Agasthyakoodam

3 days for the official trek programme · add a travel day from TrivandrumBest: Seasonal trek — 14 Jan to 11 Feb 2026 (dates announced yearly) · book passes the day booking opensAdventure#trek#permits#biodiversity

Sage Agastya's 1,868 m peak — a permit-only 3-day trek through shola and grassland to Kerala's second-highest summit

Season alert: The trek opens for roughly a month each year — in 2026 it ran 14 January to 11 February (the window typically falls between Makar Sankranti and Shivaratri, and is announced in December–January). Book passes the day booking opens: the 100 daily passes vanish fast. A medical fitness certificate dated within 7 days is mandatory, and monsoon (June–September) closes the forest completely. Even in season expect leeches, stream crossings and cold nights at the Athirumala camp.

Why this weekend?

The summit shrine of Sage Agastya with 360° views over the southern Western Ghats2,000+ medicinal plant species on one mountain — a living Ayurvedic apothecaryThe shola-grassland mosaic and stream crossings of the Agasthya Vanam forestMuttidichan Para's 'knee-breaking' climb and the rope-assisted final rockA night at Athirumala camp under cold mountain starsWildlife: Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, gaur, hornbills

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · Gate to camp
- 5:00 AM KSRTC bus from Thampanoor (or taxi ₹2,500–3,500) to Bonacaud
- Report at the Bonacaud Forest Checkpoint by 7:00 AM — pass, ID, medical certificate
- Briefing and baggage check; leave all plastic behind (₹100 fine per item)
- Trek ~16 km to Athirumala Base Camp (5–7 hrs) — streams, shola, Muttidichan Para
- Book dinner coupons at the camp canteen, rest under the stars
Day 2 · Summit day
- Wake at 4:00 AM; hot tea and a packed breakfast
- Climb ~6 km and ~1,000 m to the summit — safety ropes on the final rock
- Sage Agastya's shrine: prayers and photos, no physical offerings
- 360° views — Arabian Sea coast to the Tamil Nadu plains on clear days
- Descend to Athirumala by early afternoon; book tomorrow's breakfast
Day 3 · Out of the forest
- Breakfast at camp, then the ~16 km walk back to Bonacaud (5–7 hrs)
- Lunch at the Bonacaud base dhaba
- Catch the last bus (~5:45 PM) or pre-booked taxi back to Trivandrum
- Optional detour: Neyyar Dam or Ponmudi on the way down

Geography & terrain

Agasthyakoodam (1,868 m) is the second-highest peak in Kerala and the highest of the Ashambu Hills, the southernmost spur of the Western Ghats on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border. The trek rises from Bonacaud village (~52 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram) through the Agasthya Vanam Biological Park, ringed by the Neyyar and Peppara wildlife sanctuaries, and ends on a bare summit plateau looking from the Arabian Sea coast to the Tamil Nadu plains.

History & culture

The mountain is named for Sage Agastya, one of the seven great sages (Saptarishis) of Hindu tradition, who is believed to have meditated and settled on its peak on his journey south; a shrine and statue mark the spot, making the trek a pilgrimage centuries older than adventure tourism. The surrounding forest became the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in 2001 — the first biosphere reserve in India to span two states — and the historic Bonacaud tea estate at the trailhead was one of Kerala's grandest colonial plantations. Women were barred from the peak by tradition until the Kerala High Court lifted the ban in November 2018; Dhanya Sanal became the first woman to summit in January 2019.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Summit shrine and views
Shola-grassland band
Agasthya Vanam medicinal garden (base)
Neyyar dam lake (on the way)

Fees & timings

Plastic item carried past the checkpoint (fine, per item): ₹100
Trekking pass — per person (2026 season) (permit): ₹3,000
Entry total: ₹3,100

Bonacaud Forest Checkpoint (trek start)Report by 7:00 AM; trek starts ~8–9 AM · Closed: Seasonal — 14 Jan–11 Feb 2026 (dates announced yearly)
Athirumala Base Camp canteen6:30 AM – 8:30 PM (meals by coupon) · Closed: Season only
Agastya summit shrine (Day 2)Dawn climb from camp (4–6 AM start) · Closed: No physical offerings allowed at the shrine

Eat & drink

Karimeen pollichathu
Appam with stew
Malabar porotta
Sadya on banana leaf

Getting there

Fly: Thiruvananthapuram International (TRV) — ~52 km from Bonacaud via Trivandrum; taxi ₹2,500–3,500 one way, or KSRTC bus + taxi from the city
Train: Trivandrum Central (TVC / Thampanoor) — ~52 km / 2 hr from Bonacaud; well connected from Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Delhi and Mumbai
Road from Thiruvananthapuram: 51–60 km / 2 hr via Vithura
Road from Kollam: ~110 km / 3 hr
Road from Kochi: ~270 km / 6 hr via NH-66
Road from Neyyar Dam: 32 km / 45 min
Getting around: KSRTC bus from Thampanoor to Bonacaud Post Office (first bus ~5:00 AM; last return ~5:45 PM — change at Vithura); taxi Trivandrum→Bonacaud ₹2,500–3,500; autos and share taxis for the last short hops

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹9,500–16,500 (3 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night (Trivandrum or Bonacaud base)
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,200 (camp meals extra)
Per day · Transport: ₹1,000–1,400 (bus) to ₹2,500–3,500 one-way taxi
Per day · Activities: ₹1,000 (trek pass ₹3,000 over 3 days)

Month by month

Jan · Best: 20–31°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 21–33°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 23–35°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 25–36°C · Moderate rain
May · Pre-monsoon: 26–35°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 22–32°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 20–31°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Malayalam; English works at the checkpoint and in Trivandrum
Season: 14 Jan–11 Feb 2026 (announced yearly); closed June–September monsoon
Booking: forest.kerala.gov.in; 100 passes/day — book the day booking opens
Medical fitness certificate dated within 7 days is mandatory — no certificate, no entry
No plastic past the checkpoint (₹100/item fine); no physical offerings at the shrine
Camp canteen at Athirumala runs 6:30 AM–8:30 PM on coupons; book meals ahead
Forest office (permit queries): Wildlife Warden, Trivandrum, +91-471-2360762
Foreign nationals: not currently permitted on the trek

Practical tips

Permit, photo ID and the medical fitness certificate (dated within 7 days) — originals and printouts
No plastic past the checkpoint — ₹100 fine per item; carry a steel bottle and cloth bags
Leech-proofing: gaiters, salt or repellent, and check shoes at every rest stop
Cold nights at Athirumala (5–10°C) — warm layers and a good sleeping bag; the camp is basic
Torch, raincoat and a first-aid kit; stream crossings wet boots — carry a spare pair
Don't attempt the final rope climb with vertigo; keep pace with the guide at all times

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Agasthyakoodam trek cost?

The 2026 trekking pass was ₹3,000 per person — ₹2,420 trekking fee plus ₹580 ecosystem management special fee — covering the forest permit and the Athirumala camp stay. Meals at the camp canteen are extra and paid separately with coupons. A ₹100 fine applies per plastic item carried past the checkpoint.

When is the trek open?

Only for a short season each year — in 2026 it ran 14 January to 11 February, split into two windows (14–31 Jan and 1–11 Feb). The dates typically fall between Makar Sankranti and Shivaratri and are announced in December–January. The forest is completely closed through the monsoon (June–September).

How do I book the permit?

Online at forest.kerala.gov.in — the trekking link appears only during the season, in two booking phases (early January for the first window, late January for the second). Only 100 passes are issued per day (75 online, 25 offline at the PTP Nagar Forest Office in Trivandrum) and they sell out within hours, so book on opening day with ID details for everyone ready.

Who is allowed to trek?

Anyone aged 14 or above; trekkers aged 14–18 need a parent's or guardian's consent letter. A medical fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner (Modern Medicine), issued within 7 days of the trek date, is mandatory. Women have trekked since the November 2018 High Court ruling. As of 2025–26, foreign nationals are not currently permitted.

How hard is the trek?

Strenuous. About 16 km on day one (5–7 hours, with the steep Muttidichan Para climb), then ~6 km and ~1,000 m of ascent to the summit on day two — the final rock has safety ropes and is not for anyone with vertigo. Total round trip is roughly 50 km over three days.

Can I do it in two days?

The official Forest Department programme is three days and no trekking is allowed after dark, so two days only works for the very fit who can return from the summit to Bonacaud by evening of day two. Most trekkers plan for three.

Where should I stay before and after?

Trivandrum (52–60 km, full hotel range) is the usual base; Bonacaud village has only basic options at the trailhead. The permit includes the night at Athirumala camp on the mountain.

How do I reach Bonacaud?

Fly to Trivandrum International (TRV) or take a train to Trivandrum Central (both ~52 km from Bonacaud). Taxis cost roughly ₹2,500–3,500 one way (2 hours); the KSRTC bus from Thampanoor leaves at 5:00 AM for the 7 AM checkpoint report — the last bus back from Bonacaud is around 5:45 PM.

What should I carry?

Pass printout, original photo ID, medical certificate, leech-proofing (gaiters, salt), warm layers for the cold camp nights, torch, raincoat, steel water bottle (no plastic allowed), packed lunch, and a first-aid kit. No physical offerings at the summit shrine — carry everything out.