If someone told you that you could walk among the clouds with a cozy, chill weather just three hours away from the bustling tropical heat of Kochi, you’d think they’d be bluffing. But believe us when we say that this is exactly what you’ll be experiencing at the Vagamon Hills in Idukki, Kerala.

An underrated Kerala hill station, Vagamon is everything green, forest and fog. Mist and clouds sweep through these dense hills almost the entire year (except from March to May) and rain is a common weather that both tourists and locals enjoy.

One of the most popular activities of this place is their off-road trip and one-day tours that takes you to all the famous spots in the town and its hills. So if you’re planning for a Vagamon one-day trip then take a look at the activities below and book your trip to one of the best hill station in Kerala.

You can either book a tour guide through us with affordable prices or rent a car to drive your way there.

Pine Valley – Twisting Bends and Red Mud

In between these towering dark brown trees, one could easily imagine a red-hooded cloaked girl running amidst them as the fog sweeps in on her. With an enchanting atmosphere of densely packed pines, Pine Valley Vagamon is must-do activity while you’re in this misty green hills.

Created on steep slopes that snakes around acres of area, this valley of towering pine trees is a man-made forest created during the British rule in India. These thriving trees are home to a number of birds that are native and migratory so birdwatchers can pick a pair of binoculars and gaze around while walking through its paved path.

Thanks to its rich red mud and the contrasting brown woods, this pine forest of Vagamon has become a popular location for filmmakers and a ten-minute walk through it will definitely make you see why.

Echo Point

A lesser-known spot that’s only known to the locals and experienced tour guides, the Echo Point is an off beaten path tucked between the Vagamon hills. Not only can you yell out your name (or anything else for that matter) and hear it echo back to you, but this location also provides a great view of the dense forests and clouds that Vagamon is famous for.

But since this place is way out in the hills, it can only be accessed by a Jeep or off-road vehicles. You can group this Echo Point along with other locations in Vagamon by booking a guide with us through our contact page or hire an SUV that can take you there.

The Three Pilgrim Hills

If you haven’t known already, Kerala is famous for being a tolerant state where religion is practiced without prejudice. Christanity, Islam and Hinduism all mingle and celebrate each other’s festivals and the three Pilgrim rocks in Vagamon is one of the marks that show this peaceful co-existence.

Muruganmala, Thangalpara and Kurishmala, are three pilgrim hills dedicated to the three religions. If you plan to hike them, you’ll need half a day or even one full day to cover one hill. Muruganmala is dedicated to Hindus, Kurishmala for Christians and Thangalpara for Muslims.

Thangalpara

Thangalpara is the burial site of a revered Muslim scholar, Sheikh Fariduddin, who was originally from Afghanistan. The pilgrim site is also known for its spherical rock formation. It is believed that this rock was originally a small stone used by the Muslim saint for grinding pan and grew in size after his death.

The burial site comes after three hills and is a challenging climb till the end point. With grassless rocks all throughout the way, this might look like an easy climb but it can get your heart racing the further you go. Make sure to follow the arrows and stay clear off the edges as there are no railings for safety.

Kurisumala

For the Christians residing in Kerala, Kurisumala is a pilgrim site that takes quite a trek to reach its eagle-perched church. Standing at the top-most part of the hill, the climb to the church is magical and quite adventurous. Kurisumala in Malayalam means ‘Mountain of the Holy cross’ and this is shown with fourteen tiny chapels marking the road along the way.

For trekkers and pilgrims that reaches the top most point of the church, they are rewarded with the view of the entire state of Kochi seen from above.

Murugumala

On the Eastern side of Kurisumala sits the Murugmala, a holy site for the Hindu locals. This hill is known for its famous rock-cut temple dedicated to Lord Murugan who is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology. For hikers that wants to take a day to reach the rock-cut temple, you can do so in the months of October to April when rain is at its least. During the monsoon season, the path gets slippery and can pose danger.

Vagamon Adventure Park

Tucked into one of the highest points of the hills, this adventure park in Vagamon is an adrenaline seekers paradise. From bungee jumping to rope walking, this place has everything to get your heart pumping while you do flips and shaky walks above the hills of Kerala.

But the most popular activity in this park isn’t the bungees or gliders but the Vagamon Glass Bridge which opened in 2023. It’s said to be the longest glass bridge in India standing at an altitude of 3500 feet. With steel imported from Germany, this sturdy glass bridge offers breath-taking views of Idukki and the Western Ghats. That is, if you have the stomach to stand on a place with just glass protecting you from dropping down to the canyon thousands of feet below.

Vagamon Meadows

After a day’s hiking and trekking and adventure schedule, you can head to Vagamon Meadows the same day or even the day after for some leisure walk. The meadows were one of the first tourist spots in Vagamon and is still popular to this day.

The long vast plains and interlocked ponds is what gives these meadows it’s unique touch. Be careful during rain and thunder as lightning has a high probability of hitting this place. You’ll even see lightning poles and signs that asks visitors not to climb the hills during rain.

The meadows also have fun activities like a short zipline and lake kayaking. It’s one of the places on Earth where you can breathe in fresh air while taking a stroll through the mist and greenery.