Ponmudi, which is also known as the Golden Peak, is a hill station in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

Location of Ponmudi
Ponmudi is located 55.2 km north-east of Trivandrum city in Thiruvananthapuram district, at an altitude of 1100 m. Thiruvananthapuram district is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea.

Natural Beauty of Ponmudi
Ponmudi is blessed with scenic splendour and natural beauty. Ponmudi has a carpet of thick tropical forest that rolls down to the foot of the hill range. The salubrious atmosphere of Ponmudi and the twisted trails across clear streams must have contributed to her health.

Tourism in Ponmudi
Ponmudi includes some of the tourist spots like Golden Valley and a number of rivulets and rapids, some of them are even across the road. The lush forest area has tropical vegetation. A variety of wildlife inhabits the Ponmudi hills. The Golden Valley of Ponmudi offers vistas of the hills and access to the Kallar River. Ponmudi River is flowing though 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. The mist-laden valleys, especially Golden Valley near Kallar River, also draw tourists. The travellers can find a deer park and wood and stone cottages coloured in bright hues while visiting here. Ponmudi Falls is located about 1.5 km from the hill station. Around 3 km from the Ponmudi Resort is the popular Deer Park. The Meenmutty Falls, another popular 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 and accommodates a variety of wild animals and birds like Asian elephants, sambhar, leopards, lion-tailed macaques, Malabar grey hornbills and many other animals. Agasthyarkoodam is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats Mountain Range in India, 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. Agasthyarkoodambiosphere Reserve is another popular attraction covering Neyyar, Peppara, Shendumey Wildlife Sanctuaries and divisions of Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Visiting Information
Ponmudi is connected to Trivandrum by a narrow winding road offering scenic views on the way to Ponmudi. The climate is pleasant year-round. Trivandrum serves as a base for trekking and hiking. There are also tea gardens in the area. There are 22 hairpin curves in the short route which makes the travel a definitely thrilling experience.