Vagamon
| Vagamon Wagamon | |
|---|---|
| Hill station | |
 Vagamon meadow | |
| Nickname(s): Scotland of Asia | |
  Vagamon Location in Kerala, India  Vagamon Vagamon (India) | |
| Coordinates: 9°40′50″N 76°52′0″E / 9.68056°N 76.86667°ECoordinates: 9°40′50″N 76°52′0″E / 9.68056°N 76.86667°E | |
| Country |
 |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam, Idukki |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democracy |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 685503 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-37, KL-35 |
| Nearest city | erattupetta, Elappara, Kattappana, kottayam, |
| Nearest Railway Station | Nearest airport = Cochin International Airport |
 |
Vagamon, also spelt Wagamon, is a hill station located in Meenachil taluk and Kanjirappally taluk of Kottayam district and Peerumade taluk of Idukki district of the state of Kerala, India.
Climate
It has a cool climate, with the temperature between 10 and 23 °C during a summer midday. It is situated 1,100 metres above sea level.
History
Vagamon was used by the British 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".[1]
Tourism
Still untouched by commercialisation, the sleepy town is surrounded by valleys, green meadows, pine forests, mists, fogs, tea estates, waterfalls and overall greenery. The landscape is mostly hilly bald with green meadows. Vagamon is also home to a variety of flowers and orchids. Three hills - Thangal, Murugan and Kurisumala hills - are the representation of the chief religions in Kerala, i.e. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian which represent the cultural harmony. Vagamon has amenities for trekking, paragliding, mountaineering and rock climbing. However, business interests are trying their best to exploit and sell and market Vagamon for tourists. How much benefit the local people are receiving from tourism boom is to be seen. The efforts made by the Kurishumala Ashram have helped the farmers of Vagamon to improve their earnings by ensuring better prices for milk and marketing opportunities.[2] Vagamon also host the only Ultra Trail Marathon in Kerala, every January. It is organized by Soles of Cochin, a non-profit running Club.[3]
Geography
Vagamon is at the fringe of the Western Ghats and the foothills on its lower side reach up to Teekoy with a gradual descent. This narrow strip of descending land gives a vital connectivity to the plains as both sides of Vagamon up to Kuttikkanam on the south-west and Moolamattom on the north-east, are marked by steep and inaccessible hill slopes. Travelling by the hill highway in this section is an exhilarating experience, with deep valleys and views all around. Reaching Vagamon itself involves traversing a meandering road that is cut into solid rock and lined with pine forests.
Transportation
The road to Vagamon from Erattupetta (Erattupetta is also known as the gateway of Malanadu) opened an easily accessible and direct route to Vagamon from the plains. This road, which was constructed in the 1950s, was an engineering marvel and is rated a state highway. The road was made in treacherous and dizzying terrain under the initiative and leadership of Acharya Francis who established the Kurisumala Ashramam. About a dozen workers died during the construction at the hanging cliffs, and a 20-foot-tall memorial tower stands in honour of those who gave their life for this road project at the beginning of the road in Teekoy town junction.
Education
¤ DC School of Management and Technology (DCSMAT) and DC School Of Architecture And Design are the two institutions, promoted by DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and co-promoted by DC Books, located in Pullikkanam near Vagamon. DCSMAT, one of the leading management colleges in Kerala, has two campuses located in Thiruvananthapuram and Vagamon.[4] DCSMAT offer courses such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). DC School Of Architecture And Design provides courses such as Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (BA Interior Design) and Bachelor of Architecture (BArch).
- College of dairy science under veterinary university near veterinary hospital is the newly formed educational institute in Vagamon.
Schools
- Gov. HSS Vagamon
- St. Alphonsa EM school
- INDO-AMERICAN International school
- St. Anthony's HS Vellikulam near Vagamon
- St. Thomas HS Pullikkanam near Vagamon
Location
Vagamon is located 15 km from Kottamala ,39 km from Thodupuzha, 23 km from Erattupetta, 33 km from Palai, 45 km from Kumily, 22 km from Kuttikanam and about 65 km from Kottayam. Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, while the closest railway station is Kottayam. There are many fine resorts available in the surrounding areas with affordable cost for trekkers. Key tourist centers such as Thekkady, Peermade and Kulamavu are straightforwardly reachable from Vagamon.
Places of interest
1) Murugan Mala is a small hill, which is around 8 km from the hill town. The hill is adorned with the temple of Lord Murugan, erected using a single rock. An example of rock-cut temple architecture of India, this temple is flocked by devotees from all over the country, every year. The deity of the temple, Lord Murugan, is known to be the son of Lord Shiva.
2) Kurisumala Ashram is located in a hill area which includes 12 sub mounds where pilgrims visit. Travelers can enjoy trekking and climbing this high hill. The area is fully surrounded with tea estates and lakes.
3) Hitech Bull Mother Farm KLDB Kolahalamedu. Acclaimed as a top research-oriented facility in the dairy sector in the State, the high-tech bull mother farm comes under the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB), which was born after the integration of the Indo Swiss Project, Kerala, and the Bull Station in Dhoni in 1976. (restricted entry)
4) Mitraniketan: Padma Shri Laurie Baker's & wife Dr. Elizabeth Baker's residence and hospital (now the residence is known as Ashasadan) also home to nurse Alina Cattani, and Dr. Hildegarde Sina, built by Laurie Baker in 1964 his inimitable style of architecture.
5) Vagamon Meadows: The rolling green meadows of Vagamon have a lake amidst them. It has for long been a favorite location for shooting movie songs.
6) Pine Forests: A valley having huge lofty pine trees lined in rows (pine valleys is one of the most attractive place in Vagamon)
7) Paragliding spot / viewpoint - This tourist adventure site of Vagamon is situated at the hills of Kolahalamedu, forming part of south India‘s second highest peak namely the Amruthamedu. There is a 10 km long ridge of 3,000 feet in height from top to bottom. This site has steady winds blowing in the south western direction throughout the season. Para gliders from different parts of the world have experienced this astonishing adventurous place and is known for its safety and professional support from Fly Vagamon Para glider’s club based in Vagamon which organizes and conducts annual Para-gliding event from Sept to Jan and March to May every year. The club offers training to new comers to experience and realize the thrills of flying.
8) Mooppanpara: It is a v-shaped canyon, one of the admired viewpoints as well acknowledged as a suicide point. The outlook from the summit of the strenuous climb is amazing.
9) Shivaganga waterfalls - it’s got name from the myth that depicts lord Shiva brought the Ganga water to quench the thirst of his followers. This place is also known as palozhukum para.
10) Honeymoon Cave - The Honeymoon cave is named in reference to the Puranas of lord Shiva and Parvati. The cave is reached by trekking into the jungle, one of the un-explored caves in Vagamon.
11) Sita Vanam & Idukki wildlife sanctuary - The Idukki wildlife Sanctuary is located 23 km away from Vagamon. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary here spreads over an area of 105.364 sq km covered by an enchanting canopy of tropical ever-green and deciduous trees, and offers boat rides. Elephant, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger, wild boar etc. are seen here apart from various species of snakes including cobra, viper, kraits and numerous non-poisonous ones. Birds include grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, several species of woodpeckers, bulbuls, flycatchers, etc. The wildlife here is similar to that of Thekkady. This sanctuary lies adjacent to the world renowned Idukki Arch Dam also known as Sita Vanam.
12) Wild Orchid Park - The 15 hectare garden of Orchids is located in Kolahalamedu in Vagamon The garden is packed with rare variety of Orchids that are found in the Western Ghats. Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) Vagamon took complete initiative to operate the first Orchid garden in Kerala which will help in enhancing the greenery of Vagamon.
13) Mavely Cave is named after "Mahabali" or "Maveli” the benevolent Asura king in the ancient Hindu mythology. The cave is believed to be the portal that leads to the underworld dimension in reference with the mythology. In reality, the prodigious cave is overwhelming with wonders .A great place to explore.
14) Marmala Waterfall - Marmala Waterfall lies a few kilometers away from Erattupetta, in Kottayam district, Kerala, India inside a private estate. It is exactly 7 km from Teekoy rubber estate. From here a private vehicle can take you further 2 km after which the road is not motorable. Only a four-wheel drive (4x4) Jeep can go through the narrow path, often passing over the uneven rocky terrain. Even the jeep will not take you to the bottom of the falls. To reach the falls one has to get off the jeep and trek through the estate over the slippery rocky path. The waterfall is about 60 meters in height, falling into a 12-meter deep pool and joins the River Teekoy way down.
15) The Moon Hill - the Moon Hill unfolds its name apparently from this alluring event; in which the hill appears to be kissing the moon in the night sky on full moon nights. The View from top of the hill is so fascinating, as it gives you a feeling that you are on moon. The moon hill is known for its intense mind soothing backdrop for meditation and birds like Red Eagles. Locales relate the moon hill is similar to the mystical place where lord Krishna used to rest as in the epic.
Feature films in Vagamon
Song sequences of many South Indian films are shot in Vagamon. Recently, the Naseeruddin Shah starrer - The Blueberry Hunt -and Mammootty starrer The Great Father was also shot in Vagamon and surrounding area.
Malayalam film "Ramente Edan Thottam", Tamil film Puli also shot at Vagamon.
Issues
In August 2008, the Kerala Police said it had begun investigations two months back into a training camp organized in December 2007 by the banned SIMI activist[5]
On 18 August 2014, two tourists from Kozhikode died in Vagamon, after lightning struck them. Others who were with them sustained minor injuries. The incident happened at around 4:30 PM when the tourists were hanging around the barren hill tops. Both fell after the lightning hit them and their dresses had burnt out. Though both were taken to hospital, they died by the time they arrived.[6][7]
People
Vagamon consists of mostly Malayali people. In addition, there are a lot of Tamil people in Vagamon. Tamil people arrived here as labourers on estates. These people settled here and now they are also the part in government, education, farming, etc.
In some cases of official purposes, Tamil is also used as an additional official language. In some rural areas of Vagamon, Tamil people have more dominant population than Malayalis. Now, most of the Tamil people speak Malayalam. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the most widely practised religions in Vagamon.
Notable people
Books
- The Story of Peermade by George Thengummoottil ( ISBN 9788192888606) http://www.theindia.info/Peermade/
References
- ↑ http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/103305-Vagamon-Scotland-Asia.aspx
- ↑ http://tourism.webindia123.com/tourism/hillstations/vagamon/index.htm
- ↑ "Vagamon Ultra Trail Marathon".
- ↑ "INDIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL TO FEATURE AT GHEDEX FROM APRIL 20 TO 22 – Muscat Daily".
- ↑ "'SIMI's camp in Kerela, not ultra's training ground'". The Deccan herald.
- ↑ http://kaumudiglobal.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=54064
- ↑ http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=477741
