Vagamon is a hill station situated in Kerala near the border of Kotayyam-Iduki. Vagamon is surrounded by a sequence of three quaint hills, namely Murugan Hill, Kurisumala Hill and Thangal Hill.
History of Vagamon
Discovered by the British, who found the region ideal for tea plantations, Vagamon is also known as the ‘Scotland of Asia’. Later on Christian missionaries came and made Kurisumala ‘mountain of the holy cross’, in Vagamon, their spiritual abode.
People & Culture of Vagamon
The three hills of Vagamon have made this place so popular, that it is now a sacred place to three distinguished religious beliefs - Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The Kurisumala Hill is a popular hill station and is a spiritual centre for the Nazrani Catholics. The nearby Kurisumula Ashram is a home of religious bliss. This hill contains 12 sub heaps which are the actual places of worship.
Things to do in Vagamon
Vagamon offers all kinds of activities from pilgrimage, natural beauty and premium holiday resorts. Many types of flora and fauna in varied colours and species can be located easily in this hilly region. While long grasses and shrubs are present in lower altitudes, the higher altitudes have evergreen trees.
Apart from natural trails in the hills of Vagamon, wild buffaloes, rare species of birds, insects and big elephants can also be located in the forests. Vagamon is also a favourite spot of adventure seekers and offers trekking, rock climbing, paragliding and other adventurous activities.
Vagamon packages provide travellers several options to choose from according to their taste and budget.
Kurisumala Hill is home to the famous Indo-Swiss Dairy farm project. The place is completely enclosed with tea estates and lakes. Thangal Hill is the burial chamber of Sheikh Fariduddin and
Murugan Hill is devoted to Hindu God Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva. The third, Kurisumala Hill has a
Kurisumala Ashram, which is a religious residence that links to both Hindu and Christian faith.
Pine forests, grasslands, meadows and even a popular suicide point at
Thangal Hill, adds to the natural beauty of Vagamon. Travelling through the main road in this division is an exciting experience with deep valleys and splendid sites throughout.
Travelling to Vagamon
Vagamon is well connected and easily accessible by road from Kottayam and Cochin. It is around 100 km from Cochin and Trivandrum, the state capital. The nearest railway station to
reach Vagamon is approximately 64 km away in Kottayam.
Accommodation options in Vagamon
Being a hill station,
hotels in Vagamon are slightly crowded in summer and it is better to make bookings in advance if visiting during this time. The region caters to all types of budgets and has accommodation options ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts. Most of the budget options are situated at an optimal distance from the waterfalls and other attractions. There are also suitable accommodation options for trekkers in the surrounding areas.
During December-January, Vagamon exhibits a pleasant mood of nature, mist that can be touched, raindrops, gentle breeze and the golden hue. The place has a pleasant climate and has temperature of 10-230C in summer even in midday.
