With
the increase in the domestic tourist arrival into Kerala and with operators
and travelers looking for newer destinations with all facilities and beauties,
Vagamon in Idukki district seems to be the next upcoming destination in Kerala.
Vagamon for sometime has been a third option for operators and tourists after
Munnar and Thekkady. Most of the time it is excluded from a tour package with
a reason: why another hill station after visiting two internationally renowned
destinations in Kerala. Vagamon is not just any other verdant spot or hill station.
Of course, you can get grassy hills, velvet lawns and cool mountain air in many
other places but not the Vagamon kind. Vagamon's charm is worth experiencing
and is indeed one of the must see places for tourists. One speciality of Vagamon
is that you will never get tired of Vagamon as each day or visit will display
the varied moods of nature and climatic differences; the mist you can touch,
the raindrops, the gentle breeze or the golden hue in December-January which
will be greatly rewarding and soothing for you and that can romanticise your
mind and thoughts. You can easily be humbled by nature and its a not-so-completely-lost
pristine condition here. The trees and shrubs in Vagamon give it an added attraction.
This destination has slowly but surely started getting noticed and there is
a definite increase in the inventory among existing properties and also an increase
in new properties. Shanthi Malai Resorts, a Changanassery (near Kottayam) based
company owns couple of land estates here and anticipates an increase in tourism
activities here. "We brought two properties expecting Vagamon to become
a major tourism destination. We have a 10 acre and another 5 acre landed property
in Upputhara and Mathaippara. Both these properties are ideal for tourism ventures",
says Tony V Chacko, director, Shanti Malai Resorts. The company in fact is planning
to develop these spots and are even on the look out for suitable partners on
a joint venture tie-ups.
The 10 acre near Upputhara is full of tea plantation and coffee cultivation
and has a panoramic view from all four side. Its one of the sight seeing spot
in Idduki district and which reveals the beauty of Idukki dam, Munnar, Kuttikanam,
Pirumade, Annavilasam etc and is facing the proposed new Cochin Madurai national
highway. The other five-acre property is in Mathaipara near Upputhara. Big steep
rocks covers one fourth side of this property and provides a beautiful view
of hills and valleys from the top with beautiful breeze. The other side of the
rock is a very deep trench which could be ideal for adventure sports like trekking
and rock climbing.
Chacko also has a tour operation company, Century Season Holidays and is doing
mostly outbound sectors with special emphasis to Holy Land Packages. "I
think now its the right time to develop this property so that we can start the
operation from the next season, which I feel will be excellent for Vagamon",
he added.
Some of the places of interest around Vagamon, are Kurisumala
(Mountain of crosses), a famous pilgrimage centre for the Nazrani Catholics
and Kurisumala Ashram, an abode of calm and spiritual delight. The Indo-Swiss
Project dairy farms is situated here and is managed by the Kurisumala monks.
Other attractions here include tea estates, pine forests, grass lands, meadows,
mist and shola forests, the famous suicide point of 'Thangal hill', a peculiar
rock formation at Thangal Para and much more.
