Pandipathu Trek Trivandrum Part1 | Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Pandipath aka Pandipathu is an amazing location in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Thiruvananthapuram. It borders with Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu and is blessed with abundant wildlife and beautiful landscape views. Pandipathu can be reached by trekking 6 KM from Bonacaud, Trivandrum. Three rivers are originated from Chemmunji motta hills at Pandipath - Karamanayar, Kallar (Vamanapuram river), Thamirabarani river (Peyar tributary).
There is a horse track to the Pandipath which was built more than a sanctuary before. During the British era, they established tea estate in Braemore, Ponmudi, Bonocaud and Athirumala (around 1884 or so). During that time there was no motorable roads and they built horse tracks. On the way from Ponmudi to Athirumala, Pandipath is the stopover place for horses. Name of Pandipath came from Pandi (Pandi Nadu or Tamil Nadu) and Path (means 10 in malayalam). From Kallar the horse track takes you to Pandipath and is a 10 mile track, there are milestones after each mile and the place were 10th mile stone is called as Pandipathu.
For me Pandipath is the most beautiful place in Trivandrum, it offers great views and amazing wildlife sightings. It offers never ending grasslands, shola forests, amazing landscape views, distant view of Trivandrum city and suburbs. It is called of Abode bisons, huge population of Indian Gaurs are seen here; also huge elephant herds, Indian dholes, sloth bears are seen in this area, there is presence of leopards and tiger. Pandipath is at the foot of Chemmunji Hills. Distant views of Agasthyarkoodam, Varayattumotta, Ponmudi, Chinnapullu and the hill ranges around can be seen from Pandipathu.
Permission to visit Pandipath can be obtained from Wildlife warden Office Trivandrum (0471-2360762). As this a core area of Peppara Wildlife sanctuary permission is not always obtained. Pandipath Trek is a two day program; 10500 INR is the expense of Trek for 5 members and we will get the assistance of two forest guides. Food material need to purchased and handed over to the guides, they will prepare the food.