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The mountain of Agasthyarkoodam is not difficult to spot. Nearly two thousand metres high, and with a sharp apex, it defines itself well above its siblings in the Western Ghats. According to local folklore, Agasthya, a confirmed bachelor (read misogynist) used to live amongst its rare herbs and medicinal plants, and to this day women are not allowed up the peak for fear of upsetting the soul of this strange sage.
The plants are still used by Ayurvedic practitioners in Southern India and beyond, and the unique microclimate they grow in means that many of them cannot be found elsewhere.
If you (are male and) time your visit well, you could experience the slopes at their best - when they transform into the colour of the 'Neelakurinji' flower. But as this happens only once in twelve years, don't feel too unlucky if you trek without the bloom. The best time to explore is between December and April (and remember that a forest pass has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden).
If you (are male and) time your visit well, you could experience the slopes at their best - when they transform into the colour of the 'Neelakurinji' flower. But as this happens only once in twelve years, don't feel too unlucky if you trek without the bloom. The best time to explore is between December and April (and remember that a forest pass has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden).