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Ponmudi
Ponmudi (meaning Golden Crown) is hill resort situated just 54km from
Thiruvananthapuram, is an enchanting one for tourists. It is just one and a half
hour's road journey from Trivandrum.
The main attractions at Ponmudi are
Orchids and Deer Park which is only 3 kilometers away from the Ponmudi resort.
As
one leaves the city behind, one enters the region of plantations - rubber, pepper,
cardamom and tea. The change is abrupt. The tappers can be seen going about briskly
gathering the milky fluid from rubber trees collected in coconut shells. Coconut
thatch mats cover almost one half of the road, over which women spread black pepper
for drying. One may come across a lone elephant ambling along carrying his mahout
atop and his breakfast of coconut thatch in his trunk.
Tea estates at Ponmudi
are not as big as those in the Munnar hills. Large water sprays shower the gardens.
The 'mate', a septuagenarian shading himself with an umbrella, can be seen reading
aloud the day's news to the pickers. The pickers, in response, either grunt indicating
disapproval of the news item or remain silent in agreement.
Trekking to
the north of Ponmudi Crest, one passes along a mini zoo, primarily of barasinghas,
on the edge of the forest. Entering the forest, the verdant shades of green numb
the senses. As does the avian orchestra. The brilliant red southern trongon dot
the trees like flowers. The air is full with the loud raucous chuckling of heavy
billed Malabar hornbills. The shrill notes of the blue-black Malabar whistling
thrush add to the cacophony. Even the rare long-tailed paradise flycatchers flit
gracefully from tree to tree. It is like an open aviary.
How
to Reach
Ponmudi is 61 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is within
easy driving distance from Kovalam.
WHERE TO STAY
There
is a small tourist complex of guesthouses with 24 rooms and 10 stone cottages
perched on the hillside which make for very comfortable lodging at Ponmudi.
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