Vagamon

2021-12-16T18:26:39Z

2402:8100:2828:64D5:35BA:2913:6661:53C8: /* Notable people */

{{original research|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Vagamon
| other_name =

| nickname = Scotland of Kerala
| settlement_type = [[Hill station]]
| image_skyline = [[File:Vagamon Meadow 1.jpg|250px|Vagamon Meadow 1]]
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Vagamon meadow
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.6862|N|76.9052|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Idukki]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Taluks of Kerala|Taluk]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Peerumedu taluk|Peerumedu]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Panchayati raj (India)]]
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 78.3
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1200
| population_total = 14,641
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], English<ref>{{cite web |title=The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969 |url=http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/kerala/1969/1969KERALA7.pdf}}</ref>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 685503
| registration_plate = KL-37
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kattappana]], [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]], [[Thodupuzha]]
| blank2_name_sec2 = Nearest Railway Station
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Kottayam]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = Nearest airport
| blank3_info_sec1 =[[Cochin International Airport|Kochi]]
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}
{{OSM Location map
|lat = 9.577
|lon = 76.904
|zoom = 9
|width = 275
|height = 400

|minimap = yes
|mini-width=
|mini-height=
|minipog-x=
|minipog-y=
|scalemark =180

|mark-lat = 9.687
|mark-lon = 76.904
|mark-title = Vagamon
|label = Vagamon
|label-pos = bottom

|mark-lat1 = 9.577
|mark-lon1 = 77.18
|mark-title1 = Thekkady
|label1 = Thekkady
|label-pos1 = left

|mark-lat2 = 9.847
|mark-lon2 = 76.942
|mark-title2 = Painav, Idukki
|label2 = Painav, Idukki
|label-pos2 = top



}}

'''Vagamon''' ({{lang-ml|വാഗമൺ}}) is an Indian [[hill station]] and a revenue village primarily located in [[Peerumedu taluk]] of [[Idukki district]] (majority area including Vagamon town), and also [[Meenachil|Meenachil taluk]] and [[Kanjirappally|Kanjirappally taluk]] of [[Kottayam district]] in the state of [[Kerala]], India... Gifted with magnificent hill formations, natural attractions and panoramic views Vagamon has emerged as a major tourist destination in the recent times comparable with places like Munnar and Kumarakam in popularity.<ref name="censusindia">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Village_Directory/Population_data/Population_5000_and_Above.aspx |title=Census of India: Villages with population 5000 & above |others=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=2008-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208044522/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Village_Directory/Population_data/Population_5000_and_Above.aspx |archive-date=2008-12-08 }}</ref><ref>https://www.vagamon.com/</ref>

==History==
Vagamon does not have a long history to boast of as it had remained unexplored for centuries. Though the British had plantations here, it was only in 1926, when Walter Duncan and Company started their tea plantations here, that it became well-known. In the 1930s, more tea plantations were set up in the area. In the 1950s, the famed Kurisumala Ashram was set up here and that was the turning point in its development into a well-known place.

[[National Geographic Traveler]] has listed Vagamon on their directory of the "50 most attractive places to visit in India".<ref>http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/103305-Vagamon-Scotland-Asia.aspx</ref>

==Demographics==
As of [[2011 Census of India|2011 Census]], Vagamon had a population of 14,641 with 7,212 males and 7,429 females. Vagamon village has an area of {{cvt|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%.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kerala |first1=Directorate of Census Operations |title=District Census Handbook, Idukki |publisher=Directorateof Census Operations,Kerala |location=Thiruvananthapuram |page=70,71 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3209_PART_B_IDUKKI.pdf |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
[[DC School of Management and Technology|¤ DC School of Management and Technology]] (DCSMAT) and DC School Of Architecture And Design are the two institutions, promoted by [[DC Kizhakemuri Foundation]] and co-promoted by [[DC Books]], located in [[Pullikkanam]] near Vagamon. DCSMAT, one of the leading management colleges in Kerala, has two campuses located in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and Vagamon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/Indian-business-school-to-feature-at-Ghedex-from-April-20-to-22-3zl6|title=INDIAN BUSINESS SCHOOL TO FEATURE AT GHEDEX FROM APRIL 20 TO 22 – Muscat Daily}}</ref> DCSMAT offer courses such as [[Master of Business Administration]] ([[MBA]]), [[Bachelor of Commerce]] ([[B.Com]]), [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] ([[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]]).

<nowiki>*</nowiki>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]] said it had begun investigations two months back into a training camp organized in December 2007 by the banned [[Students Islamic Movement of India|SIMI]] activist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug172008/national2008081785077.asp?section=updatenews |title='SIMI's camp in Kerela, not ultra's training ground' |publisher=The Deccan herald}}</ref>

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 dresses had burnt out. Though both were taken to hospital, they died by the time they arrived.<ref>http://kaumudiglobal.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=54064</ref><ref>http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=477741</ref>

==Biodiversity==
Vagamon due to the influence of it's elevation and climate has unique ecosystem..leading to the emergence of rich natural vegetation,plant species, shola forests etc.. from early 20th century started plantation crops like tea, coffee.. Vagamon hills are home to less explored flora and fauna. A faunal diversity study conducted by Dr Pratheesh Mathew has recorded about 112 species of moths from 16 families under eight superfamilies that have become the prominent faunal diversity study in this area. The author has also recorded sitings of many species of insects, annelids, amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds and mammals. Wide variety of flowering and non-flowering plants including rare Cycas species have 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 create a negative impact on the flora and fauna of this region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324194880 |title=The moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of vagamon hills (Western Ghats), Idukki district, Kerala, India |website=researchgate.net |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref>

==Religion==
In Vagamon there are Hindu, Christian and Muslim populations.
*Kurisumala, Vagamon, most prominent Christian pilgrim center.
*Thangal para Dargha sheriff, Vagamon
*Sree Arundhathi Vasishta Temple, Vasishtagiry, Vagamon.
*Sree Subramanya Swami Temple Vagamon
*St Sebastian's RC Church Vagamon
*St Antony's Church Vagamon
*Emmanuel CSI Church Vagamon

==Notable people==
* [[Francis Acharya]]
* [[Laurie Baker]]
* [[Alina Cattani]]
* [[Dr. Hildegard Sina]]
*[[K. Radhakrishnan (politician)|K Radhakrishnan]] (former speaker and Minister at kerala assembly)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speaker - KLA|url=https://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/States/kerala/speaker.htm|access-date=2021-03-11|website=legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in}}</ref>

==Books==
* [[The Story of Peermade]] by [[George Thengummoottil]] ({{ISBN|9788192888606}})
==Gallery==
<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
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kottayam district}}
{{Tourism in Kerala |state=collapsed}}
{{Central Travancore}}

[[Category:Hill stations in Kerala]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Villages in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Paragliding in India]]
[[Category:Geography of Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourism in Kerala]]
[[Category:Tourism in Idukki district]]

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Vagamon