It’s been in the recent few years that people are gradually moving towards the south for a glimpse of the hills. Even though Kashmir, Leh and Shimla can never lose its charm, tourists do want something new. Most of the hill stations in the southern part of India had stayed for a long part unexplored. Acres and acres of tea plantations, verdant hills, lakes and pine forests are now being discovered. To be precise, South India has a total of above 40 hill stations. Lost among the popular hill stations is Vagamon, a sleepy little hill town in Kerala. Emerging from within the borders of Idukki, it was once a quiet and forgotten land. Things have changed within the past few years, and Vagamon is now a major tourist place. Let’s take a look at the best places to visit in Vagamon.
Primarily this hill station had been used by the British for tea plantations. Situated within 1,100 meters above sea-level, it has a cool climate with temperatures between 10-23 Degree Celsius in summer. The lush green hills here are adorned with breathtaking ravines and meandering rivulets. Vagamon has turned into one perfect tourist place surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens. The pine forests, waterfalls and vast meadows are something to look out for. People spend hours just to become one with nature. Parts of Vagamon are still unexplored and virgin. If you drive down towards the town, it’s a scattered mix of few shops and buildings. The road to Vagamon is meandering and is cut in solid rock lined with pine forests.
Top 11 Places to visit in Vagamon
1. Vagamon Pine Forest
With acres occupied by magnificent Pine trees, it’s one of the best Vagamon attractions. Exploring the forest is one of the best things to do in Vagamon. The sheer height of the towering pines is enough to leave you mesmerized. In front of that, you would appear quite small. The forest is seldom crowded and hence is quite unpolluted. Long tranquil walks and taking some stunning pictures of the place is a must-do here. The sparse wood there is usually a human-made one, and the forest is a favourite spot with filmmakers. Did you know that the forest was created during the British Raj and still stands overlooking an enchanting valley? Its charm and sheer beauty make it one of the best places to visit in Vagamon.
- Timings: 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Fees: No entry fee
Suggested Read: Top places to visit in Kovalam
2. Marmala Waterfall
Popularly known as the ‘Enchantress of the jungle’, Marmala is one of the best Vagamon tourist places. The waterfall plummets from an altitude of 200 feet. Unblemished, clear waters gush down with such a force that it creates an aura of mist around them. The scintillating waterfalls splash into a 12 feet pond and run down to join the river Teekoy. The clear, cascading waters against the timber trees on the green carpeted mountains offers quite a sight. With rich biodiversity and vast forest cover, it’s one of the top places to visit in Vagamon. For trekkers, this place is quite a paradise as it offers quite a lot of opportunities. But, the rough terrain is tough to trek. The road is slippery and full of obstacles. So, we would recommend only experienced trekkers to undertake this journey.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: No entry fee
3. Thangal Para
A Muslim sacred site located on the Thangal Hill, it’s counted among the top Vagamon tourist spots. The place is thronged by devotees as well as tourists in large numbers throughout the year. Placed at around 5 km from the main town, hiking till there is one of the best things to do in Vagamon. Thangal Para has a big spherical rock along with the tomb (dargah) of Sheikh Fariuddin. Almost about 800 years ago, he had supposedly visited this place from Afghanistan. The place is dedicated to him as he took his last breath there. Even though it’s just a religious site, it still does make for one of the most amazing places to visit in Vagamon. There is also a small mosque just below the huge rock. Every year in April, Urus festival is celebrated with great pomp and show by the devotees. Apart from being a religious site, the place offers fantastic views of lush grasslands, thick forests and meadows.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: No entry fee
Also Read: Top 11 stunning places to visit in Munnar
4. Barren Hills
Yet another lovely place in Vagamon, it’s a famous attraction with vast stretches of green meadows. A complete treat to your eyes, it’s the sunset view from this place which lures visitors. And, people do come in large numbers to take in the breathtaking scenery the place offers. The hills are famous for various activities like trekking, paragliding and rock climbing due to the terrain. As the cycle of the season rolls on, the hills change from lush to bare. Barren Hills is an awesome destination and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Vagamon. It’s like the view is entirely different in each season. It’s one of those places if you want to experience all the four seasons in Kerala.
- Timings: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Fees: INR 20 – INR 50
5. Vagamon Lake
The lake is that perfect spot with visitors due to the tranquil and calm environment it offers. It’s considered as one of the top places to visit in Vagamon. Sitting by the lake and spending a couple of hours is one of the top things to do in Vagamon. Even though this lake is not as big as the ones in Munnar and Kodaikanal, it is good enough to while away some time. Pedal and rowing boats are available at tremendously marginal rates. Bordered by hilly elevations, the place is bathed in verdant greenery. Its sheer beauty makes for one of the best Vagamon sightseeing places. The hillocks are covered with well-trimmed lawns that bear bright and beautiful flowers.
- Timings: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Fees: Free entry
Must Read: Top 15 Things to do in Kerala
6. Mundakayam Ghat
Located around 8 km from the main hill town, it is a panoramic place with amazing views. This place is also famed for bird watching. So, if you are a bird lover and enthusiast, then a visit to this place is a must. This place also offers a picturesque view of the adjacent areas as well. Among nature lovers and shutterbugs, Mundakayam is one of the hot favourite Vagamon tourist places. This place is also popular among adventure seekers. Just dedicated to paragliding, there is a festival which takes place. It’s organized by the ASSTA (Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy). Of late it’s becoming quite famous because of this paragliding activity held at Mundakayam Ghat.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: Free entry
7. Vagamon Falls
Escape into the jungle trails while taking in the breathtaking view of the Vagamon Falls. It’s one of the best things to do in Vagamon. Trekking along the river trail as it flows through the lush green grasslands of the hill town. It’s the best thing to experience the thrill of walking deep inside the Western Ghats. Clouds would accompany you till the end, and there’s a thin air of mist hanging which would surround you. It’s a pristine location which takes some couple of hours to reach from the main hill town. But, every moment is worth it. People mostly cover this place as a day trip. One of the top places to visit in Vagamon, you can spend almost half a day over there.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: Free entry
Must Read: One day trips from top Indian cities: Best City Getaways in India
8. Idukki Dam
Consider it as a day trip and drive down to the beautiful dam of Idukki district. It takes around 2 hours from Vagamon to reach the place. It’s a double curvature arch dam constructed across the Periyar river in a narrow gorge between two granite hills. They are the Kuravan and Kurathi in Kerala. With an altitude of about 168.91 meters, it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia. The dam supports a 780 MW hydroelectric power station in Moolamattom. Across the beautiful Periyar River, the dam is a complete geometric marvel. The dam enlists as one of the best places in Vagamon sightseeing.
- Timings: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Fees: INR 10 (per adult), INR 5 (for children), INR 600 (15 mins boating charges)
9. Kurisumala Hill
Kurisumala translates to ‘Cross Mountain’ is a Christian Pilgrim centre. Situated at a distance of about 5 km from Vagamon, it’s an important religious centre for the Christians. The church located atop the hill has 14 crosses on its pathway. Devotees are seen to carry small wooden crosses during the holy week while climbing up the hill. Murugan Mala is another hill which is located to the east of this church. It is a rock cut temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. Devotees can also see an old European house and an old artificial lake while climbing the hill. Many tea estates and dense forests are located nearby. Trekking and camping at Kurisumala Hill are one of the best things to do in Vagamon.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: Free entry
Suggested Read: 19 Amazing Places to visit in August in India
10. Karikadu View Point
If you are driving down to Vagamon from Kottayam, then this place is quite hard to miss. Relaxed atmosphere and cloud covered hills makes for an enchanting view. Spend a good 15-20 minutes to admire the view. It’s a pleasant feeling to become one with the tranquil atmosphere there. Lush green hills at a distance offer a relaxing effect on the ones who stopped to appreciate the scenery. There are small refreshments which are readily available nearby. Best time to visit is early morning or before sunset. Yes. You should visit this place to enjoy a mesmerizing sunset. During the Good Friday week, it’s flocked by tourists from all over Kerala and even other states.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: Free entry
11. Parunthumpara
It is a viewpoint located in one of the beautiful mountain tops near Peeramade town. What you get to see from here is the spectacular 360-degree view of the Peeramade hills. Trekking to the mountain is one of the best things to do in Vagamon. It’s an enchanting experience to trek up for all adventure and nature lovers. From the main point, you would also get to see the Makara Jyothi, which is the holy light during the festival season. The tranquillity and calm of the place give you a relaxing feeling altogether. Parunthumpara, with its amazing viewpoint, is one of the best places to visit in Vagamon.
- Timings: 24 hours
- Fees: Free entry
Things to do in Vagamon
Vagamon, even though it is a budding tourist destination, it still does offer a wide range of activities for tourists. Trekking, paragliding, rock climbing, boating are some of the best activities in Vagamon. Let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in Vagamon.
1. Walking in the Pine Forest
Just a leisurely walk into the dense woods of Pine Hill is one of the best things to do in Vagamon. The place offers a natural calm, and there is that prickling silence which looms around you when you walk along the uneven trail. You can also try out sending across an echo of your voice. It’s like if you call out a name loudly, it reflects and can be heard all over the forest.
2. Paragliding training
Yes. You can also sign up for a paragliding course with ASSTA (Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy). The setup of the place where you would be taking up the course is for one word-beautiful. Surrounded by grassy hillocks, crisp clear mountain, the location is at the Kolahalamedu Hills.
3. Hilltop Camping in Vagamon
It’s a fantastic campsite in the hills of Vagamon which would offer you an otherworldly experience. A stretch of meadows which are all covered in greens is the ideal place to stay over for a night or two. Early mornings are the best when you would wake up to a surreal sight of cloud below you. Take a walk through the green meadows. Make sure to carry enough food with you as the surrounding areas don’t offer too much for refreshments.
Further Read: Best Places to visit in July in India
Conclusion
If you are looking out for a quiet and peaceful getaway, then Vagamon is undoubtedly one of the best places. For people in South India, it’s one of the easily accessible destinations for the weekend. As for the others, a day or two in Vagamon is a must in our itinerary.
Leave a Reply