel to the road in the opposite direction, with the picturesque Meenmutty Waterfalls only a little distance ahead.
A number of cottages and resorts have come up in the area during the last few years. Trekking and camping options are also available for those interested in exploring this natural wonder on foot. Ponmudi hill station is indeed a growing destination of tourist activity.
The hill slopes covered in mist fill one with a feeling of wonder and amazement. There are lots of rare flora and fauna that can be seen here including mountain flowers, wild orchids and beautiful butterflies.A hill so close to the city, yet nestled, so near the protective arms of the sea.
The climb to the peak involved passing through some narrow roads and 22 hairpin bends. The road is tricky and treacherous with lots of twists and turns. The major places in the route are Peroorkada, Vazhayila, Karakulam, Nedumangad, Anad, Tholikodu, Vithura and Kallar. The ascending road to Ponmudi is a drive through the forest and is really good.
Meenmutty Waterfalls is one place that you must definitely visit. Although the waterfall is pretty small in terms of height, the place is exceptionally beautiful. As a solo traveller, i have been a few times before, but this time, with my wife we couldn't see it as it was closed to tourist due to heavy rainfall. We decided to go straight to Ponmudi peak from here but stopped at a small shop on the way and had some hot tea and also bought salted Amla or Indian Gooseberry. Yum!!!!!
Finally we reached Ponmudi but to get to the viewpoint we had to pass through the checkpost guarded by the Kerala forest department. There is a fee of 30 rupees per person and 30 rupees more if you are carrying a camera.
The view was amazing and so beautiful that Anju and I decided to sit down and enjoy the scenic view from a height. It's windy up there and hills around were covered with fog and the climate was very cool! A much needed break for us from the city's heat and rush.
If you are interested for a stay over in Ponmudi then there is KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation) Golden Peak Resort located on the top.
Ponmudi hill station, to us, was a quiet and serene place that connects us to nature.