Two days covers Vagamon and the hills to its west. Day one is an easy loop of about 21 km: Vagamon Lake, Thangal Para, the meadows and the pine forest, back by about 15:00 with time for the glass bridge. Day two starts at 08:00 with Kurisumala, then Illikkal Kallu and Ilaveezhapoonchira, about 78 km, back by about 16:00.
An easy day round the town: a boat on Vagamon Lake at opening, the walk up Thangal Para, the meadows before lunch, then the pine forest. About 21 km by cab, back by about 15:00, which leaves the late afternoon free for the glass bridge at Kolahalamedu.
A small lake beside the town in tea country, with pedal boats and rowing boats for hire. It is the easiest stop in Vagamon, a few minutes from the bus stand.
Tip: Boats are hired by the half hour. Boating stops in heavy rain.
The Muslim hill of Vagamon's three pilgrim hills, on the Elappara road at Kolahalamedu. A huge round boulder sits on the hilltop beside the tomb of Sheikh Fariduddin, a Sufi saint believed to have come from Afghanistan about 800 years ago, and the grassy ridge looks out over the valleys. The Uroos festival each April draws thousands.
Tip: The cab stops partway; the last stretch is a walk up the grass, steep in places. Dress modestly near the shrine.
Rolling hills of short grass at Kolahalamedu, also called Mottakunnu, the bare hills: the view most photos of Vagamon show. Paths run over the humps of the hills, and the slopes drop away to the valleys on every side.
Tip: There is a small DTPC entry fee and a camera charge. The grass gets slippery after rain; mist can close in within minutes in the afternoon.
A planted forest of tall pines on a slope beside the Kolahalamedu road, a few minutes beyond the meadows. The trees stand in straight rows over a floor of needles, and paths lead down the hill between them. Many Malayalam films have been shot here.
Tip: A small forest department fee at the gate. The path down is steep and the needles are slippery; the walk back up is the hard part.
Kurisumala early, then west to the rock peaks of Illikkal Kallu by late morning, lunch on the way down, and the bare hills of Ilaveezhapoonchira in the early afternoon. About 78 km on narrow, winding hill roads, back by about 16:00.
The Christian hill of Vagamon's three pilgrim hills, about 3 km west of the bus stand. A path with the fourteen Stations of the Cross climbs the grassy slope to a small church at the top, with views over the Meenachil valley. Kurisumala Ashram, a Cistercian monastery with its own dairy farm, sits at the foot of the hill.
Tip: Allow about an hour up and back on foot, in shoes with grip. The ashram is a place of prayer: keep quiet, and note that its dairy farm is open only to guests who stay. In Lent, Fridays bring large walking pilgrimages.
Three rock peaks on a ridge of the Meenachil hills about 1,000 m up, in Kottayam district: Kuda Kallu, shaped like an umbrella, Koonu Kallu, the hunchback, and between them Narakapalam, a natural rock bridge only a few inches wide. On a clear day the view runs to the Arabian Sea.
Tip: Cars stop at the parking area; local jeeps run up the last stretch, or it is a walk of under a kilometre. Do not climb on the rocks: they are sheer and slippery. Mist and lightning are common in the monsoon, so check the weather first.
A high valley ringed by three bare hills, Mankunnu, Kodayathoormala and Thonippara, about 3,200 feet up in Kottayam district, on the Idukki border. The name means the pond where leaves do not fall: there are no trees round the small pond in the middle. From the tops you look down on the Malankara reservoir.
Tip: The road up is steep, narrow and winding. There are no shops at the top, so carry water and snacks.
Drive times come from road routing without traffic, and hill roads are slower than they look: the roads to Vagamon and Illikkal Kallu are narrow, steep and winding, and mist can cut visibility in the afternoon. On heavy-rain alert days the district can close the hilltops, so check before you set out. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.
Call or message a local Vagamon operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
We are still listing Vagamon operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagamon Lake | Boating about 09:00 to 17:00; stops in heavy rain | Morning, when the water is still. | 45 min |
| Thangal Para | Open hillside, in daylight? | Late morning or afternoon, on a clear day. | 1 h 15 min |
| Vagamon Meadows | About 08:30 to 17:00; ticketed by DTPC? | Morning or mid-afternoon, before the mist comes in. | 1 h 15 min |
| Vagamon Pine Forest | About 08:30 to 18:00, every day; some listings say 09:00 to 17:00 | Any time; quietest in the early morning. | 1 h |
| Kurisumala | The hill shrine is open about 04:00 to 20:30; the ashram takes visitors about 06:00 to 18:00 | Early morning, before the sun is high on the open hillside. | 1 h 40 min |
| Illikkal Kallu | About 08:30 to 18:00, every day | Morning to midday, before the afternoon clouds. | 1 h 30 min |
| Ilaveezhapoonchira | Open hillside; no entry fee? | Early afternoon, before the mist comes up from the valleys. | 1 h 15 min |
Yes. Day one covers the sights round the town and day two the peaks to the west. A third day could go to Kuttikkanam and Parunthumpara to the south, or to the Idukki arch dam, each a longer drive.
Either. Day two is better on the clearer of the two days, since Illikkal Kallu and Ilaveezhapoonchira are all about the view. In heavy rain, keep to day one.
Yes, on narrow, steep roads. At Illikkal Kallu cars stop at the parking area and local jeeps run the last stretch, or it is a walk of under a kilometre. The road up to Ilaveezhapoonchira is steep and winding; check with the operator before you book.