Vagamon

History

Vagamon remained largely unexplored for centuries. Though the British had plantations here, it was only in 1926, when Walter Duncan and Company started their tea plantations, that it became well known. In the 1930s, more tea plantations were set up in the area. After 1940, people from Travancore, and Madras (Tamil Nadu), migrated to Vagamon. Later, after the formation of Kerala State, people from various parts of Kerala migrated there.

In 1955, the Trappist monastery Kurisumala Ashram was founded in Vagamon.

In 1963,Dr. Elizabeth Baker and Architect Padma Shri Laurie Baker established a hospital and rural service centre at Kurishumala, Vagamon to serve tea-plantation workers and rural communities in the Idukki hills. Often referred to as the Mitraniketan, it is widely noted as Baker’s first project in Kerala and as an early exemplar of his cost-effective, climate-sensitive building approach using local materials.

Geography

Vagamon is located in the Western Ghats at 1100 m above sea level. It has a cool climate with summer temperatures reaching 10-23 C10-23 °C at midday.

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, Vagamon had a population of 14,641 with 7,212 males and 7,429 females. Vagamon village has an area of 78.3 km2 with 3,816 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was 1030 lower than the state average of 1084. In Vagamon, 9% of the population was under 6 years of age. Vagamon had an average literacy of 90.9%. higher than the national average of 74%, and lower than the state average of 94%.

Economy

The primary economy is ecotourism including hiking to explore the many waterfalls, rock climbing and paragliding. National Geographic Traveler has listed Vagamon in their directory of the "50 most attractive places to visit in India". In addition, many people work in as laborers in tea and coffee plantations.

Education

Vagamon has two colleges: DC School of Management and Technology (DCSMAT) and DC School Of Architecture And Design, both promoted by DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and co-promoted by DC Books. One of the leading management colleges in Kerala, DCSMAT has an additional campus in Thiruvananthapuram. DCSMAT offer programs such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Bachelor of Business Administrati (BBA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). DC School Of Architecture And Design provides courses such as Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (BA Interior Design) and Bachelor of Architecture (BArch). The College of Dairy Sciences kolahalamedu Vagamon, offering courses for the B Tech Dairy Sciences, affiliated to Veterinary University.

Issues

In August 2008, the Kerala Police began investigations into a training camp organized in December 2007 by the banned SIMI activists.

On 18 August 2014, two tourists from Kozhikode died in Vagamon, after lightning struck them. Others who were with them sustained minor injuries. The incident happened at around 4:30 PM when the tourists were hanging around the barren hilltops. Both fell after the lightning hit them and their clothes were burned. Though both were taken to hospital, they died by the time they arrived.

Biodiversity

Vagamon, due to its elevation and climate, has a unique ecosystem, leading to the emergence of rich natural vegetation, plant species, shola forests etc. From the early 20th century plantation grew crops like tea and coffee. Vagamon hills are home to less explored flora and fauna. A diversity study conducted by Dr Pratheesh Mathew recorded 112 species of moths from 16 families under eight superfamilies and has become the prominent faunal diversity study in this area. The author also recorded sightings of many species of insects, annelids, amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds and mammals. A wide variety of flowering and non-flowering plants, including rare Cycas species, has also been noted. The ongoing faunal and floral surveys are expected to shed light on the richness of biodiversity at this location. The flourishing tourism and related developments are predicted to have a negative impact on the flora and fauna of this region.

Culture

Vagamon has a rich history of religious diversity with Hindu, Christian and Muslim populations. There are several religious buildings to visit including:

• Kurisumala Ashram, Vagamon, Indian-Catholic monastery
• St Sebastian's RC Church Vagamon
• St Antony's Church Vagamon
• Emmanuel CSI Church Vagamon
• Peniel Worship Center Vagamon
• Zion worship centre BBA Church Paarakattu
• Bible Believers Assembly Kottamala 3rd DIV
• Thangal para, a Muslim pilgrimage center 5 km outside of Vagamon.
• Sree Arundhathi Vasishta Temple, Vasishtagiry, Vagamon.
• Sree Subramanya Swami Temple

Books

• The Story of Peermade by George Thengummoottil ()

Gallery

File:Vagamon meadows.JPG|Vagamon meadows, Kerala, India File:Western Ghats as seen from Vagamon View Point.jpg|Western Ghats as seen from Vagamon View Point

File:VagamonPineForest.jpg|Pine Forest at Kolahalamedu

File:Glamping in Vagamon.jpg|Glamping in a resort at Vagamon

References

References

1. "The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969".
2. "Census of India: Villages with population 5000 & above".
3. (2022-05-16). "Explore Vagamon".
4. Pal, Pradip Kumar. (21 January 2010). "Vagamon - Scotland of Asia Visit".
5. Valsalan, Anson. (2023-08-25). "Enjoy a thrilling walk on India's longest glass bridge at Vagamon".
6. Bose, Abhish. (2017-04-22). "Kurisumala ashram at Vagamon rejuvenates the visitors".
7. https://thefederal.com/the-eighth-column/a-journey-through-laurie-bakers-earliest-projects-in-kerala
8. https://lauriebaker.net/index.php/life/rural-kerala-vagamon
9. https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/laurie-bakers-buildings-that-showcase-the-architecture-he-championed-are-living-museums-of-his-philosophy/article68124734.ece
10. "Vagamon Village Office".
11. "District Census Handbook, Idukki". Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala.
12. "INDIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL TO FEATURE AT GHEDEX FROM APRIL 20 TO 22 – Muscat Daily".
13. "Vagamon Destination Residential Campus". DCSMAT Institutions.
14. (September 2023). "'SIMI's camp in Kerela, not ultra's training ground'". The Deccan herald}}{{dead link.
15. "മിന്നലേറ്റ് വാഗമണില്‍ രണ്ട് കോഴിക്കോട് സ്വദേശികള്‍ മരിച്ചു - Latest News - Mathrubhumi".
16. (2018-03-01). "The moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of vagamon hills (Western Ghats), Idukki district, Kerala, India".
17. "Thangalpara, Vagamon - Timings, History, Pooja & Aarti schedule".
18. (2017-07-27). "A trek up the mythical Thangal Para".
19. "Vagamon Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple".