(8°37'0" N 77°16'60" E ~601m asl 14:47 (IST - UTC/GMT+5.5))
Agasthyakoodam
is the second highest peak in Kerala, and the height of 1890mts above
sea level and is a part of the Sahyadri mountains.It is 60
Kms far North East of Thiruvananthapuram.
The
forests of Agasthyakoodam are rich in rare medicinal herbs and plant,
and hued orchids. In 1992, an area covering around 23 sq kms was
established as Agasthya Vanam Biological Park. The intention was to
restore the degraded forests and to use it for educational purpose.
The season from December to April is advocated for trekking and is a
distance of 28 kms to the top. It takes approximately two days and
trekking is permitted only between December and April.
For
trekking Permits contact the office of the Wildlife Warden,
Trivandrum at + 91 - 471 - 2368607
Agasthyarkoodam is a pilgrimage centre for devotees of the Hindu sage Agastya, who is considered to be one of the seven rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu Puranas. The shrine was installed under the auspices of the Chenkottukonam Madathipathi Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi Thiruvadikal who entered the forests with the right wing Hindu Aikya Vedi activists and his followers including those from the Kani Tribe desecrated a cross erected by Christians.[1] The Tamil language is considered to be a boon from Agasthya. There is a full-sized statue of Agathiyar at the top of the peak and the devotees can offer pujas themselves.
It is located at an elevation of 601 meters above sea level.
Agastya Malai is also known as Agastya Malai, Agastyamala.
Its coordinates are 8°37'0" N and 77°16'60" E in DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) or 8.61667 and 77.2833 (in decimal degrees). Its UTM position is GK55 and its Joint Operation Graphics reference is NC43-16.
Current local time is 14:47; the sun rises at 08:09 and sets at 20:16 local time (Asia/Calcutta UTC/GMT+5.5)
It is located at an elevation of 601 meters above sea level.
Agastya Malai is also known as Agastya Malai, Agastyamala.
Its coordinates are 8°37'0" N and 77°16'60" E in DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) or 8.61667 and 77.2833 (in decimal degrees). Its UTM position is GK55 and its Joint Operation Graphics reference is NC43-16.
Current local time is 14:47; the sun rises at 08:09 and sets at 20:16 local time (Asia/Calcutta UTC/GMT+5.5)
Geography
Agasthyarkoodam is located 32 km from Neyyar Dam. The major city and airport nearest to Agasthyarkoodam is Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) and its Trivandrum International Airport, around 61 km away. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. There is a trekking path, nearly 32 km, from Bonacaud Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is part of the Agasthyarkoodam range. Part of the peak can be seen from the Upper Kodayar region.
Trekking Routes
The peak of Agasthyarkoodam can be reached only by trekking up to it. While the Kerala government has been favourable to the pilgrims wanting to visit the peak, the Tamil Nadu government allows certain number of applications even though they have strict rules within the wildlife sanctuary. Every year in the month of May, Sundarampillai (late) from Papanasam used to organise a big group of pilgrims to go on a devotional trek.
Agasthyarkoodam is located 32 km from Neyyar Dam. The major city and airport nearest to Agasthyarkoodam is Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) and its Trivandrum International Airport, around 61 km away. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. There is a trekking path, nearly 32 km, from Bonacaud Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is part of the Agasthyarkoodam range. Part of the peak can be seen from the Upper Kodayar region.
Trekking Routes
The peak of Agasthyarkoodam can be reached only by trekking up to it. While the Kerala government has been favourable to the pilgrims wanting to visit the peak, the Tamil Nadu government allows certain number of applications even though they have strict rules within the wildlife sanctuary. Every year in the month of May, Sundarampillai (late) from Papanasam used to organise a big group of pilgrims to go on a devotional trek.
Vegetation
The lower elevations of this peak are also known for their abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants. Around 2,000 medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic treatments are found here. Europeans, particularly those from England, were the first to establish tea gardens around the base stations of the mountain at Brimore, Bonacaud, and Ponmudi.
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve harbours rare flora and fauna. Tourists are permitted to the area only with permission from the forest department of Kerala. Annual trekking passes to the peak are issued from the forest department during January–February only.
Other major rivers which originate from the mountain are the Karamana River, which flows through the Thiruvananthapuram district and is the major source of drinking water to the city, and the Neyyar River (also in the Thiruvananthapuram district).
The lower elevations of this peak are also known for their abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants. Around 2,000 medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic treatments are found here. Europeans, particularly those from England, were the first to establish tea gardens around the base stations of the mountain at Brimore, Bonacaud, and Ponmudi.
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve harbours rare flora and fauna. Tourists are permitted to the area only with permission from the forest department of Kerala. Annual trekking passes to the peak are issued from the forest department during January–February only.
Other major rivers which originate from the mountain are the Karamana River, which flows through the Thiruvananthapuram district and is the major source of drinking water to the city, and the Neyyar River (also in the Thiruvananthapuram district).
By
Flight / Airport
The
nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, around 69 km
away.
By
Train / Railway Station
Thiruvananthapuram
Central Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach
Agastyarkoodam. Trivandrum Railway Station is around 61 km from
Agastya Mala. Ambasamudram Railway Station in Tirunelveli District is
the nearest railway station for tourists visiting from Tamilnadu.By
Road
Agastya
Mala is situated 32 km from Neyyar Dam and around 61 km from
Thiruvananthapuram City. Trivandrum > Nedumangad > Vithura >
Bonacaud is the driving route to reach Agastyarkoodam. Address
For obtaining Pass for Trekking / Tour
Tourists
planning to visit Agastyarkoodam need to obtain entry passes for
Trekking and Tour. Contact
Address
The
Wildlife Warden
Agasthyavanam Biological Park,
Rajeev Gandhi
Nagar
Vattiyourkavu PO
Trivandrum 695013
Telephone Numbers –
0471-236860; 0471-2272182Visitors
can also contact
Chief
Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)
Forest Headquarters
Trivandrum
695014
Phone Number – 0471-2322217
The Chief Conservator
(Agasthyavanam) Phone - 0471-2325385
Tourist
Attractions near Agastyarkoodam
Neyyar
Dam, Neyyar Lion Safari Park, and Peppara Dam are the major tourist
attraction situated near Agastyarkoodam - about 32 km away.
Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary (6 km from Ambasamudram) and
Papanasam Waterfalls (also known as Agastya Falls) in Tirunelveli
district are other tourist places worth visiting.
How to reach Agastyamala Biosphere Reserve?
If
you plan to take the trek, your journey starts at Thiruvananthapuram
Central Bus Station (KSRTC, Thampanoor Bus Terminal). The first
direct State bus to Bonacaud starts at 5 a.m. The next best option is
to take a bus to Vithura, a small town a few kilometers away from
Bonacaud, and get to Bonacaud in a private vehicle. A 15 minute walk
from Bonacaud bus stop will take you to the Forest Office, which is
the entry point to Agasthyarkoodam Biosphere Reserve. After
registering your details and checking the permit passes, you will be
frisked for hidden bottles of liquor as alcohol is banned in the
forest. You can buy food from the office.
Hotel
and Resort
There
is no Hotels and Resorts in Agastyamala. Must stay at
Trivandrum or Nedumangad.
Best
time to visit
The best time to take a visit to Agastyarkoodam will be December to April. Every year the Wildlife department will give entry passess for the tourists and trekkers ( normally they will issue passess for 200-500 visitors in a single season).
The best time to take a visit to Agastyarkoodam will be December to April. Every year the Wildlife department will give entry passess for the tourists and trekkers ( normally they will issue passess for 200-500 visitors in a single season).
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