|
FOR A WILD TREK TO BUDDHA’S PEAK
Buddhist lore tells us that it was the abode of Avalokiteswara in the earth. “Agastyakoodam” – the peak of sage Agasthya, the legendary herbal mountains with a hoary past is situated near Trivandrum, capital of Kerala state in South India. Nestled at a highest of 1868 meters in the western at a highest of 1868 meters in the Western Ghat, one for the 20 hot beds of bio diversity in the globe, there is no other mountains with such a large number of herbs that are used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicines.
The mystic hills glorious past entwined with Buddhist history dates back more than 2000 years. It was here Sage Agastya who was the first to cross the formidable Vindhya mountains to spread the message of compassion of Buddha made his abode found the spiritual vibes of “Polhikai” mountains, as it was called then so strong.
Polhikai is still etched deep in the psyche of Tamil people. “Polhikai” was developed as a Buddhist university that attracted scholars from far and wide. Buddhist scholars from China, Japan and many other Asian countries trekked to “Potola” is Tiber is infact the replica of “Pothikai”. Ayurvedic tradition found new expressions in the mountain abode of Sage Agasthya. Dravidian branch of Ayurveda later gave birth to “Siddha” system of medicine, which has strong spiritual under currents.
“Polhikai” was also a center of learning, which made great contributions to the Tamil language and culture.
Agasthya is considered one of the famed seven sages (Saptarishis) of Hindu mythology inspite of the fact that his teachings were essentially Buddhist.
Mystic mountains of herbs
The Agastya hill falls in the border of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala and Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu.
The lower elevations of the peak are known for their abundance of rare herbs and fauna than the famed “Maruthuamala” (The hill of medicines) in nearby Kanyakumari District in Tamilnadu.
More than 2000 medicinal plants used in ayurvedic medicines found here. “Arogya Pacha” (Health green) a rare plant which is an energy booster is one such plant that made world headlines few years ago.
Europeans particularly the British were the first to discover the rare medicines plants and hundreds of rare orchids in this peak.
The British started tea plantations in the foothills, at Brimore, Bonacaud and Ponmudi. John Atlen Brown a Scottish scientist established a miniature weather station at Agastyakoodam.
Trek to Agastyakoodam
Teeming with wildlife, a trek to Agastyakoodam through forest abound in medicinal herbs and brilliantly hued orchids would be an unforgettable experience. A bird watchers paradise this legendary mountain is accessible by foot from Kottoor near Neyyar dam and also from Bonacaud.
Trekkers are allowed only from December to April, for which a Forest pass has to be obtained from the wildlife warden, Forest Department, PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram.
For more details contact us
|
