Peak Season
Ponmudi in January
Kerala, India
January at Ponmudi: 14-24°C, cool dry hills, butterfly trails still active on sunny afternoons. The 22 hairpins drive fine — road clear of monsoon landslips.
Why January scores 5/5
Weather
January at Ponmudi: 14-24°C, cool dry hills, butterfly trails still active on sunny afternoons. The 22 hairpins drive fine — road clear of monsoon landslips.
Roads & Access
self drive: SUV recommended for hairpins. road condition: 22 hairpin bends. Good surface but narrow.. public transport: Limited KSRTC buses from Trivandrum. from nearest city: Trivandrum 55km (2hr via 22 hairpins). last km difficulty: moderate
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. km: 55. has er: true. ambulance 108: true. nearest hospital: Trivandrum Medical College
Network
JIO: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes. Decent coverage.
Kids
Kid-friendly (4/5) — 22 hairpin bends are thrilling, Butterfly spotting, Stream play, Quick nature escape from Trivandrum
Elevation
1,100m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Families with children
- ✓Remote workers (network available)
- ✓Anyone looking for the best time to visit
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 5/5 | January at Ponmudi: 14-24°C, cool dry hills, butterfly trails still active on sunny afternoons. The 22 hairpins drive fine — road clear of monsoon landslips. |
| February | 4/5 | February at Ponmudi: 18-28°C, dry hairpin drives and steady butterfly sightings. Pleasant window — 22 bends manageable before summer haze. |
| March | 4/5 | March at Ponmudi: 16–28°C, butterfly season active, 22 hairpins clear. Shoulder — weekends from Trivandrum still busy, weekdays nearly empty. |
| April | 3/5 | April at Ponmudi: 18-28C up the 22 hairpins. Butterflies still active; cool relief from Trivandrum but afternoon showers starting. |
| May | 3/5 | May at Ponmudi: 20–30°C, hazy hairpin drive from Trivandrum. Butterfly counts down — doable as a cool day-break, not prime habitat month. |
| June | 2/5 | — |
| July | 2/5 | — |
| August | 2/5 | — |
| September | 4/5 | September at Ponmudi: 18-26°C, 22 hairpin drives open as monsoon eases. Works well — butterfly sightings steady, Trivandrum day-trip friendly. |
| October | 5/5 | October at Ponmudi: 16-26°C, post-monsoon Western Ghats — butterfly numbers peak, the 22 hairpin bends from Trivandrum dry out, and the Gold Peak viewpoint clears by mid-morning. |
| November | 5/5 | November at Ponmudi: 16–26°C at 1,100m, the 22 hairpins climb through dense green. Butterfly activity still strong across the forest trails. |
| December | 5/5 | December at Ponmudi: 14–24°C at 1,100m. 22 hairpins through crisp forest, butterfly species still active on the sunnier trails. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Trivandrum 55km (2hr via 22 hairpins). Roads: 22 hairpin bends. Good surface but narrow.. Self-drive: SUV recommended for hairpins. Public transport: Limited KSRTC buses from Trivandrum. Last stretch: moderate
Elevation
1,100m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Kerala scoring high in January
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