Entry to Agastyaarkoodam peak and its surrounding areas is restricted as per Kerala Forest Department. A controlled and defined trek provided by the forest department is accessible only during trekking period defined. Every year trekking starts on Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala Temple and ends on Sivarathri (Rs.1000/- Per head). Usually, the trek is open for 100 days or during the period by Forest Department only. Only 100 Entry Passes shall be issued each day of the trek and the entry passes are given on first come first serve basis. The service may only be applied by the registered applicants. The department has entrusted guides to handle 10-member groups, who will be departing from Bonakkad forest station at 8 am, to reach the base camp at Athirumala, 16 km into the forest, by evening. The steep 8km-climb to Agastyaarkoodam will begin early morning next day and the travelers will be able to return to the base station by afternoon. Slow trekkers can stay at the base camp for another night before returning to Bonakkad. Trekkers are not allowed to bring alcohol and cigarettes and cooking is restricted inside the forest area. Vehicles reach only till Bonacaud which is around 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Elephants and wild bulls are in abundance in this part especially in the evenings. This service is intended for applicants above the age of 14 years. It will be better to go for the non season (as a package tour for 5). During season, though every 2 km there will some camps for rest as well as the weather will be more mild with no rain- hence less risky. All together it is such a nice experience one should surely have. Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, around 61 km from Bonacaud. Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, around 69 km from Bonacaud.This is my second visit to this place. I did visit last year in January and wrote a detailed review titled "Agasthiyarkoodam Trekking 2018" So, i am not going to write a details again but will list down the changes i observed this year. New travelers can read my last year review first to know the details. Here are the differences compared to last year trip: 1. We made the similar travel arrangement from Chennai this year too. We stayed in a hotel near to bus stand in Trivandrum so that we can walk to the bus stand on the morning of 21st Feb 2019. We planned for 3 days trek 21-23 Feb. 2. We used the bus to reach Bonacaud. This is convenient and economical too. The bus fare is 53/- 3. The entry pass price this year is increased to 1000/- from 500/- last year 4. Women are allowed to trek from this year. The Athirimala base station has a separate stay rooms and toilet facilities for ladies. 5. Pooja is not allowed to be performed for Agasthiyar statue at top due to some court order. So there are complete check at the picket station for any pooja materials and are not allowed to take it with you. 6. We took six hours on the first day for trekking from picket station to Athirimal base camp (9:45 AM to 3:45 PM) 7. The Athirimala base camp and canteen is renovated nicely. It is better than last year. 8. The climate on the first day was hot during the trek time but it got very cold in the night during our stay at base camp. 9. Second day weather was very cold and very very windy at the top. Our visibility was reduced to few meters only on the second day. 10. We took 4 hours to reach the top and about 3 hours to climb down on the second day. 11. There are forest officers (including a lady officer) at base camp and they come to top to check. 12. They have put a fencing around The Agasthiyar statue at top. So unlike last year, we can go near the statue and perform pooja. We just have to pray from the distance. 13. The wind was very high especially during the rope climbing and literally pushing us. 14. On the third day we took about 5 hours to reach the picket station. We took 1:30 PM bus from Bonacaud to reach Trivandrum and returned to Chennai by 8:20 PM It was a good experience overall and happy to be able to complete this trek the second time. Lo

What an awesome place.Must watch place once in a life time. Breath taking views cool and fresh air. Fresh water. Superb location for trekkers and nature lovers. Nature at its best, just loved this place. Awesome trekking experience through the dense forest and green meadows. There is a mountain called agasthyarkoodam, on the top of that there is a temple of agasthyamuni and is a famous pilgrimage spot. Its a well maintained biological park.

Agasthyamalai Greatest place to visit in westen ghats which it start the journey of westen ghats very much impressed over this place for last two years. Agasthyamalai is located in tamilnadu but permit via tamilnadu has been closed permanently. Entry pass via kerala will be given by the ever year by on January 1st week. Very dangerous snakes are there I have attached few photo of snake.

One of the spectacular parts of western ghats ranging in south India. The forest and the valleys are very beautiful and the hiking trails proves with one of the best trek experience through the western ghats.

India's Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is a unique site that is located in the Western Ghats in the Southern part of India. The Biosphere Reserve has exorbitant peaks that reach up to 1,868 meters above the sea level and consists mostly of tropical forests that are home to about 2,254 species of plants (out of which 400 are endemic). The Biosphere Reserve acts as a unique genetic reservoir for cultivated plants, like- Cardamom, Jamune, Nutmeg, Pepper and Plantain. The Agasthyamalai Biosphere also holds some major wildlife sanctuaries, namely- Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. The Biosphere reserve is also inhabited by many tribal settlements, amounting up to a total population of 3,000. These communities rely majorly on the biological resources for their survival. The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in India established in 2001, located in the southernmost end of the Western Ghats and includes 3,500.36 km2 (1,351.50 sq mi) of which 1828 km2 is in Kerala and 1672.36 km2 is in Tamil Nadu. It encompass the wildlife sanctuaries Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. ABR straddles the border of Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Districts in Kerala and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu, South India at the southern end of the Western Ghats. The Biosphere lies Between 8° 8' to 9° 10' North Latitude and 76° 52' to 77° 34' East Longitude. Central location is 8°39′N 77°13′E . It is composed of Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas of Achencoil,Thenmala, Konni, Punalur, Thiruvananthapuram Divisions and Agasthyavanam Special Division in Kerala. Inclusion of adjoining areas of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu has been approved. The reserve now covers parts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala.

This is a must visit. Went 20 years back and loved it as a life time memorable visit. Pure forest clean water and nature at its best. Only recommended for people who can walk kilometres. It’s a unique experience and strongly recommend a visit atleast once in a lifetime.

Its a wonderful place and must visit place. If you are love to nature and forrest, you must visit here once in a life. When we trucking, we pass through different type of forrests. And every single place is made of beauty. The trucking is with lots of tough. But after we reached, their will be like a heaven. The forrest department provide a shelter at Athirumala, a base camp. They provide food, that was healthy and very costly. But that worths it. Total 24km we need to walk from Bonakkadu. After 18km thare is One camp called Athirumala. From their we need to walk 6km to the top of Agastyakoodam. That was a tough One. Night walk is not allowed their because of wild animals disturbance.

One of the best treks in Kerala and especially Trivandrum even though most people dont know about it. The 2/3 day trek is an absolute test of resilience and perseverance rather than pure stamina or strength. You see yourself passing through different terrains, to reach the base camp and then the further ascend to reach the mesmerising peak. If you are a trekking and hiking enthusiast, you should not miss this.

Best place I have ever seen in my life. Will took 3 days for trekking. After trekking your body and mind will become totally refreshed.

Best place for nature lover . If you are going to visit this place , just fully charge your camera.keep one spare battery too..... Because You are going to the vast variety of flora and Fauna..... Nice place to spend Holiday ..... Healthy food at highe cost

Awesome trekking experience...beautiful place...nature at its best....natural beauty...natural water....natural air...its beautiful....amazing experience....mindblowing....❤❤❤...beauty the beast...beauty at its peak...natural water..more better than a mineral water....awesome....beyond the words

Tough trek that is challenging. It tests your endurance and is a mix of terrain ranging from grassland slopes to near vertical step climbs. The last phase from the base camp is shorter but especially strenuous. Pacing yourself through is essential.