Vagamon (Malayalam: വാഗമണ്)
is a hill station located in Kottayam-Idukki border of Kottayam district of
Kerala, India. It has a cool climate with the temperature between 10 and 23 °C
during a summer midday. It is situated 1,100 meters above sea level. Vagamon
also known as the 'Scotland of Asia', was discovered by the British who found
the place ideal for tea plantations and they were followed by Christian missionaries
who built their abode of service at Kurisumala in Vagamon. National Geographic
Traveler has listed Vagamon on their directory of the '50 most attractive
places to visit in India’.
Still untouched by commercialisation, the sleepy town with its
scenic valleys, beautiful green meadows, enchanting pine forests, mists, fogs,
tea estates, waterfalls with the overall greenery is really striking. The
landscape is mostly hilly bald with green meadows. Vagamon is also home to a
large variety of flowers and orchids. Cuddled up within three striking hills
Thangal, Murugan and Kurisumala hills which are the representation of the chief
religions in Kerala, i.e. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian which represent the
cultural harmony. Vagamon has amenities for trekking, paragliding,
mountaineering and rock climbing. However business interests are trying their
best to exploit and sell and market vagamon for tourists. How much benefits the
local people are receiving from tourism boom is to be seen. The efforts made by
the Kurishumala Ashram have helped the farmers of vagamon to improve their
earnings by ensuring better price for milk and marketing opportunities.
Vagamon is at the fringe of the Western Ghats and the foot
hills on its lower side reach up to Teekoy with a gradual descent. This narrow
strip of descending land gives a vital connectivity to the plains as both sides
of vagamon up to kuttikkanam on the south west and moolamattom on the north
east, are marked by steep and inaccessible hill slopes. Traveling by the hill
highway in this section is an exhilarating experience with deep valleys and
magnificent views all around. Vagamon presents very spectacular views with an
ethereal touch. Vagamon's charm is worth experiencing and is indeed one of the
must see places for tourists. Reaching Vagamon itself is an extraordinary
experience. The meandering road to Vagamon is cut in solid rock lined with pine
forests. And as you wind your way through green capped hills, the rolling
plains come into view thousands of feet below you. The road to vagamon from
Erattupetta opened an easily accessible and direct route to vagamon from the
plains. This road which was constructed in the 1950s was an engineering marvel
and is rated a state highway. Had it not been for the initiative and influence
of the then member of parliament Shri George Thomas kottukappillil this very
expensive road would not have been materialised. The road was made in
treacherous and dizzying terrain. About a dozen workers died during the
construction at the hanging cliffs and a 20 foot tall memorial tower stands in
honour of those who gave their life for this road project at the beginning of
the road in Teekoy town junction .
Vagamon is located 39 km from Thodupuzha, 33 km away from
Palai, 45 km from Kumily, 22 km from Kuttikanam and about 65 km from Kottayam.
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport while the closest railway
station is Kottayam. There are many fine resorts available in the surrounding
areas with affordable cost for trekkers. Key tourist centers such as Thekkady,
Peermade and Kulamavu are straightforwardly reachable from Vagamon.
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