Roughly around 100 km from Cochin and two hours ride from Kottayam, Vagamon is one of the beautiful hill stations in Kerala. Though I planned a trip to this place earlier, it didn’t materialise due to unexpected floods that hit the state very badly. Finally, I travelled to Vagamon in September and was surprised to see how Malayalis are rebuilding the state. Before heading out, I spoke to a few Malayali friends, property owners and got the assurance that everything was safe.

Vagamon that emerges from within the borders of Idukki district is probably a lesser visited town in Kerala compared to other popular places. The sleepy town has a lot of beautiful places which are pristine, less crowded and lots of off-road tracks. It’s a total bliss to visit.

I missed going there in a proper 4x4 SUV as the place had lots of off-road tracks. If you are a forest lover, then you shouldn’t miss the pine forests that overlook the captivating valley.

  

We were ready to face the possibility that a few places would be closed/blocked after the floods. But to our surprise, all the places were open to tourists. Most tourist spots had no one to collect  the parking fee — my guess is that the contractors decided not to bother, especially, after the floods that shook the entire state.

We visited the Palozhukum Para waterfalls, Marmala falls, Kurisumala top, Murugan Mala, Raman viewpoint and Thangalpara. While driving to Marmala falls there was a partial landslide — we had to drive carefully because only half the road was functional. If you are faint-hearted or if you have a bigger/heavy vehicle you should be careful. You can also explore certain places on foot. Walking on the Vagamon Kurisumala top was a delightful experience with greenery on all sides; the place reminded me of Horton Plains in Sri Lanka.

 

Unfortunately, with mercury levels rising there is an abnormal drying up of rivers. It’s a strange phenomenon that is worrying everyone. At many places, only one-third of the roadside shops were open — others were empty or being repaired. We spoke to locals about the floods and many had heart-wrenching stories to share. The flood has left behind scars that will impact Malayalis’ lives for a while.

There are no fuel stations in Vagamon and the nearest place where fuel is available is Errattupetta (20 km away). So ensure you’ve enough fuel to reach, roam around and return. Also, weather can change very dramatically within minutes. A dry clear sky may start pouring suddenly, so be prepared for extreme weather conditions.

Overall, Vagamon is safe to visit and is ready to welcome tourists. You can enjoy a great weather, captivating views from various hills and viewpoints, long walking trails, rock climbing and tea gardens. A visit to Vagamon can be extended to Munnar/Idukki area (100 km north) or Periyar Wildlife Reserve or Alleppy Houseboat (100 km south).