gasthyakoodam Trek
Sage Agasthya
Then is the down aprt of the trek.I continue to do my crawling in rock slowly ,Its better use ropes in rocks like in rappling to come down,Its also a wonderful experince,It takes another 3-4 hours to reaach back Athiramalai camp.WE stay in the camp and next day start to mvoe to Banacaud.It takes about 5-7hrs to reach back to banacaud,Normally final areas are Elephant belt and we need to be careful in that areas.2 Years back jsut 15 ays before our trek 2 people were killed by elephants in this belt who has tried flash on to take pics and ended in fatal death.
sliding down
In Athiramalai camp
Then we reach Banacud forest office,Then we go to the estate part,have a nice bath and start our journey back home.Hope with blessing of AGasthy still many times if there is gods grace we shall trek and get the blessings of AGasthya.AGasthya is immortal and always he guides in each part of trek in differnt forms as people who help and many more.And wishing you all with best wishes
VAZHGA VALLAMUDAN
BE BLESSED BY THE DIVINE
Agasthyakoodam
Trek is a detailed travelogue based on my trekking experience to
Agasthyakoodam. Agasthyakoodam is one of the highest peaks in Kerala
and is famous for it’s rare medicinal plans and herbs. This peak is
part of the Western Ghats and towers to a height of 1868 meters above
sea level. Agasthyakoodam (commonly known as Agastya Mala /
Agasthyamalai / Agathiyar Malai and Agastyarkoodam) is also a famous
pilgrimage center know after the sage Agasthya. The pilgrimage involves a
trek of 56km (28km one side) from Bonacaud/Bonaccord making it a
trekker’s paradise.
Agasthyar Peak
Agasthyar Peak
The main attractions of
Agasthyakoodam are it’s evergreen forests, grasslands,rare herbs,
biodiversity, mind blowing scenic beauty and the chance of seeing
wild animals. Other places of tourist importance include Bonacaud Estate, Meenmutty Falls and Ponmudi .
Grasslands
Grasslands
map
Agasthyakoodam
is located 50kms north east of Trivandrum and in-between Trivandrum
and Ponmudi. It is accessible via road. KSRTC operates regular bus
services from Trivandrum and Neyyatinkara to Bonacaud, from where the
trek starts.The minimum duration for Agasthyakoodam Trek is 3 days,
which needs to be completed in two phases.The first phase of
Agasthyakoodam Trek is the trek to the base camp which is around 20
kilometres from the Forest checkpoint at Bonacaud, there is a small
shelter (dormitory like arrangement which stands dreaming and gasping
for some maintenance) where you can stay overnight, and a canteen where
you would be served dinner and breakfast.Bathroom facilities exist and
are well maintained. The second phase involves a steep and tiring trek
of 10km to the peak of Agasthyakoodam and return to athiramalai an next
day from Athiramalai camp back to the Forest checkpoint.
Agasthyakoodam
is open to public only from January to April.You need to
take prior permissions from the wild life warden’s office in PTP Nagar,
Trivandrum for the trek to Agasthyakoodam, by submitting an application
form along with photostat copies of two valid ID cards and an amount of
INR350/person. They have a limit to the number of passes they issue an
year for Agasthyakoodam Trek, so make sure that you contact the
wildlife warden’s office in advance.Females are not allowed for this
trek /pilgrimage. For more information call up assistant wildlife
warden’s office at +91-471-2360762.
Trivandrum-78km
| Bonacaud-28km | Vithura-198km | Quilon-123km | Palode-56km
| Nedumangad-33.6km | (This includes the trek distance of 28kms).
The
main activities you can indulge in are adventure, photography and
trekking. You can also spend time in the small streams at the base camp.
- Food /Snacks / Chocolates (Take care not to litter the place with food stuffs and plastics. Alcohol is banned and you can get into trouble if you are carrying it)
- Water
- Salt (To fight leaches, though I dint have any issues)
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Thick socks and shoes
- Bed sheets and towels for your stay in the base camp
- Cap/Sunscreen lotion
OUR TREKKING EXPERIENCE IN AGASTHIYAR PEAK
my first expeirnce fromTamilnadu route 1985
I
have been treking to Agasthiyar peak trek from 1985.My first trek was
throuth Tamilnadu route from papanasam upper dam.We need to cross the
dam to the otherside by boat and start the trek.We have to reach first
inzhikudi and from there start to trek and we stayed there in estate
and started our trek,The final day even the kannis missed the route.So
with great diffiucltly we reched a open place from dense forest and it
was getting dark.We could see the peak .but we were from the wrong side
from the peak.So our leader pradipna told now we we have to climp from
he other side of the rock to reach the peak.,First estate owner
vijayavel mama started the climb.The rock was 60 -70 degree incllned and
very slippery.Mama was just trying to keep the foot on the rock and
there was no place for hand to grip.I was only 22 yrs that time.My first
trek and was thinking if i could make it.So some how mama was helped by
kannis to climb and now it was my turn.It was about 200 meter very
steep and our leader pradipna told ,now naren its ur turn to climb.So i
started to climb in the slipper rock,just i started to crawl in the
rock.it was very steep and dangerous.Pradipa shouted and told Naren
dont look back and jsut go ahead.Just a blink i turned back a second
and it was a very dangerous climb i could understand.From there i did
not turn back.just concentrated my mind only to climb frong inch by inch
and somehow i dont know how i reached up the peak,Totally adventorous
trek.Nite it was horrible to stay in the peak.We had some fire wood and
had fire to give some warmth,It was very cold in the peak and breeze was
also fast.I could see the tuticorin light house from there.it was
memorable nite.Morning we offered prayers for agasthiya saint and
started down from the peak.We were almost sliding down in steep rocks.we
heard noices of elephants eating bamboo and all.By 8pm we reached the
other side of papanasam dam and it was pitch dark.Some how by boat we
went to other side of the dam and reached back home.Very adventerous
trek.GAve me a lot confidence to do things in future.Life is always
insecured anytime.We dont know what happens next minute.Let us take a
lot of calcualted risks and enjoy the life with little pain also away
from the comfort zone.These treks gives a lot of strong mind to us to
face any situation in life.This was my first successful trek which
helped me to go a lot of treks all over india.At present now agasthiyar
koodam trek can be done throught only Kerala.
AGASTHIYAR KOODAM TREK FROM KERALA ROUTE
TREK FROM BANACAUD TO AGASTHYAR PEAK
Enterance of banacaud forest
Banacaud camp
Enterance of banacaud forest
Banacaud camp
Usually
we plan for 3 days trek to AGasthiyar peak.We travel from Tuticorin
which takes about 6-7hours and we get some of our freinds near
thiruparapu and continue to reach before 10 nite to banacaud
forest.There we have little rest at nite,We try to start as early as
6.00 from the Banacaud and our first point is a pillayar kovil and we
offer our prayers .
Pillayar kovil
The trek is up and down little.We reach our first water point within 1hrs.Normally we take a short break with some snacks and take a fast move to the 2nd water point where we dont stop and continue.
Our leader pradipna who motivates us all
crossing river
river
Beautiful falls
We stop at 3rd water point and we take some time to take our breakfast and loosen our shoes and feel the water in our foot.AFter a short 15 min brake we continue our trek to a grass valley and its open to sun and the trek starts litte tiring.AS we walk in the grass lands we can feel a lot of heat of son and we trek slowly through grass lands.
Agasthiya peak view from distance during trek
There are 2 uphills and its really tiresom with very little shades on the way.AS we finsih the sandy uphills we slowly reach a place where we tell it in our name "MUttu thatti" means its a steep climb gradualy and continous sleep and inside evergreen forest with shady trees.But i really love these place so naturaly steep and going gradual for about 45 minutes.It is always move normal slow but without much rest so that we can reach a junction up.Normally we have a rest in the junction and its a great relaxed feeling.We know that the Athiramali camp is near to us.
Athiramalai camp
Pillayar kovil
The trek is up and down little.We reach our first water point within 1hrs.Normally we take a short break with some snacks and take a fast move to the 2nd water point where we dont stop and continue.
Our leader pradipna who motivates us all
crossing river
river
Beautiful falls
We stop at 3rd water point and we take some time to take our breakfast and loosen our shoes and feel the water in our foot.AFter a short 15 min brake we continue our trek to a grass valley and its open to sun and the trek starts litte tiring.AS we walk in the grass lands we can feel a lot of heat of son and we trek slowly through grass lands.
Agasthiya peak view from distance during trek
There are 2 uphills and its really tiresom with very little shades on the way.AS we finsih the sandy uphills we slowly reach a place where we tell it in our name "MUttu thatti" means its a steep climb gradualy and continous sleep and inside evergreen forest with shady trees.But i really love these place so naturaly steep and going gradual for about 45 minutes.It is always move normal slow but without much rest so that we can reach a junction up.Normally we have a rest in the junction and its a great relaxed feeling.We know that the Athiramali camp is near to us.
Athiramalai camp
From
the junction the trek is very normal and gradullay up and down and it
amost takes 30 min to reach the Athiramalai camp.Before we reach the
camp we offer prayers to tree .Then we have our late lunch and relax at
athiramali camp.Now actually athiramai camp is in repair and alternative
temperory sheds have been put now.There is toilet and bathroom
facilites..
Next day we Start out trek to agasthyar peak early by 6-7am..Carry just a bottle of water and better to take a raincoat.It is the most diffiuclt part of trek,Its about 8km.First the trek starts with up and down and we cross a water point.It is advisable to take water.AS we move from the waterpoint we reach bamboo forest,we need to trek with big rocks.Withi 2 hrs trek we reach a rock point where we can see athiramali camp and see agasthyar peak also.
Agasthiyar peak view from pongalam parai
From there its gradually steep and shady under bamboo.The path is very small.Then we reach the kerala-tamilnadu border point.AFter making a little climb we reach a open point where if there is good rains we get water.Then we need to climb a little in rocks for about 30 minutes.We can get good view in this open spot.WE get network connection also in this area and we can talk to our closed ones.
Agasthiyar Peak
AS we move through the rocks we then reach a place called pongal parai (name given to our group) where we take rest and have breadfast of some fruits and bread.normally we carry jam and milkshake and with bread its really great food.Then starts the difficiult part of trek with slowly becoming steep and adventerous with mostly rocks.AS we move the path becomes steeper and steeper and its very shady.We start to feel tired.take only sip of water,dont gulp.Then we reach a rock where we take rest and we have given a name
rasna parai(our name)
General we start to tire in that and we know the trek is still going to be more adventerous as we move on,Within 15 to 30 min we reach a rock.just a view of seeing a big thread and steep rock many become panic.Every year i know i would be going to that slipper rock a open place.Mostly i crawl in the rock slowly or about 10 mintes to come up of the rock,But its advisible u can use rope or if we are confident we can walk carefully up also,But iam used to the crawling in rock.Then within short trek we teach another steep rock and ther is also a rope and again i crawl in rock continoslu not seeing the steep part from back.Just we have to push of the way which is comofrtable to us.It is not going to be easy.
climb by rope
Once the rock is climbed a little relief and we get ready for the final climb to the peak,its more steeper.As usual more crawl in rocks,i get panic when i see steep rocks,some trek very normally.Some years i get stranded even in crawling,since its a very steep climb.But all these efforts have a great end reaching the peak and just we fell in the feet our agasthya statue,its a rare blissful experince reaached peak.I cannt explain throgh words,its a heavenly feeling.Many readers may feel why these fellow having so panic in climbing in rocks why again and again is doing it.Tthat the passion towards nature and self confidence that we will reach our goal.
steep climb
steep climb in windy and rainy conditions
Aynthalai pothigai taken from agasthya peak
view from the agasthya peak top
Next day we Start out trek to agasthyar peak early by 6-7am..Carry just a bottle of water and better to take a raincoat.It is the most diffiuclt part of trek,Its about 8km.First the trek starts with up and down and we cross a water point.It is advisable to take water.AS we move from the waterpoint we reach bamboo forest,we need to trek with big rocks.Withi 2 hrs trek we reach a rock point where we can see athiramali camp and see agasthyar peak also.
Agasthiyar peak view from pongalam parai
From there its gradually steep and shady under bamboo.The path is very small.Then we reach the kerala-tamilnadu border point.AFter making a little climb we reach a open point where if there is good rains we get water.Then we need to climb a little in rocks for about 30 minutes.We can get good view in this open spot.WE get network connection also in this area and we can talk to our closed ones.
Agasthiyar Peak
AS we move through the rocks we then reach a place called pongal parai (name given to our group) where we take rest and have breadfast of some fruits and bread.normally we carry jam and milkshake and with bread its really great food.Then starts the difficiult part of trek with slowly becoming steep and adventerous with mostly rocks.AS we move the path becomes steeper and steeper and its very shady.We start to feel tired.take only sip of water,dont gulp.Then we reach a rock where we take rest and we have given a name
rasna parai(our name)
General we start to tire in that and we know the trek is still going to be more adventerous as we move on,Within 15 to 30 min we reach a rock.just a view of seeing a big thread and steep rock many become panic.Every year i know i would be going to that slipper rock a open place.Mostly i crawl in the rock slowly or about 10 mintes to come up of the rock,But its advisible u can use rope or if we are confident we can walk carefully up also,But iam used to the crawling in rock.Then within short trek we teach another steep rock and ther is also a rope and again i crawl in rock continoslu not seeing the steep part from back.Just we have to push of the way which is comofrtable to us.It is not going to be easy.
climb by rope
Once the rock is climbed a little relief and we get ready for the final climb to the peak,its more steeper.As usual more crawl in rocks,i get panic when i see steep rocks,some trek very normally.Some years i get stranded even in crawling,since its a very steep climb.But all these efforts have a great end reaching the peak and just we fell in the feet our agasthya statue,its a rare blissful experince reaached peak.I cannt explain throgh words,its a heavenly feeling.Many readers may feel why these fellow having so panic in climbing in rocks why again and again is doing it.Tthat the passion towards nature and self confidence that we will reach our goal.
steep climb
steep climb in windy and rainy conditions
Aynthalai pothigai taken from agasthya peak
view from the agasthya peak top
Then
we offer prayers,clean the area,it takes a long time to dispose bottles
and plastic papers.As a part of the trek we do this cleaning work.Who
will do this work?We all as team take time to clean the area first and
start preparing for the pooja,we bring flowers,fruits and all. we start
with singing songs and sloga and do pooja.We spend 2-3 hours depending
upon the rush and climatic condiitons.Some time there will be heavy wind
and rains and that time we cannt spend more time.
prayers in agasthya peak
prayers in agasthya peak
Sage Agasthya
Then is the down aprt of the trek.I continue to do my crawling in rock slowly ,Its better use ropes in rocks like in rappling to come down,Its also a wonderful experince,It takes another 3-4 hours to reaach back Athiramalai camp.WE stay in the camp and next day start to mvoe to Banacaud.It takes about 5-7hrs to reach back to banacaud,Normally final areas are Elephant belt and we need to be careful in that areas.2 Years back jsut 15 ays before our trek 2 people were killed by elephants in this belt who has tried flash on to take pics and ended in fatal death.
sliding down
In Athiramalai camp
Then we reach Banacud forest office,Then we go to the estate part,have a nice bath and start our journey back home.Hope with blessing of AGasthy still many times if there is gods grace we shall trek and get the blessings of AGasthya.AGasthya is immortal and always he guides in each part of trek in differnt forms as people who help and many more.And wishing you all with best wishes
VAZHGA VALLAMUDAN
BE BLESSED BY THE DIVINE
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