Places to See In Ponmudi

Rolling at an altitude of 610 m, Ponmudi (meaning the Golden Peak in Malayalam) is the least haunted by tourists and therefore the most peaceful of all Kerala hill stations.Embellished with rapids flowing over the road, and misty peaks thronged by an exotic vegetation, Ponmudi is a hiker’s and a trekker’s paradise.
Ponmudi is located 61 km north-east of Trivandrum city at an altitude of 1100 m. It is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea. Some of The famous Places in Ponmudi are-

Kallar– A popular tourist destination near Ponmudi. The River Kallar here offers a good picnic spot in the form of Golden Valley. Here, there are options to trek in the adjoining forests. The Meenmutti waterfall is a major draw at Kallar.

Agasthyarkoodam– It is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats, with the highest peak at 1868 m. This peak is famous for its wilderness, and can be accessed only with the Forest Department’s permission.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary– This sanctuary spread over 53 sq. km. in the Western Ghats is accessible from Vithura. With its rich flora and fauna, Peppara dotted with hillocks and forests is a great attraction for wildlife enthusiasts.

The Napier Museum – Built in the 19th century, this Indo-Saracenic structure boasts of a natural air conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artefacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The Javanese shadow plays leather figures, used to depict the epics of Mahabharata and the Ramayana, are very interesting.

Sree Chithra Art Gallery – Opened in 1935 by the then Maharaja of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal, displays original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich; exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India as well as paintings from China, Japan,Tibet and Bali. The collection also includes unique copies of Indian mural paintings from pre-historic times down to the 18th Century.

Sree Chithra Enclave– Opened in 1993, this museum depicts the history of the Travancore Royal Family and displays their personal belongings and artifacts. Old newspaper footage and deeds describing events are also exhibited.

Natural History Museum -This modern building houses some excellent galleries like the skeletal, bird, animal and taxidermy gallery as well as a museum.

In Ponmudi you can visit the tea gardens in the area. There are 22 hairpin curves on the shortest route which makes the travel a definitely thrilling experience.Some notable tourist attractions located in Ponmudi are a 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 colored in bright hues while visiting here. Located about 1.5 km from the hill station,is the Ponmudi Falls. Around 3 km from the Ponmudi Resort, is the popular Deer Park.