Exploring the Top 10 Attractions in Vagamon, Kerala (2024)
Kerala, God’s Own Country, is truly a paradise on earth. An excellent climate, beautiful beaches, serene stretches of backwaters and canals, exotic wildlife that roam through the many national parks, and lush green hill stations are just some of the many reasons why Kerala is the perfect destination to visit.
In this picturesque state of Kerala in southern India, one of the best kept secrets is Vagamon. Aptly named as the Scotland of Asia, Vagamon is located near the Kottayam–Idukki border and is sometimes also known as Wagamon.
Vagamon is a quiet, offbeat hill station that has a lovely climate throughout the year. This breathtaking tourist destination is surrounded by lush green hills and many meandering rivulets. There are many pine forests, tea gardens, mesmerizing meadows, and cascading waterfalls that Vagamon is known for.
What Does Vagamon Offer For Tourists?
Vagamon has recently become popular as one of the leading adventure tourism spots in India, with activities like rock climbing, trekking, paragliding, watersports, and many other exciting options available for tourists. Tourists can cycle through the mountains to explore the place up close. In fact, there is even an International Paragliding Festival that is organized by the Kerala Tourism Department and the Adventure Sports and Sustainable Tourism Academy in Vagamon every year. This festival is not only a big draw for tourists, but it is very popular amongst the locals as well.
Apart from these exciting activities to do in Vagamon, here are some of the top attractions you must visit in Vagamon.
Exploring the Top Attractions in Vagamon
1. Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary
The first place you want to visit in Vagamon is the Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located just ten kilometers from Vagamon. The Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary is the ideal picnic spot to spend your day from the hustle-bustle of the city. This is a romantic spot, and you will find many couples boating here.
This peaceful romantic destination is a great place to spend with your friends and family. The sanctuary is surrounded by majestic mountains and a serene lake in the middle. The sanctuary houses many elephants, tigers, and other native and exotic animals.
You can take a boat ride across the lake to experience the silence and scenic views all around. The Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary is a paradise for nature lovers who want a spot of solitude in the middle of all the noise and stress of our daily lives.
2. Vagamon Meadows
Vagamon is a nature’s paradise, and the biggest draw of this hill station is visiting the lush green grasslands here. Surrounded by hills, the meadows of Vagamon are all about lush greenery and cool breeze. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.
3. Pine Hill
The huge forest of pine trees in Vagamon makes for a beautiful sight as you get to walk amongst the fragrant, tall pine trees. Most visitors find Pine Hill to be a peaceful and relaxing place, and many like to use their time here to just take a stroll down the hill, being close to nature.
4. Kurisumala
Kurisumala is a famous Christian pilgrimage in Vagamon. Kurisumala sees followers from all over the country gather here, especially during the Good Friday and Easter week. Followers gather here to climb up the hills carrying wooden crosses. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vagamon, and you will almost always find a crowd gathered here.
5. Kurisumala Ashram
The Kurisumala Ashram is a famous monastery in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Set up in 1958, the Kurisumala Ashram is a part of the Kurisumala pilgrimage. The name Kurisu means Cross, and Mala means mountain – a symbol of the monks who spent their monastic life on the mountain of the cross within the hill ranges of Vagamon.
The Kurisumala Ashram is located at the height of 4000 feet above sea level. The place is famous for being home to a community of spiritual seekers who have left their homes and are no longer allowed to get back. The monks stay here and work, study, and pray. A holy mass also takes place with chanting that has been adopted from the Hinduism form of worship. The monks here wear a dress known as Khavi, walk barefoot, and have their food while sitting on the floor.
The hill on which the ashram is located is sometimes also known as the Mount of Transfiguration.
6. Vagamon Falls
Located in the heart of dense greenery and beautiful surroundings, the Vagamon Falls is a famous landmark of this area. This popular picnic spot is a real treat for the eyes as you see the waterfall come cascading down the slopes of the hill. This scenic place is a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.
The Vagamon Falls used to be called Palaruvi Falls in the past and is one of the must-see places in Vagamon.
7. Thangalpara
Thangalpara is a scenic destination in Vagamon located 2500 meters above sea level. There is a spherical rock formation here that is quite unique to look at. The entire area around Thangalpara also has a lot of spiritual significance since a Sufi Saint by the name Sheikh Fariduddin is believed to have once lived on this hill until he died around eight centuries ago. The spherical stone that can be found here is believed to have been used by the saint, and legend has it that after his death, the rock grew in size. The tomb of Saint Sheikh Fariduddin is located just next to this rock formation.
8. Barren Hills
Barren Hills is another popular tourist attraction in Vagamon. The hill has vast stretches of lush green land that is a treat to behold. People come here in large numbers to check out the magnificent sunsets. These hills are also famous for paragliding, rock climbing, and trekking.
9. Maramala Waterfalls
The Maramala Waterfall is located in the heart of dense vegetation. This breathtakingly magnificent natural water body comes crashing down from a height of 60 meters.
The waterfall is located in the Teekoy Rubber Estate and is surrounded by dense rubber plantations, which is what attracts many nature lovers to this spot.
10. Mundakayam Ghat
The Mundakayam Ghat is a unique hilly formation that has a mesmerizing terrain. It is a popular place for taking nature walks and for bird watching. Once you trek to the top of the hill, you get to take in some stunning views of the entire area.
The Mundakayam Ghat is a popular location for paragliding.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Vagamon?
Due to the pleasant climate of Vagamon, you can visit this beautiful hill station any time of the year. However, the best time to visit Vagamon would be during the summer months of March to June. The winter months of October to March are also great. During June to September, there is heavy rainfall as the monsoon season sets in, and traveling to Vagamon in the rains can be an arduous task. Not to mention most outdoor adventure activities also remain suspended during the rains.
How To Reach Vagamon?
Vagamon is located just 100 kilometers away from Cochin and can be easily reached by road. There are many buses and taxis available that ply from the nearby towns of Cochin, Munnar, Kottayam, and Trivandrum.
If you want to take a flight to Vagamon, the nearest airport would be the Cochin International Airport. From there you can either take a state transport bus or rent a taxi to reach Vagamon.
