Kondaketti mala

Getting There

The trek starts from a concrete road. A panchayat representative at the parking area collects the parking fee and can give basic route information before you head up.

Farm Section

The concrete road gives way to terraced farmland. The farms are cut into the slope with stone retaining walls built to prevent soil erosion and create level ground; the route climbs these walls in sequence. The path is informal and unmarked. Where the route is unclear, discarded packaging from previous trekkers is often the most reliable indicator of where the trail continues.

The Wall

The farm section ends at a large rock face that looks like a solid wall. The trail forks here: take the right branch. The left branch is incorrect. A direct ascent of the face is possible but exposed and risky; the right branch bypasses it.

Mid-Section

Above the wall, the trail climbs gradually on small loose rock. Several sections are slippery: the surface is made up of small rock fragments that give poor grip, particularly on the steeper pitches. The route approaches the peak from the side rather than directly.

Final Climb

The final ascent is steep with limited footing. Villooni Mala is visible on one side and grassland opens across the upper slope as the summit comes into view.

Summit

The summit is open grassland. Walk to the far end of the plateau to reach the highest point, a boulder. Agasthyamala rises to the north; Koonichimala stands on one side of it and Villooni Mala on the other, with Kurusumala visible behind Villooni. The Chittar reservoir and Kaalimala lie in the middle distance below.