In the middle of every trek, there’s a moment where you ask yourself: enikk enthinte kedayirunnu? Meaning: what the hell was wrong with me? I could have been chilling at my home now, watching a classic Malayalam comedy like Kilukkam or Sandesham, munching on some mixture or banana chips. Why the hell did I have to climb a hill?
But if you ever push yourself out of your comfort zone and choose to go on that first trek, with a bunch of cool friends or complete strangers, no matter how physically challenging or life-threatening it turns out to be, I bet you will find yourself at the bottom of many more hills. You will be looking up at daunting climbs, ready to risk it all again, just for that sheer joy, sense of accomplishment, and adrenaline rush you feel at the top.
It is in moments like those when our muscles and veins throb with pain, sweat trickling down our neck and back, our faces covered in dust and soil, that we feel the limitless potential of the human body, if only we show the audacity to try. It is in moments like those that mere mortals, aam aadmis, like you and me, feel INFINITE.
Kathirumudi Hills
“Tucked away in the verdant Agasthya hills near the Neyyar and Peppara reservoirs, Kathirmudi is a hidden gem for hikers. This tranquil peak offers a moderate one-day trek through dense, pristine forests, making it a perfect escape for those looking to immerse themselves in Thiruvananthapuram’s untouched wilderness.”
The trek starts at the Kottoor Ecotourism point in Trivandrum, covering 12 km round-trip. Since you need an entry pass from the Kerala Forest Department, we shared copies of our Aadhaar cards with the Appooppanthaadi team in advance to get everything sorted.
Appooppanthaadi
Appooppanthaadi is a female-led travel group based in Thiruvananthapuram. It was founded by Sajna Ali, a techie from Kozhikode, whose wanderlust was sparked by her father, who used to take her on long rides on his lorry.
Started as a small group of eight ladies with a vision to help women travel more and tick off destinations from their bucket lists, Appooppanthaadi recently celebrated 10 years in the travel business, having coordinated 1000+ trips and helped over 13,000 women live their travel dreams.
My association with this group and its travellers started way back in 2017. This not only fuelled my travel aspirations but also helped me to venture into solo travel and adventure sports. In the past, I’ve explored scuba diving at Kovalam, night camping and tree jummaring at Yellapetty, and parasailing at Goa, all thanks to Appooppanthaadi.
September 20, 2025, Saturday
Back in August 2025, I had booked the Koonichimala trek with Appooppanthaadi. Unfortunately, the trip was postponed to November. So I opted for an alternate trip and joined the Kathirmudi trek in September. Eventually, this trek became the highlight of my one-month stay at Trivandrum.
My initial plan was to rest the day before the trek, but I ended up exploring the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi with my hostelmate. We walked more than 10k steps, stocked up on sugary sweets, and returned to the hostel only in the evening, exhausted.
Even while packing my bag for the next day’s trip, I had no idea how I would reach Thampanoor railway station by 6:30 am. I pinged in the trip’s WhatsApp group and enquired if anyone was traveling from the Technopark side.
Luckily, two fellow trekkers, Fasi, who has a PHD in Environmental Science, and her friend, Shil, who works as a bank manager, came to my rescue. They were planning to go to Thampanoor by scooter due to parking issues, but to accommodate me, they decided to take their car instead.
We often gripe that the world is an evil place and that all humans are inherently selfish. But honestly, do we appreciate people enough for their kindness?
September 21, 2025, Sunday
Prep
On the night before any pre-booked trip, I’m restless and barely get any sleep. Still, I felt okay when I woke up at 4:15 am on the day of the Kathirmudi trek, did quick warm-up exercises in the hallway, and freshened up with a bath. By 5:30 am, I was ready and waiting for the gang.
I had already informed my family about the trip and warned them I may not be available by phone, as trekking spots rarely have network coverage. My dad was relieved to hear that I was going with the ‘panji koottam’ / ‘cotton gang,’ a nickname he has given to Appooppanthaadi, inspired by the literal translation of their brand name, Indian Milkweed or grandfather’s beard.
I left my hostel at 5:45 am. It was dark outside, and the owls were hooting. I felt grateful for the streetlights and the stars in the sky. Some shops were open, selling tea, playing the news on the radio, and smelling of agarbattis and water sprinkled on the mud pathway outside.
Within five minutes, I was waiting near the highway, at the Attinkuzhi bus stop. I felt both excited and nervous as it was my first hike in six years. Soon, Fasi and Shil picked me up. We introduced ourselves. They were excited to learn about my solo trip plans, and I was inspired by their fitness journeys – daily gym routines and regular treks.
Parking Woes
Though we reached Thampanoor by 6:20 am, as anticipated, we struggled to find a parking spot. Both the corporation and railway parking areas were full. We considered going all the way to the Mascot Hotel, but one of the trekkers, a senior Chetan, whom we met on the roadside, suggested we try the paid parking areas. Sajna Chechi, our official buddy for the trip, called and asked us to hurry.
Fasi suggested I leave the car and join the other trekkers, lest I miss out on the trip. Of course, I couldn’t do it. The only reason they were delayed was that they changed their plans to accommodate me.
I didn’t want either of us to miss the trek. As I always do in helpless moments like those, I prayed to God for some help, even a tiny teeny miracle.
Just then, a couple with a toddler in tow, who had just arrived at the station by some train, came to the paid parking area where we were begging the guards. Luckily, this couple loaded their bags into the trunk of a car and drove off, clearing the spot for us.
You should’ve seen the joy on our faces. The typical “mone, manasil ladu potti” moment! Ah, I bet if you were an atheist, you would have believed in miracles just then.
After parking the car, we, three musketeers, ran to Thampanoor railway station and met the rest of the gang. We thanked the senior Chetan, who suggested we try the paid parking area. By 6:40 am, all of us were inside the tempo traveller, introducing ourselves.
Trekkers
There was a gang who worked together at a post office, a few bank officers, a few IT staff, and a vibe Mamma with her son, who studied in sixth standard. I was relieved to learn that, except for Fasi, Shil, and two guys, no one else identified as professional trekkers; it was my first level up from easy to moderately difficult treks.
I was also inspired by the married couples and senior ladies who had turned up for the trek. I love people whose excitement about the world and life in general increases with age.
Sajna Chechi, the group leader, recognized me from old trips. I laughed shyly when she asked, “You are that techie who didn’t have WhatsApp back then, right? What changed?” “I quit IT and turned to writing and freelancing. WhatsApp is important for staying in touch with my clients and for networking,” I explained. In short, life happened.
From Thampanoor to Kottoor, our Driver Chetan took the Malayinkeezhu-Papanamcode route because repair work was underway on the Venjaramoodu road. By 7:45 am, we reached the Kottoor ecotourism point.
We had an idli-sambar-coconut-chutney breakfast. After using the washroom and later collecting our packed lunch, we huddled to start the trek. Since Sajna Chechi had warned me against taking KP’s big, grandpa umbrella, I left it behind on the bus. Still, my bag was overpacked with an extra dress, 1L of water, lunch, and my sugary sweets.
“Pack light” is important advice, trekkers. But some of us still choose to learn it the hard way.
Trek Begins
Crickets creaked, and birds chirped all around us as we waited near the tempo traveller for the trek to commence. Their sounds were therapeutic.
Sumesh Kottoor, a YouTuber, gave us a small introduction about the trip. He reminded us that Kathirmudi Hill is a plastic-free zone and advised us to conduct a silent trek as elephants and bison lived nearby. But the chances of spotting any wild animals were slim, as they usually graze early in the morning.
The trek started at 9 am. Every five trekkers were provided one guide each. The initial path seemed pretty flat and hence easy. There were rubber trees on both sides. The way sunlight seived its way through the trees was mesmerising to watch.
The guides suggested we break off small branches from the nearby trees and use them for support. A few trekkers already held professional trekking poles. Though I was dismissive of the idea at first, within twenty minutes, I grabbed a small wooden stick. I used it ineffectively for some time before my generous guide gifted me a stronger branch.
Rich Flora
The wild white mushrooms, ferns, grasshoppers, caterpillars, leeches, thick cobwebs, and wild flowers, especially the wild violet thumba poovu, caught my attention. Soon, the flat trail was replaced by challenging ascents.
Some paths looked like a staircase from a distance; the steps were revealed as woody, tree roots upon closer inspection. For people like me, who hiked like penguins, those roots were a godsend, giving us the much-needed grip and support to ascend.
There were fallen and slanted trees on the way. We climbed these trees to take photographs. Since one of the trekkers, Nithin Chetan, was also a photography enthusiast, we hijacked him in between for group photos and candids. Occasionally, he lamented, “da aarenklm enteyum koode pics edukane.” (Someone please click my photos also.) We took turns clicking his pics, as well.
In between, we reached many photo points from which we could see the adjacent hills and glimpses of the Peppara and the Neyyar reservoir. We stopped at each such point longer than required, pretending to enjoy the scenery or taking photos, while honestly catching our breath or resting our numb calf muscles.
An Angel in Pista Green
As I was huffing and puffing my way up the hill, lean and fit teenagers, including couples, wearing salwar and slippers, ran past me.
“Chechi, your face has turned red,” one of them commented, as if I needed them to tell me. I could feel the blood rushing into my cheeks.
Just then, I saw a loose hanging tree branch and grabbed it for support. Unfortunately, it was hollow and came detached from the tree, making my feet lose their grip.
I slipped and almost fell, but, like an angel, a hand came out of nowhere and grabbed my wrist.
“Careful there,” he whispered, as he continued holding my hand tightly and led me all the way to the top of that difficult patch.
There were boulders and trees in that particular curve, and the ascent was too vertical, so I was grateful for his help.
He was wearing a light pista colored t-shirt; a teenager, I assumed. Once we reached the top, he let go of my hand and advised, “Always test before depending on things. Don’t trust anything so blindly.”
For a second there, I wondered if he was giving me trekking tips or life/dating advice. I thanked him and rejoined my trekking group.
Usually, moments like this, a girl slipping and a guy grabbing her wrist before she falls, only happen in Bollywood movies like DDLJ. SRK and those mushy movies have spoiled real-world romance for girls like me. Fiction sets over-expectations, while reality makes us crave even the bare minimum, like clarity and consistency.
At the Top
By 12, we reached the top of the hill. By then, I was wearing my pink scarf to ward off the scorching heat.
Sajna Chechi was like, “Eh athaara namude kootathl oru thattam,” wondering if there was a headscarf-wearing Muslim girl in the group, and Nithin Chetan immediately clicked a funny candid to capture the moment.
I was happy to learn that Fasi and Shil were the first ones to reach the hilltop. By the time I reached the spot, they were already halfway through their lunch.
We kept our bags under the shade of a tree; a few even took their shoes off to relax. The grass and the wind around were refreshingly cold.
I had seen elephant dung on the sloppy paths, and even at the hilltop. This intimidated me. I wondered how a 3-to-6-ton elephant climbed up those paths. When I compared it to how much the ascend tested me, I was flabbergasted.
I neared the edge of the cliff, soaking in the stellar view of candy cotton clouds, Peppara on one side, and Neyyar on the other. The snake-like blue coils of the water bodies made me wonder if they were celestial or Biblical rivers like the Euphrates or Tigris.
We clicked photos of the view. We sat on the rocks and grassland and chit-chatted. We stacked small pebbles and posed behind them. Sajna Chechi was busy recording videos of the senior couples. In between, she also clicked solo photos for me.
At the top, while enjoying the view, savouring the adrenaline rush I felt, I couldn’t help but feel bad. My mom’s health issues would never let her complete this climb. But I wished she could see what I saw and feel what I felt.
Downtrek
After eating our packed lunch, we spent some more time at the top, enjoying the view, chit-chatting, pulling each other’s legs, and clicking photographs. The down trek started by 1:30 pm.
I’m no professional trekker, but I know one thing for sure. Downtreks are harder than the climbs. It tests our calf muscles and grip, like gold is tested in fire. Besides, it takes a huge toll on our knees.
While the teenage crew and a few of our own professional trekkers ran down the hill in barely an hour and a half, for people like me, the downtrek was a test of both willpower and muscle power.
At many a time, my jogging shoes slipped, almost making me fall. The steep descents intimidated me. In many such instances, either the couple in front or the senior ladies who were trailing behind me kept me company and motivated me to go on. At times, the guys suggested I run down a steep descent, while they waited at the bottom to stop me from falling.
All the seniors and the couples in this group were an inspiration. While the former showed me how to live life bravely, the latter were Couple Goals in action. If you can survive a trek without fighting, I bet your marriage has double the chance of surviving.
By 4:15 pm, we reached back and waited inside the traveller for the rest of the trekkers to join. Fasi and Shil, who were the first ones to complete the trek, were sleeping inside the vehicle, exhausted. I learned Fasi wasn’t feeling well; she had vomited her lunch during the downtrek.
Learnings
While Fasi learned the hard way that rice-sambar is probably a bad choice for a mid-trek lunch, I learned that I need to do more cardio and also build my calf muscles. Many times, my legs were shivering like a flag in a storm. I had to rest, drink water, and munch on some food to recuperate.
The sugary drinks and snacks slowed me down. I didn’t need most of the food items I carried, since Sajna Chechi had already brought healthy snacks like biscuits and groundnut bars for us. And I didn’t need that extra dress or umbrella either.
Anxious packing generally helps me to be self-sufficient during solo-travelling, but during treks, it weighs you down, like past baggage. So pack light, let go of unnecessary baggage, in life and in treks.
Around 5:30 pm, we stopped at the Bhavas Hotel, a restaurant in Kottoor. We gorged on snacks and slurped down tea and fresh juices. Coincidentally, the gang of teenage trekkers, including the light-pista-green-t-shirt guy, who helped me when I slipped, also arrived at the restaurant. We exchanged smiles, but my introverted nature froze my legs, preventing me from walking up to them and making small talk. That’s one area I still need to work on.
By 7:30 pm, we returned to Thampanoor. One of the trekkers, Sam Chetan, shared his experience of climbing the Agasthyarkoodam. That’s a trek I would love to explore, but keep procrastinating with the excuse – “You ain’t fit enough for that yet.” I hope to break that limiting internal narrative someday soon.
We bid goodbye to the other trekkers. Fasi drove Shil and me back home, even though she was still exhausted from the trip. “You need to learn to drive,” a part of my heart mumbled, feeling guilty, but the cowardly other half mumbled, “Some day.”
Reflections
Guess I still have a lot of growth arc left in my characterization. But at the end of the day, I chose to focus on my small wins rather than fixate on what I was lacking.
Despite my fear of heights and down treks, I went on a hike after six years and completed it. I met a bunch of lovely strangers and made friends.
I refused to be the frog sitting comfortably in a boiling tumbler of water. I sprang up, jolted, made a plan, got out of my comfort zone, and ended up having a fun day. Not a world-changing event, but definitely a small win for my procrastinating, perfectionist, anxious heart.
So, Day 11/30 in Trivandrum? Done and dusted! And what a day it was!
P.S. This is not a sponsored post. But if you are interested in exploring this trek, do check out the details on the online pages of Appooppanthaadi, Let’s Go for a Camp, or the Kerala forest department. Hope you have a day full of adventure and warmth, too!
Author’s Notes
~ Ownership of the group photos and the ‘Rich Flora’ collage images belongs to the individual trekkers or Appooppanthaadi.
~ All content on this blog, other than the ones mentioned above, is the intellectual property of the author. © 2026 Lirio Marchito. All rights reserved.
~ This blog is part of a series exploring my travels through Trivandrum, the capital city of my home state, Kerala, in India. You can read more posts from this series here. Trivandrum | Kerala| India
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