Vagamon
Hide Out - the SAJ heritage
Vagamon PO,
Idukki District-685 532, Kerala
Description about the hotel
"Vagamon
hide out" a real romantic true eco-friendly
SAJ Heritage resort and also a memorable tourist
destination for those who loves privacy and
nature. The resort is surrounded by romantic
hills with un-spoilt nature, sparkling streams,
lake, country boats, fishing, green tea gardens
and cardamom plantations. Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation
and Natural Foods are the additional attractions.
Mud Cottage, Jungle Stone Cottage and Wild Erumadams
are available for accommodation.
The high decibel pitch of city's din, its jostling
populace, polluted air, the sweat soaked streets,
the groaning habitants, the frown and the scowls
laced with the grime and soot on every face,
struggling to get on with the high wired tension
of daily chores.
Lap of 'God's own country', an abode of peace
and tranquility amid pristine surroundings,
nestling in a sweep of verdant hills, tea plantations,
scenic picturesque valleys cradled by nature's
lap, where bounties of wildness abounds. It's
air as pure as it can be, the numerous waterfalls
in its azure colors - ringing a melodious sound
into ones ear. This far-flung yet so accessible
spot is known as "Vagamon Hideout"
an eco-friendly Heritage of SAJ.
An affordable 'treat' replete with luxuries
steeped in rustic background with an Eco-friendly
ambience. This man made heritage hideout is
located at Vagamon, (Idukki), barely 100 Kms
away from Cochin International Airport, with
its lake which will offer you an exhilarating
sense of enjoyment the likes of which you have
never seen or enjoyed before. A complete holiday
experience, amidst mother nature in its most
idealic form with salubrious climes. Here we
highlight the nature's bounties that you will
encounter at the heritage site.
Location of the hotel
The heritage
home is 100kms away from Cochin International
Airport, the commercial capital of the God's
own country. It is also 64 Kms from Kottayam
- the nearest railway station, 34 Kms from
Pala, and situated at an elevation of 1100
meters above sea level is a trekker’s
paradise surrounded by the greenery of tea
gardens, beautiful meadows, valleys and dales.
Reaching this
high range destination is a winding-uphill
task. With a number of twists and turns the
tarred road goes winding a number of hills
until you reach a top point where the hideout
is located. Even before you approach the foot
of the hills to be ascended, you will have
to pass along a number of paddy fields, rubber
plantations and a few seemingly forest areas.
Greenery every where you see, at times…
This add flavor to your trip, which is going
to be an unforgettable experience in your
life.
Transfer will
be arranged on request or as a part of package.
Temperature
5-25 degree Celsius.
Morning normally
misty and clear.
Rains are most
beautiful.
No fans or
A/c in cottages but comfortable.
Mountaineering/trekking/fishing/yoga/meditations/Ayurveda
treatments are attractions.
Room
Rates of the hotel
Room
Rates
Cottage
Rs.7000
/-
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS:
2 Pax on Full Board Basis.
(inclusive of food and massages)
Only wine and spirit will be charged extra.
Facilities in the hotel
Flora and Fauna:
The hide out encompasses a wide variety of lush
green vegetation, which adorns the ups and downs
of the hills around. Tea, which dominates the
flora is planted on terraced hill slopes. Cardamom
and pepper are also planted in a mix with the
tea at several places. When you savour a morning
cup of tea, with the pleasant scent of cardamom
poking your nostrils, remember that you are
getting to taste the tea and cardamom, seen
outside. Besides these extensive spice plantations,
there are spots where plantains, several other
fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants are
grown and well cared for. In yet another location,
you come across a line of honeycombs.
Games, Poultry and freshly skimmed Milk: A small
area portion of the hideout is kept apart for
poultry and cattle farming. When the guests
decide to go for an intake of more a nutritious
food supplement in the form meat or egg, it
is brought in from here. You need just order
it. Pure milk, meat or egg, you can have it
on your dining table in no time.
Stone Age Dwellings: Here, it is again, you
who choose where to live. Three types of uniquely
constructed cottages are at your disposal. Row
of jungle stones cottages array on one side,
wooden cottages (Erumadams), propped on wooden
poles juts out from the second side and clay
cottages borders the third side, all overlooking
the fresh-green hued natural pool. Like anywhere
in the hideout the use of artificial substances
like plastic has been reduced to minimum at
the cottages also. Curious natural materials
make up your homes here. Whatever be the construction,
tribes at Vagamon make it all with eco-friendly
materials. The rooms and bathrooms are fitted
with modern amenities one would expect for their
comfort. The furniture and fixtures are with
lot of innovative planning to ensure an Eco-friendly
ambience, at the same time all steps have been
taken to make the stay most comfortable and
relaxed. Roofs are thatched with well pressed
bunches of a typical lengthy grass. A kind of
plant leaves is also sometimes used along with
bamboo and wooden poles. Tribal natives of Vagamon
do this with mastered ease for they are used
to such construction. Oil with the smell of
ginger extracted from the above type of grass
is used for cleaning the room everyday. Fresh
oxygen flowing in from herbal plantation outside,
smell of the oil used in cleaning the room,
a kind of pleasant smell emanating from natural
construction materials like wood, stones etc
altogether render healthy environs for the inmates.
No mosquito-menace, no sound pollution you can
take a fresh breath and go for a deep sleep
on the comfy, cozy cot.
Ethnic veritable Cuisine's fit to appease the
taste buds of the connoisseurs: Here you are
going to savor the taste of purely ethnic Kerala
cuisine, served in purely ethnic cutleries and
crockery. Bowls, dishes, pots, cups and mugs
made of clay, tray made of bamboo sticks, spoons
made of ‘chiratta’ (coconut shell)
all in bright red and brown colors are appealing
to the eyes as the food is to the palate. Pick
and Choose your ingredients/Dishes-Fish, Game
birds, Rabbits, Poultry and Vegetables. No fixed
menu nothing to do with northern or western
recipes here you can pick out your choice directly
from nature’s menu chest! You just name
or point out from nature what you need. Be it
tapioca, or banana or asparagus, you will have
it on your dinner table top in ready-to-eat
form. It is also an occasion for an acquaintance
with the cookery excellence of native tribes.
Food is prepared using traditional appliances
like ammi (crushing stone) and attukallu (grinding
stone), to give food preparations a taste of
its kind and prevent modernity from sneaking
into the bastions of traditional kitchen. Fuel
for cooking fire is obtained from a small biogas
plant annexed to the hideout. Biodegradable
waste such as Cow dung, leftovers of vegetables
etc are put to good use for biogas production.
Campfire at Night: Vagamon, located high above
the sea level, has a chill in the air with accompanying
fog from dusk to dawn inducing a misty night.
Nothing would be more apt in such ambience than
to sit by the open fire and the warmth of the
bonfire keeps your body and soul warm (open
fire is lit usually in cold nights). Add to
this, the beat of the local 'Ramba Drums' by
the local tribe folk, the music and the dance
makes the evening complete