Vagamon

At a distance of 58 km from Idukki, 76 km from Kumarakom and 64 km from Kottayam, Vagamon is an enchanting hill station situated at an altitude of 1100 m in Idukki district on Kottayam-Idukki border. It is one of the ideal summer destinations in Kerala state and also one of the top places to visit in Kerala.

At the foot hill of Western Ghats, Vagamon is surrounded by 3 hills namely, Thangal hill, Murugan hill and Kurisumala. Also known as the Scotland of Asia, Vagamon 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'.

Kurisumala is a Christian pilgrim center and one of the main attractions at Vagamon. Kurisumala Hill is also home to the famous Indo-Swiss Dairy farm project and Kurisumala Ashram. 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.

Vagamon is comprised of a beautiful series of hillocks, valleys and cascading waterfalls that make it the ideal getaway for tourists. Pine forests, grasslands, meadows and even a popular suicide point at Thangal Hill, adds to the natural beauty of Vagamon. Places of interest within Vagamon include St. Sebastian's Church, Kurisumala Ashram, Parumthupara View Point and Thangalpara Rock Formations. Vagamon is also famous for wide variety of orchids. Wild buffaloes, rare species of birds, insects and elephants can also be located in the forests of Vagamon.

Trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing are the favorite activities at Vagamon. The hill station has developed into a prime paragliding hub and is the venue of international paragliding contests that are conducted here every year. Major tourist centers like Thekkady, Peerumedu, and Kulamavu etc. are easily accessible from Vagamon.

Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, which is about 94 km from Vagamon. Kottayam is the nearest railhead, about 64 km from Vagamon. Vagamon can be accessed by bus from Kottayam, Kochi and Idukki.

Accommodation options are limited in Vagamon and it is better to make bookings in advance. It has all types of accommodation options ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts. The temperature of Vagamon is pleasant throughout the year. The best time to visit Vagamon is from September-May.