Agasthyarkoodam
Nestled amongst the Sahyadri mountain range of the Western Ghats stands the peak of Agasthyarkoodam, the second highest peak in God’s Own Country. At an impressive height of 1890 metres above sea level does it stand, topped with the richest of biodiversity, and it continues to this day to be a favoured destination of locals and tourists. It is located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, 61 kilometres north-east of the city.
The peak can be seen from Neyyar Dam, 32 kilometres away from it, or Bonacaud, 22 kilometres away from it. Trekking up the hill is restricted to only a few people. One must ensure that they get themselves a forest pass from the wildlife office in Thiruvananthapuram before they make the journey to see this picturesque peak for themselves and take in the treasures of nature. Digital permits have now made this process easier for tourists to enjoy the sights themselves.
Importance of the peak
Agasthyarkoodam is named after the revered sage Agasthya, one of the saptarishis, or the seven celestial sages, who made his way to the south and brought with him the knowledge of many arts which have been imbibed into the very tradition of the south, including the powerful and calming yoga as well as the martial art style ‘Kalari’ dedicated to not only defending oneself but also exercising the entire body. He made his mark in many places in the south and this peak is also a mark that he left behind. There is shrine that was made in his memory which sits atop this peak and the ’Kani’ tribe residing on Agasthyarkoodam are, till date, loyal followers of his teachings. The people of the Kani tribe were once the only ones who could help people navigate the peak. They continue to work as guides in this day and age to help guide the tourists.
Historically, the paths through the peak have been often used as trade routes for the ancient Tamilian kingdoms. The peak was well-known amidst the doctors of the ancient times for the large variety of medicinal herbs available. Tourism here is, comparatively, much more recent, due to the increasing interest in eco-tourism and bird watching.
Tourist attractions
From a tourist’s point of view, it is not only the religious importance, but also the beauty of the gifts endowed by Mother Nature that attract people.
Agasthyarkoodam is a paradise for bird watchers. Exotic species of birds can be spotted with ease on this peak. Rare species like the Broad-tailed Grassbird and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon are found here. The species of flora here are also no less magnificent. Medicinal herbs surround the area and the opulent greenery carpets the peak quite beautifully. Over 2000 different species have been identified, including different species of mosses, lichen, orchids and ferns. Those visiting the hill station of Ponmudi Hills also often add a visit to the peak on their itinerary amongst other things.
Efforts for conservation are being taken with great care and dedication, including encouraging the tourists to be mindful and reduce their carbon footprint, restricting the number of trekkers and banning plastic. Hence the lack of commercial tourism and the enforced stringent rules to keep the negative impacts to the environment here to the bare minimum. The peak is part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO and added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016.
These digital guides serve as invaluable tools for travellers planning their Kerala vacations.
Explore the tourist destinations and things to do in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Check out the e-brochure and start planning your next trip to South Kerala.
Endowed with a wide variety of flora and fauna, wildlife, beaches, mountains and backwaters, Thiruvananthapuram always increases the happiness quotient in visitors to the district
A city and its surroundings that has seen some of the most poignant moments in Kerala’s history, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital city, is an ecotourism wonder as well.
Looking for nearby destinations? Check-out these!
Here's a wide range of accredited hospitality services available in Agasthyarkoodam.
Your safety is our top priority: Choose from a select group of accredited adventure tour operators for an unforgettable experience.
Dinghy Sailing, Kayaking & Canoeing, Scuba Diving
Boats and Watersports Rides, Kayaking & Canoeing, Parasailing, Scuba Diving
All Terrain Vehicle(ATV) Tours , Boats and Watersports Rides, Jet Ski, Powerboat Fun Rides
Vital local information you'll need to make your travel hassle free.
Rope in accredited tour guides to get an authentic taste of local experiences.
Ajith Kumar AR
ajithtrivandrum1@gmail.comShajas P S
shajasvaikom@gmail.comVijayakumar J
vijaythonnakkal@gmail.comAshkar Rahim
ashkarrahim@gmail.comSuresh Kumar P
sureshethnic@gmail.comBinni J Castru
bencgo@yahoo.comAnaz.A.B
basheer.anaz@gmail.comRejanish.V.S
rejanish100@gmail.comSreejith Mohan
sreejith319@gmail.comT. Lenin Kumar
kumarlenin65@gmail.comMuraleedharan Pillai.N
murali7808@gmail.comSuresh K. B
sureshkbwyd@gmail.comBipin Mathew
bipinpaduva@gmail.comAbhilash P Gopinath
abylashg@gmail.comArun Sebastian
travelwitharun@mail.comSuresh Kumar .K
achuammu.suresh@gmail.comDeepa Francis
diepafb@gmail.comRosemary Neel
cochinroadking@gmail.comSajeev C T
ctsajeevcochin@yahoo.co.inSajin B.J.
sajinbj@gmail.comRajeev s
sreerajeevs@gmail.comRenjith S. J.
renjithsj.sj@gmail.comSajukurian
sajukurian56@gmail.comPrasannakumar S.
prasannakumarnath1@gmail.comDeepu Sebastian
deepusebastiankkd@gmail.comPrijith V.K
prijith.4you@gmail.comTed Tony Tom
beachwood.in@gmail.comRajeevan Pallath
parajeevan@yahoo.comGodwin Kumar N.J
ggodwinkumar@gmail.comRajesh V
Rajeshkhd2008@gmail.comBinumon K.G
binumonkg@gmail.comAbdulkhadar P.M.
abdulkhadar.parekkattu@gmail.comSanthosh.S.R
santsou@gmail.comDr.Jose Bejoy
withfullofgrace@gmail.comSiddharth V.S
siddvs12@gmail.comArun Ramachandran
arunbhagavathisala@gmail.comFelix George
felixgeorgesaji@gmail.comJoseph Kuriakose
shinekuriakose082@gmail.comVarghese K.J
kjvarghese2010@gmail.comBinu P Jose
binujoseonline@gmail.comJunaid K.K
junucer247@gmail.comSundaramoorthy C.K
sundramoorthy@gmail.comJojan Mathew
jojanstourindia@rediffmail.comSreejith M.K
sreejithm053@gmail.comSunil Daniel
sunildaniel21@gmail.comAswathy U
achoosasok@gmail.comSathyadas K S
sathyadassathya69@gmail.comJobin Chacko
jobipnpnl@gmail.comShafi C M
shaaficm@gmail.comJoy Solomon
jsolomon05@gmail.comSaneesh T.P
sanimsw@gmail.comMohana Chandran B.
mohana_1960@yahoo.co.inRemya Mohan
akkuremo@gmail.comSanjay Johnson
sanjayjohnson@hotmail.comSundaramoorthy C.K
sundramoorthy@gmail.comPadmaraj KM
Padmarajnair16@gmail.comSibil Kumar.P.K
pksibil@gmail.comSivasankara Panicker.P
pspanicker@hotmail.comJaisal M. K.
jaisalmk@gmail.comLinson C L
linsoncl.07@gmail.comAnantha Krishnan S B
kannanguide1@gmail.comKiran A. J
kiranroseaj82@gmail.comSadanandan.T.K
tksadanandan44@gmail.comDileep Kumar V
dilzlieben75@gmail.comArunkumar .S.S
arun777hiya@gmail.comSunil.S
ethnicvoyages@gmail.comSai Ramesh
saitheguide@gmail.comAncel Correya
ancel.kestrel@gmail.comVishnu Vijayan
vishnuxml@gmail.comHareesh Das H
harisunora@gmail.comDanti Jacob C J
dantijacob@gmail.comJosemon Scaria
josemon.scaria@gmail.comAlso, do not miss out on these Hills
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The district Located in the southwestern tip of India and is noted for internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage.
ExploreSign up for Kerala Tourism's monthly newsletter to learn about our events, offers and more…