PONMUDI HILL RESORT

Ponmudi is a hill resort situated 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is a two and a half drive from Thiruvananthapuram through narrow, winding ghat roads.

The resort is located 915 metres above sea level in a cool, green and wooded environment. You can see the patches of shola forests and estates around the resort and then get a panoramic view of mountain ranges, hills, valleys, small rivulets and springs from Ponmudi.

The facilities at the resort include children's park, restaurant, beer parlour, conference hall, rooms and cottages. There are 15 rooms and 8 cottages available now on daily rent. The rentals are given below.

	Type	Rent	Tax	Total
	Double Rooms	400	30	430
	Double Bed Cottages	500	50	550
	3-Bed Cottages	750	75	825
	4-Bed Cottages	1000	100	1100
	Dormitory	800	80	880
	Conference Hall ( Full Day )	750	0	750
	Conference Hall ( Half Day )	500	0	500

Rates as on January 1, 2006

The Government handed over the resort to the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation in 2007. Renovation of the buildings are on and the above rates may change shortly. (The cottages have been temporarily closed for renovation.)

A 2 km drive up from the resort will take you to the upper sanatorium area of Ponmudi. This way you can get a 360 degree view of the mountain ranges of Western Ghats. The last vestiges of sholas, which harbour a wide range of species, can also be seen from there. Facilities forming part of the eco-tourism project is to come up there.

The resort now features a few forest trails which can test your bravery, if you are of my age or if you are a city dweller who had never been to the forests. Don't be surprised if you see a snake or two!

Ecotourism project launched at Ponmudi