THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:There is a definite shift in the look and mood of the state from early June. This is when the southwest monsoon finally hits our shores bringing respite from months of scorching summer heat.Much like children wearing new uniforms to mark the start of the new academic year, the land brandishes a fresh, green look.And this is the time to enjoy the full romantic glory of those verdant hills and booming waterfalls. Though monsoon tourism is not as popular in the district, as it is in central and north Kerala, there are enough picturesque locations to enable a quick getaway from the capital city.
The smell of wet soil seems to waft through the air in spots such as Ponmudi, an idyllic hill resort with narrow, winding pathways and cool, green, wooded environs, located 915 metres above sea level. The Kallar river, small rivulets and springs in the region have sprung back to life with copious pre-monsoon rains, turning the hill station into a paradise. The waterfall at Meenmutty too has regained its vitality, with water thundering down the cliff.
Though it is not the ideal time to go trekking to Agasthyakoodam, a part of the Sahyadri range of mountains, which is the second highest peak in Kerala, at a height of 1,890 metres, the monsoon has worked its magic on the region with rain-laden clouds gently wafting through the mountains peaks.
Unlike in north Kerala or central Kerala, where the DTPC conducts monsoon rides and packages for travellers, the Thiruvananthapuram DTPC does not have such tours here, said Jayakumar Nair, DTPC secretary.
However, tour operators say the peaks and dams in the region perk up with the arrival of monsoon. And if there is concerted effort, the industry can tap the potential of spots like Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 53 sq km on the Western Ghats and accessible from Vithura, Neyyar Dam, and Aruvikkara Dam, a picturesque picnic spot is on the banks of the Karamana River, where the fragrance of the moist vegetation will provide tourists a new experience, they say.