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Vagamon is a hill station located in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Travelers can come here for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to craft your perfect Vagamon itinerary. We’ll include must-visit sights and practical travel tips to ensure you have an unforgettable journey to one of Kerala’s best-kept secrets!
Table of Contents
Where is Vagamon?
Located in the Idukki district of Kerala, Vagamon is easily accessible by road from Kochi (approximately 100 km). The closest major railway station is Kottayam, from which Vagamon is just a scenic 65 km drive.
How to Get to Vagamon
Cochin International Airport
The nearest airport to Vagamon is Cochin International Airport, approximately 120 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Vagamon, with the journey taking around 3 hours.
Kottayam Railway Station
The closest railway station is Kottayam Railway Station, located about 65 kilometers from Vagamon. Kottayam is well-connected to major cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Chennai.
From Kottayam, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Vagamon, with the journey taking approximately 2-2.5 hours.
Traveling by Road
You will have to either take a bus, taxi, or rent a car to reach Vagamon. It’s easiest to reach Vagamon from Kochi, Kottayam, or Munnar.
Vagamon from Kochi
Approximately 95 kilometers. Regular bus services and taxis are available from Kochi to Vagamon.
I took a taxi from Kochi, and the trip took about 3 hours there, and 3.5 hours back.
Vagamon from Kottayam
This trip is about 65 kilometers. Buses and taxis operate regularly between Kottayam and Vagamon. If you plan on taking public transportation, you should plan on traveling from Kottayam.
You can expect the trip to take around 2-2.5 hours.
Vagamon from Munnar
Munnar is another famous tea plantation in Kerala. It is located about 90 kilometers away. Taxis or buses can be hired from Munnar to Vagamon.
You can expect the trip to take 3-3.5 hours depending on traffic.
Is Vagamon Worth Visiting?
Absolutely!
Vagamon offers travelers stunning natural beauty, peaceful retreats, and thrilling attractions, making it a perfect destination for everyone. One thing that I really appreciated about Vagamon was the lack of foreign travelers that were there. In fact, besides myself, I didn’t see a single other foreigner. It’s rare to find such beautiful places without international crowds nowadays.
What to Do in Vagamon
Vagamon offers a variety of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the top things to do:
1. Visit a Tea Plantation
One of Vagamon’s biggest attractions are the tea plantations. Spread across rolling hills, these plantations offer natural beauty as well as a glimpse into the region’s rich tea-growing tradition. Visitors can walk around the plantations and sample freshly brewed local tea right where they’re grown.
Be sure to buy some of Vagamon’s “Special Tea” before you leave!
2. Go on a Jeep Safari
You will find Jeep drivers advertising their services everywhere in Vagamon. There are several different trips available, depending on how much time you have and where you want to go.
One popular trip is to go offroading in Uluppuni. You can enjoy even less crowds here, while enjoying the beauty of the surrounding meadows and rivers.
3. Kayaking in Vagamon Meadows
Vagamon Meadows is a vast expanse of rolling hills that is one of the most popular destinations in Vagamon. Its high elevation contributes to the cool climate, and its beauty makes it a popular place for filming movies!
Entry to Vagamon Meadows costs 25 INR for adults and 15 INR for children (less than $0.30 USD).
There is a very small lake here that offers kayaks and rowboats for rent. It costs 150 INR ($1.75 USD) to rent a single-person kayak. Even if you choose not to rent a kayak, the view of the Vagamon Meadows Lake is beautiful and very tranquil.
Vagamon Adventure Park
Another popular destination is Vagamon Adventure Park. There are plenty of different attractions worth checking out here!
Adventure Park entry fee is 25 INR ($0.30 USD).
Vagamon Glass Bridge
If you only do one activity in Adventure Park, walk across the Glass Bridge! This is the 2nd-longest glass bridge in India!
Although I’m not a fan of heights, I went across the bridge, and was rewarded with some amazing views of the surrounding mountains and valley below.
Glass bridge tickets cost 250 INR (about $3 USD).
Sky Cycling
If you enjoy heights, then you should try the Sky Cycling. This is done between two tall watch towers over the edge of the mountain.
If this isn’t your thing, then you can choose to climb up the watch tower free of charge, or simply watch people Sky Cycle from the ground.
Other Activities
There are other activities at Adventure Park, including paragliding, paintball, and more.
One activity that I wouldn’t recommend doing is the archery.
Adventure Park reminded me of when I was visiting Fazenda Sengha in Rwanda. It was a similar experience, and the archery there was legit.
But when I did the archery in Adventure Park, I was basically given a kid’s bow with 5 arrows. So I recommend you skip that one.
Vagamon Pine Forest
One of the most surprising parts of visiting Vagamon was seeing the Pine Forest. This forest seemed like it was taken from the eastern United States, or even somewhere Crater Lake or Glacier National Park.
This man-made forest was planted over 100 years ago and has provided millions of visitors with beautiful views and shade from the hot sun.
Entry costs 10 INR for adults and 5 for children, which is less than $0.15 USD. I stayed here for a couple of hours, but most people probably spend about 1 hour.
Best Time to Visit Vagamon
The best time to visit Vagamon is from September to May to avoid the monsoon season. In addition, while South India may be hot during this time, Vagamon will be noticeably cooler than Kochi.
I visited Vagamon in the beginning of March, and the temperature there was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius) cooler than it was in Kochi.
Where to Stay in Vagamon
If you are interested in staying in Vagamon, there are a few different options available. For budget travelers, you can stay at Zostel Vagamon for about $9 USD/night!
If you want an apartment or villa with a great view, check out The Kissing Mountains. If you are looking for a resort, the Winter Vale Green Stay Resorts is the most popular option!
Check out the map below to see available accommodations.
