- Grade
- Moderate
- Distance
- 18 km there and back
- Walking time
- 7 hours
- Altitude
- 920 m
- Best months
- Oct – May
- Start point
- Kalikesam Eco Camp
- District
- Kanniyakumari
- Nearest station
- Nagercoil Junction, ~27 km
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram, ~76 km
About this trail
Most visitors to Kanniyakumari head for the coast, but a short drive inland brings you to the forests of the southern Western Ghats. This trail starts at the Kalikesam eco camp and heads into the wildlife sanctuary, passing through dry deciduous woods, evergreen patches and open grassland as it climbs to around 900 metres at Injikadavu.
At 18 km there and back and roughly seven hours, it is a long outing, though the gradient is fair. Anyone with basic fitness and a steady pace can do it. Look out for hornbills, butterflies and signs of animals along the way.
Highlights
- Deep walk inside Kanniyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary
- Changing forest types along one route
- Grassland views near the top
- Birds and butterflies throughout
- A green side of Kanniyakumari few visitors see
How the day goes
- ReportingArrive at Kalikesam eco camp and complete ID checks.
- BriefingMeet the guide and go over forest rules.
- Forest climbWalk through deciduous and evergreen stretches towards Injikadavu.
- GrasslandTake a refreshment break in the open near the turnaround.
- ReturnWalk back the same route to the eco camp.
Getting there and staying over
- By train: Nagercoil Junction, ~27 km
- By air: Thiruvananthapuram, ~76 km
- Stay: Not included; hotels in Nagercoil or Kanniyakumari.
What to carry
- Photo ID
- 3 litres of water
- Packed lunch
- Leech socks
- Trekking shoes
- Light rain jacket
- Insect repellent
Good to know
These are guided trails run with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, and each has a daily limit on walkers. Book a few days ahead, carry the same photo ID you booked with, and expect a trail to close at short notice after heavy rain or when elephants are active nearby. We book the permit, arrange the car to and from the start point and, if you want, a hotel nearby for the night before.
More trails in Kanniyakumari
Moderate14 km · 6 hrsKanniyakumari · KalikesamKalikesam – Balamore Estate TrailA 14 km forest-and-plantation walk from Kalikesam, crossing a river and tall forest to the clove and coffee estates of Balamore.
Best: Oct – MayView trail →
Moderate12 km · 5 hrsKanniyakumari · KalikesamKalikesam – Maramalai TrailA 12 km walk from Kalikesam through plantations and shaded forest to an old clove estate at Maramalai, then back to the eco camp.
Best: Oct – MayView trail →Book this trek
Send us your date and group size. We will confirm the slot with the forest team and share the reporting time, car and total cost.
