Kerala Tourism - Green Rolling Hillocks of Vagamon

A tour to the hill stations of Kerala is really enrapturing as the green vegetation endowed here cajoles the hearts. Vagamon is another scenic hill station located in Kottayam-Idukki border of Idukki district of Kerala, India. Situated about 1,100m above sea level, this fringe of Western Ghats has a cool climate with the temperature in between 10 and 23 °C during summer. Vagamon also known as the 'Scotland of Asia’, was discovered by the British during the colonial rule.

My college days ended with a picnic to this lovely spot near to Cochin. Our journey was filled with jokes, songs and chats that we all were somewhere in a dream world. I didn’t know when the bus started rolling through the narrow rocky terrain roads, but the green hills and pine forests passing by told me that I was in the foothills of Vagamon. As the bus crawled up the hills of Vagamon, greenery of the valleys also got thickened. What I heard about Vagamon was true; an overtone of greenery is Vagamon.

As we were watching the scenery outside through the windows, plenty of hillocks or knolls glided past our eyes. It was Vagamon, the placid, green spot blended with ravines and rivulets. The bus stopped nearby and we alighted to trek the hillock meadows and reach the nature’s lap. Trekking was easy as the small, rounded hills were vegetated with thick grass that gave us a firm grip. As you reach the top of one hillock, other endless rolling hillocks surrounding become visible that adds another one to God's handicrafts in Kerala.

We decided to stay atop for some time, taking some snaps and munching the crispy chips we had brought. The cool, pleasant climate was also influenced by the chilly breeze blowing from the forest lands behind. From there, as we moved down, we couldn’t detect the exact way that took us to the top as all the surrounding knolls were looking alike. On the way back, we reached a small lake where we could sit on its banks and tinker the toes in it. The scenic backdrop where the lake was perched was indeed majestic that cast a spell in our minds.

It was the month of September and so the beholding sight of fog capping the hills could not be seen. I’ve heard that when fog slowly conquers the green hillocks, the fog looks like a lace stitched for the velvet lawns of Vagamon. By evening, we reached the roads and entered our bus with minds swaying in spring with what this exotic, silent, nature’s paradise gifted us.

Those who want to spend a few days in Vagamon can stay in the cottages and villas built amidst forest and plantations. Several activities such as adventurous jeep safari, a visit to rose garden, boating in the sleepy lakes, cycling and trekking are possible. Untouched by commercialization, the serene Vagamon with its scenic valleys, over toned green meadows, pristine pine forests, fogs, tea estates, waterfalls and lakes exudes its exotic aura with a finishing touch of a large variety of flowers and orchids.