Vagamon , Kerala

Friends and travel are two of life's most precious treasures and when they intertwine it is absolutely enchanting. 

One such journey was our trip to Vagamon...

Tea gardens at Vagamon

We started our trip taking a flight to 

View point 

Cochin and then, hopped into the cabs with our baggages, which were packed for the next three days. The journey to Vagamon along the ghat roads, was like a beautiful painting, with tea gardens, valleys, and tall pine trees. The fresh mountain air welcomed us, to this misty hill town, nestled at an altitude of 1200 meters on the borders of Kottayam-Idukki district in Kerala.

On the way to Vagamon, we made a stop at the Malankara dam, a gravity dam built across the Thodupuzha river for the purpose of irrigation. This picturesque reservoir serves as a popular spot to halt for tourists heading to Vagamon.

Malankara Dam

Grasmere Resorts
(Pic courtesy Aravind)

Our accommodation for 3 days and 3 nights was at Grasmere Resorts, surrounded by lush tea gardens and tall trees. The resort was ideally situated atop a small hill, offering comfortable rooms and delicious breakfast and dinner spreads. 

Vagamon boasts of numerous attractions to explore, but due to its hilly terrain, travel times can be long. It's best to heed to the recommendations of the locals and visit the popular spots. We explored a few places and spent our evenings unwinding at the resort.

A misty morning at Vagamon

Vagamon Meadows encompasses a collection of small lush meadows spread across a large area, making it an ideal destination for group visits. The sheer beauty of these meadows sets as an ideal spot for many film shoots.

The Pine Forest 

Vagamon Pine Forest sprawls across an expansive region, with towering pine trees thriving on the steep slopes of the valley. This man-made forest was established during the British rule in India and is another spot worth visiting. 

Outside the dam premise

The Idukki Arch Dam, is one of the tallest arch dams in Asia. It stands as a spectacular sight situated on the River Periyar nestled between two hills Kuravathi and Kuravan. The surrounding area is adorned with lush greenery, and the reservoir serves as a popular destination for both locals and tourists. One can spend time walking across the dam to enjoy it's magnitude and architecture. (Photography is prohibited here)

At KPM Farms

KPM Farms is a recently established attraction featuring an artificial cascade and lake set on a breathtaking view. Additionally it boasts of a small eatery which serves freshly caught fish. The main highlight at this tourist spot is the coracle ride. 

The coracle ride

Our time spent at Vagamon was a collage of exquisite moments. On our return to the airport, we made a deliberate stop at Vazhakulam to savour the most delectable varieties of pineapples, almost like concluding our trip with a delightful dessert. This place is aptly referred to as the Pineapple City of India and is the largest producer of the sweetest variety of Pineapples in the country. The streets of Vazhakulam are heaped with abundance of pineapples. The local vendors take immense pride in showcasing their skills of artfully cutting and serving the fruit, and tempting us to bring some home. 

Pineapples at Vazhakulam

The saying "Friends that travel together, stay together," holds true, as we make plans to our next destination to create more such memories together.. 

* During our trip, we also visited Thekkady from Vagamon, which will feature in my next post ...