The picturesque community of Kerala was set up in 1956 to help bring together all
the Malayam speaking districts into one large community making up this coastal city. Kerala is surrounded by rolling backwaters and lush green vegetation and its sun kissed beaches are popular with tourists.
In sharp contrast is the Kerala hill country. Pon Mudi is one such hill station within this region. As visitors to the region drive through Thiruvananthpuram district on a winding road through the hills, they are humbled by the amazing scenery of mist capped mountains and verdant hill slopes with quiet tea plantations dotted around.
The cool climate provides the ideal environment to go hiking and explore this wondrous area by foot. Take in the Western Ghats mountain range and Golden Valley where visitors can surround themselves with vibrant vegetation and a diverse array of fauna. Stop by the Kallar River and take home a well rounded pebble that was formed through years of sculpting by the cool waters as a souvenir. Visitors can proceed further to the beautiful Meenmutty Falls where trekkers can bask in the cool spray of this powerful waterfall.
Walking through the dense forest vegetation allows one to experience the rich diversity of fauna and flora in the region. A popular sight is the diverse avian species from the chuckling of Malabar hornbills to the vividly red southern trongon. Those who are lucky can catch a rare glimpse of the graceful longtail paradise fly catcher as it flits through the canopy of the tree tops.
Of the many Kovalam hotels from which to explore this tranquil mountainous region, The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach stands out as the largest beachside resort in Kerala. The unique touch that this exceptional hotel brings to their service cannot be matched by other hotels in Kovalam.