bonacaud tourism

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Bonacaud (Kerala state, India) is the base station of the famous peak, Aghasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills. The Agasthya hill range is famous for its abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants.

The hill resort Ponmudi is near to Bonacaud. It(natively called Bonakkad) is now used as a base camp for trekking to Agasthyakoodam. It has lots of shooting locations including the forests, waterfalls and tea estates.

The place has the famous Bona Falls a truly enthralling place with a lot of fauna. Vazuvanchola near Bona falls is also famous for its waterfalls

Source : Wikipedia

Bonacud – Kurishumala Trekking

Kurishumala is an amazingly beautiful mountain top overlooking the Peppara Dam and Reservoir in the district of Trivandrum, Kerala. Located 95 kms from Trivandrum, and within the Agasthykoodam and Peppara Forest Range, this place is a trekker’s and bird watchers paradise. Its one of the rare spots in Trivandrum where nature is at its best.

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Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is a city of many wonders, and Bonacaud (Bonakkad) is undoubtedly one of its hidden gems. Escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and experience a serene and scenic destination at Bonacaud (Bonakkad), a quaint village at the foothills of the Agasthya hills of the Western Ghats. This hidden gem in Thiruvananthapuram offers a multitude of experiences for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Exploring Bonacaud: A Gateway to Nature and Adventure

Bonacaud is a tranquil destination nestled amidst lush greenery, featuring remnants of old tea plantations and abandoned factory structures that hold historical significance. Access to the area requires special permission for private vehicles, while KSRTC buses are permitted. This vast expanse of greenery was once a tea plantation established by the British more than a century ago. It features structures that offer glimpses of life in the past and serves as a starting point for trekking to Agasthyarkoodam Peak, one of Kerala’s tallest peaks.

This scenic locale is best experienced during rainy or foggy days, adding to its atmospheric charm. It’s an ideal spot for trekking enthusiasts, serving as the starting point for the Agasthyarkoodam trek, one of Kerala’s popular treks. From Bonacaud, one can trek to Agasthyarkoodam Peak, visit Bona Falls , explore Vazhvanthol Waterfalls , and witness history at Bonacaud Estate.

From the watchtower, you can admire the awe-inspiring vistas of the Peppara dam reservoir, mountain ranges, and Bonacaud estate. The abandoned tea factory serves as a reminder of the prosperous commercial activity that once dominated the area. Besides being a favored location for filming, Bonacaud is also a well-known destination for birdwatching. The region boasts a variety of avian species, including the grey wagtail, forest wagtail, greenish leaf warbler, and Asian brown flycatcher, which can be readily observed.

Plan Your Visit to Bonacaud

To reach Bonacaud, one can take a bus or hire a taxi from Thiruvananthapuram city. Thiruvananthapuram is home to both the closest railway station, located 51 kilometers away, and the airport which is located 54 kilometers away from Bonacaud. The best time to visit is between November and March, and there is no entry fee for most attractions.

Photo credit: Smrithul S

Entry Fee for Bonacaud

There is no entry fee to visit Bonacaud, but visitors need to obtain permission from the forest department to enter the area with their vehicle.

Best Time to Visit Bonacaud

The ideal time to visit Bonacaud is from November to March.

Things to Do at Bonacaud

At Bonacaud, you can enjoy various activities such as trekking, camping, wildlife and bird watching, photography, and more. The area offers a diverse range of experiences for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

How to Reach Bonacaud

To reach Bonacaud, you can take a bus or hire a taxi from Thiruvananthapuram city. Thiruvananthapuram is home to the nearest railway station, which is located 51 kilometers away, and the airport, which is situated 54 kilometers away from Bonacaud.

• M5J8+7WP, Theviyode - Bonacaud Rd, Vithura, Kerala 695551, India
• https://tripinic.com/place/bonacaud/
• https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bonacaud/

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Welcome to Bonacaud

Bonacaud (Kerala state, India) is the base station of the famous peak, Agasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills. The Agasthya hill range is famous for its abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants.There is a tea estate in Bonacaud, established by the British. The hill resort Ponmudi is near Bonacaud. Bonacaud (natively called Bonakkad) is now used as trekking base camp to Agasthyakoodam. It has many scenic locations including the forests, waterfalls and tea estates.It is located at 8°45′25″N 77°11′20″E View From Bonacaud Hill showing peppara reservoir .The place has the famous Bona Falls a truly enthralling place with a lot of fauna. Vazuvanchola near Bona falls is also famous for its waterfalls. A stream inside the Bonacaud estate.The estate has cardamom, coconut, pepper and tea.The exact name of the place is Bonaccord named by the British and means good faith. It is believed that around 1850 an estate was established on the top of the hill and near to a river named as Sooryakanthi. Due to lack of sun light, many labors fell in ill and died. Later the management has changed the location and came down and established the estate in the present location. The laborers had been brought from southern Tamil Nadu and their descendants still live in the estate. .

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What People Say

its a long way here. there is a plantation here but its not working now. the view from here is good. very less people are living here. old plantation factory and 25GB bungalow are the major places to visit here. this place is an awesome trekking spot .

Amazing trek to Agathiyarkoodam. What an adventurous, leechy 3 days of trek in to the deep forests and to the second highest peak in the western ghats. Third wonderful trip of this year. 2022 had been so good thus far

Team members

First Woman In History Starts Trek To Male-Only Agasthyakoodam peak In Kerala

Photo by Varkey Parakkal

Agasthyakoodam is the second highest peak in Kerala (6129 feet) and is considered one of the most coveted trekking trails in the country. However, up until now, women were not allowed to go on this trek, for no other reason than that they were women!

On Monday, January 14, 2019, K Dhanya Sanal, a spokesperson for the defence ministry in Thiruvananthapuram, became the first ever woman to start trekking to the Agasthyakoodam summit. More women are expected to attempt the trek in the coming days as the state forest department has received 4,700 registrations – 100 of which are women, according to PTI reports.

This was the first time the trek was opened after the landmark judgement by the Kerala High Court on November 30, 2018 removing the ban on women from trekking the peak. Justice Anu Sivaraman ruled that restrictions cannot be imposed on the basis of gender of a participant while granting permission to visitors to trek the peak.

Why women were not allowed to trek the peak?

According to the forest department, women were not allowed to trek up the peak because it was considered too difficult for them. However, there is another theory as well.

The forests surrounding the peak are home to the Kani tribe, who have been ancient worshippers of Agastya Muni (after whom the peak is named. According to them, Agastya was a "brahmchari" or celibate, and hence women were not allowed to go to the peak, which was the spot where he meditated. They said that letting women beyond Athiramala, a base station in Agasthyakoodam, would interfere with their rights of worship. They had initially challenged the guidelines of the forest department extending permission to women for the trek, however after the HC judgement they did not contest the decision.

About the peak

Located within the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram and surrounded by forests which are believed to be amongst the richest clusters of biodiversity in the Western Ghats, the Agasthyakoodam Peak holds great importance for Keralites. The forests are well known for their abundance of rare medicinal plants. People even believe that the air here has medicinal properties and can heal several diseases.

The beauty of the Agasthyakoodam trek lies in its rapidly changing terrain—you will pass through deciduous as well as evergreen forests, grasslands and finally rock formations, as you reach the peak.

Everything you need to know about the trek

The official trek begins from a village called Bonacaud, located at a distance of about 60km from Thiruvananthapuram city (Trivandrum), which is the closest place to have hotel and night-stay options. You can either drive from Trivandrum or take the bus, which is the more feasible option given the condition of the roads. It usually takes about 2 hours to reach the village from the city, but since only a limited number of tickets are issued for the trek each day, it is advised to reach by 7 in the morning. To do this, you need to take the first bus out of Trivandrum or start latest by 5 am, if you plan on driving.

When's the best time?

The trek is only open from January to March every year, usually for a period of about 40 days. The forest department allows a controlled pilgrimage/trek during these months. It starts on the day of the auspicious Makaravilakku festival in the Sabarimala temple and ends on Shivaratri. Only 100 entry passes are issued every day and they are given on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Who can apply for the trek?

The Forest Department has stated that only physically and mentally fit people should apply for the 25.5-km trek, which takes two to three days. The department’s guidelines state that only women above the age of 14 should apply.

Difficulty level and duration

Agasthyakoodam is a moderately difficult trek that requires you to cover a one-way distance of about 28km from the starting point at Bonacaud to the peak. That makes it a total of 56km. It usually takes between two to three days to complete the trek depending on your stamina.

Women and children are not allowed on the trek.

DIY or not?

Agasthyakoodam peak and surrounding areas are protected and maintained by the state forest department of Kerala. While it is most-definitely a do-it-yourself trek, there are forest officers walking along the trail for random surveillance. Since only a limited number of passes are issued each day, you can expect almost the entire group (60-80) people starting and finishing the trek together.

The passes for the trek cost is Rs 500 per person. Since 2014, the Kerala Tourism Board has started issuing passes online, and like the ones available offline at Bonacaud, they're sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. For the past few years, all passes for the entire duration of the trekking season have been getting sold out within a few hours.

This two/three-day trek begins from the Bonacaud forest office, located about 60km from Thiruvananthapuram. The base camp at Athirumala is located about 15 km from here. Depending on how fast you trek, you can complete this leg of the journey within a few hours or take the whole day. The second leg of the journey from Athirumala to the peak is more difficult and requires you to scale about a 1000 metres.

Itinerary (for a three-day trek)

Bonacaud to Athirumala (6 hours)

- Arrive at Bonacaud by 7 am. Get your passes verified and collect food coupons from the forest office

- Begin trek to the base camp at Athirumala by 8 am

- Reach Athirumala base camp by 2 pm

- Rest, get lunch at the base camp with your food coupons. It has a canteen that starts at 6:30 in the morning and closes at 8:30 pm

- Explore the flora and fauna around the area. Go for a walk

- Stay the night at the base camp. You will be offered a mattress on a twin sharing basis.

- Dinner is served at the base camp and you can use your food coupons to get it.

Athirumala to Agasthyakoodam peak and back (10 hours)

- Start at 6 in the morning to head to the peak.

- Reach the peak by 12 noon

- Explore and take in the view. Make sure you're carrying a packed lunch or snacks to keep your energy levels up.

- Head back to Athirumala and try and reach back before the sun sets.

- Dinner and night stay at the base camp

Athirumala to Bonacaud (4-5 hours)

- Get something to eat at the basecamp and head to Bonacaud by 8 am

- Reach Bonacaud by 1 pm and take the next bus back to Thiruvananthapuram

View of the peak from Athirumala base camp (photo by Ajay Kuyiloor)

What to pack?

Since Kerala has a tropical climate, you don't really need to be carrying warm or heavy clothing. The checklist for items to take on this trek are fairly routine. Make sure you have a flashlight, hat, snacks and water, a change of clothing, one lightweight blanket, your ID proof and entry pass, trekking shoes, and a rain-proof backpack. I personally carry a camera, spare set of footwear and a rope on all my treks.

Around 4,100 visitors would be given entry during the 41-day annual season of the trek this year. However the number of women applicants will only be known after all registrations are processed. While we wait for that, you can read about how this woman conquered the highest peak in Antarctica!

Share your favourite trekking experiences with the community or write a travelogue on it to inspire fellow travellers.

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Welcome to the 'most haunted' place in Kerala

A Google search will tell you that 'the most haunted place in Kerala' is the Bonacaud Bungalow in Thiruvananthapuram district. You can even see loads of pictures taken by curious visitors but nobody knows if they actually spotted a ghost.

If you are a travel enthusiast, do not let these legends deter you. You will be rewarded with an exciting journey through forest trails and village paths. Take a detour on your return trip and you could go to the Vazhvanthol waterfall . What's more, the trip can be very budget-friendly if you rely on the bus service run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

First bus to Bonacaud leaves the Thambanoor bus station in Thiruvananthapuram at 5 am. The sights change dramatically as you pass Nedumangad on the route. The contours of Western Ghats emerge in the east. And early morning mist chills the air.

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An hour and a half into the journey, the bus reaches Vithura. Proceedes to Bonacaud past the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER) and the Vithura Jersey cow farm. Make sure that you carry enough refreshments and drinking water. There are no shops at Kanithadam or Bonacaud.

You will have to stop at a forest department check-post at Kanithadam. The road forks to Bonacaud and Vazhvanthol. The road to the left will lead you to the Bonacaud tea estate and the Agasthyarkoodam bioreserve. Towards the right is the Vazhvanthol waterfall. You will have to wait until 9 am for the forest road to waterfall to open.

Any visitor has to seek the forest officials' permission to enter the tea estate in the middle of the forest. The department records the names and addresses of all visitors.

The road to Bonacaud is through Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. Tall trees and thick canopy block the slanting morning sunlight. A cacophony of birds and crickets dominates the air.

Bonacaud hill borders Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The forest has grown beyond the Peppara reservoir up to the Agasthyarkoodam hill. The other side of the hill is Papanasam, Thenkasi, and Kuttralam in Tamil Nadu.

The trees seem to pierce the sky. Giant creepers are festooned on trees like pythons. These creepers, called 'pullanji,' used to be a vital source of drinking water for tribesmen traversing the forest. They could cut open the fresh creepers and find as much water as they need.

The tea estate here was set up by the British. It later went to Mahaveer Plantations. The tea estate was eventually put under lock and key, depriving hundreds of labourers their livelihood. Many of them eke out a living by rearing cattle.

As you reach the Bonacaud post office near the old building that once housed the tea factory, you will see that the estate staff club has turned into a homoeo dispensary. Several houses and a path that leads up to a school complete the 'Bonacaud City.'

A road that goes around the factory leads up to the Agasthyarkoodam hill , which is open to visitors only during the Makaravilakku and Shivarathri festivals.

Walk up the road to the school then past a church, a temple, and a ration shop to be treated to breathtaking scenery from the valley. Trek a little more than 2 kilometres to reach the highest place at Bonacaud. In front of you will rise the 25GB Bungalow, termed the most haunted place in Kerala.

The bungalow was built for top officers of the estate to stay. The granite building built like an English mansion is crumbling. The bathroom is fitted with bathtubs and the halls have fireplaces. The largest attraction, however, is the view of the reservoir.

Back at the check post, take a trip to the waterfall. The entry fee is Rs 1,000 for a group of 10. You have to avail the package to go to the waterfall.

The Vazhvanthol waterfall is in the valley of Bonacaud. You have to walk for 4 kilometres from the check-point to reach the waterfall. The forests are elephant territory. The waterfall is a bit weak in the summer but it is the only time it becomes accessible. The waterfall will be dangerous during the monsoon months. The rocky road to the waterfall will be slippery and infested with leeches. The waterfall turns out of bounds for visitors during the monsoon months.

You can drive your vehicle for a kilometre after the check post.

The forest trek is easy in the beginning. The paths are flanked by eucalyptus and manjiyam trees on one side and bamboo on the other. The Vazhvanthod stream flows gently beyond the bamboo thicket.

After about 2 kilometres, the path becomes narrower. In fact, there is no defined path at all. You will have to climb over rocks and mud on what seems to be a narrow clearing in the forest.

The best time to visit the Vazhvanthol waterfall is between the monsoons. The waterfall is no less enticing in summer though.

How to reach

The Vazhvanthol waterfall is 52 kilometres from the Thiruvananthapuram city centre. From Vithura, you have to travel 19 kilometres to reach Bonacaud. You will reach the Kanithadam check post after 10 kilometres from Vithura. From there, it is only 6 kilometres to the waterfall. The last 3 kilometres are out of bounds for vehicles. Visitors are allowed inside the forest from 9 am to 2 pm. Even in the peak rainy season, entry is barred.

You can board a KSRTC bus from Thiruvananthapuram to go up to Bonacaud and Vazhvanthol. You will have to obtain permission from the forest department to drive private vehicles inside the forest area.

A bus leaves the Thambanoor bus stand for Bonacaud at 5 am daily. Buses leave from East Fort at 8:30 am, 2:40 pm and 4:10 pm, while return trips from Bonacaud start at 6 am, 7:45 am, 11:30 am and 1:40 pm.

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Nestled on the foothills of the Agasthya hills of Western Ghats, Bonacaud in Thiruvananthapuram district is a pristine, green haven that presents a multitude of experiences.

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