Ponmudi to get a big facelift soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After witnessing long years of neglect, the Ponmudi hill resort in the district is poised to get a facelift with the State Tourism Department announcing a couple of ambitious projects for the destination. The scenic upper region of the hill station now lacks even basic facilities for travellers. The projects which were announced by Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar here the other day include a tourist amenity centre and a new guest house at the hill station.  ‘’It’s sad that Ponmudi, which attracts tourists in large numbers, lacks sufficient facilities, especially at the Upper Sanatorium area,’’ Anilkumar said.  ‘’The Upper Sanatorium lacks a shelter for travellers to escape the rains or a refreshment stall. The new projects will boost tourist arrivals to the scenic hills and we will ensure that the projects are completed in time,’’ he said. Anil Kumar and Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar had recently visited the hill station to plan the development projects for the destination.     The amenity centre, conceived in an attractive design, will come up at Upper Ponmudi. The centre will have an information centre, a food court, toilets and a lobby for the travellers to take rest. A shop selling Kerala souvenirs will be a highlight of the amenity centre. The centre will be set up at a cost of ` 90 lakh.  Guest HouseThe four-star guest house will be set up after demolishing the old government guest house at Lower Ponmudi which is in a dilapidated state. Christened ‘Ponmudi Palace’, the structure is planned in an elegant design with modern comforts for tourists. Sixteen rooms and six suites will be available at the Guest House. The multi-storeyed building will have all the facilities of a four-star hotel.  The entrance lobby and porch will be on the ground floor. A multi-cuisine restaurant has also been planned on the ground floor and a speciality restaurant and coffee shop will be set up on the first floor. The ground floor and first floor will have six rooms and two suites each. The second floor will have a banquet hall, besides four rooms and two suites.  Service area, staff rest rooms, storage and kitchen are planned on the basement floor. The four-storeyed guest house is estimated to cost ` 4 crore.