Wagamon, a celebrated, but less frequented destination in Kerala tourist map is a great destination for nature lovers, adventurers, and everyone who loves nature in its purest shape.
A visit to this place was well worth it because it is one of the tourist destinations, where you can listen to the birds, enjoy the stillness and explore some great adventures, including a climb to one of the tallest peaks in South India.
The main points of interest near Wagamon are the Pine Valley, where pine trees grow sky-high in an area of 125 acres, Mottakkunnu (bald-headed hills - 14 of them), Thangal Para (a rocky mountain perched at 8000 ft above sea level), Kurisumala, and a dairy farm.
Apart from them, we stopped at several places on a whim, and
each stop proved to be a great new exploration. Lucky for us, we stopped at
several places and each stop proved to be a fine destination of its own. Sadly,
I can't tell you the names of the places because the places were deserted and
there weren't any sign boards telling what the places are.
I can tell you we stopped by a tea-estate en-route to
Wagamon, from where we could get a good look at the morning rays seeping
through the mist, the long winding roads, the township from a distance, an
abandoned tea-factory, and rolling hills far and near. Again we stopped by a
tiny lake, a meadow with a circular shaped church on one side, and in the midst
of nowhere when a herd of cows blocked our car. The cows walk on the roads;
gives milk to the locals and don't care much when we ask them to move away from
the road.
Mottakkunnu
This is the only place where you have to pay an entry fee -
Rs 5 per person, known as Wagamon Meadows and Hideout, a series of 14 green top
hills. On one side there is a small lake, where several hundreds of tiny fish
will give you company when you bathe there.
Pine Valley
One of the biggest pine forests in Kerala, Pine Valley
Wagamon offers a special treat. In an area of 125 acres, there are thousands
and thousands of pine trees, each one reaching up to the skies. The air was
still and the sight magnificent as we walked along the trees, taking a fresh
breathe and marveling the beauty of this man-made forest.
I strongly doubt I have seen both the Mottakkunnu and Pine
Valley in several films I have watched. They are beautiful.
Adventure Point (Also suicide point)
And, next we stopped by the suicide point, where you will
find hills even bigger than what you find at Mottakkunnu. Green grass blankets
the hills and it is special experience scaling the hills, listening to the wind
and feeling on top of the world.
They say this is the place for paragliding adventures. We
didn't find any gliders, though.
Thangal Para
It is a mountain. You can reach the top without any steep
climb. You can walk along the marked paths and reach the top of the rocky
mountain. The wind is strong, and you feel like flying. Be extra careful, the
rocks are dangerous. And, you are standing at a height of 7000 to 8000 ft above
sea level.
Keep in mind there is a Mosque, and the place is a pilgrim
center.
Kurisumala & Murukan Mala
Kurisu (cross) and Murukan (a Hindu deity) hills, face each
other. Climbing them is not an easy task. Trek your way up the Kurisumala and
the rewards are freshness of air, a feeling of on top of the world and the
thrills of adventure.
Dairy Farm Near Kurisumala - Ask for permission to visit
this dairy farm, where you will be amazed at the sights of the cows, bulls and
the place in which they live.
Well, that was all in a day's trip. And, we started our
journey back home.
Travel Tips:
It may be just me, but I found it very difficult locating
restaurants or decent hotels. They are very few. So, it is a nice idea carrying
your food, water and snacks.
I also didn't find a fuel station. There sure will be some
petrol/diesel pumps nearby. Only we didn't see any.
The places described above are the most frequented places
nearby Wagamon. There also are several, little-frequented stops along the way.
Such stops offer beautiful sights, fresh air and great opportunities to shoot
postcard perfect photos.
