Kochi - Wagamon

Trip: Kochi - Wagamon
Distance: 105kms avergage
Route: Vazhakkala - Kadamattom(27km) - Muvattupuzha(37km) - Anikadu(43km) - Thodupuzha (57km) - Malankara dam (63km) - Muttom (66km) - Erattupetta (89km) - Wagamon(115km)
Return: Wagamon - Kanjar(27km) - Muttom (35km) - Thodupuzha (43km) - Muvattupuzha (63km) - Vazhakkala(100km)

Crew: Me, my wife Neethu, my bro Suresh and my nephew Vineeth
Vehicle: Chevrolet Spark

This was a small get away from Kochi for a day, which was pending for a long time. We started from Vazhakkala (3kms from Palarivattom) at around 7 in the morning and took the seaport - airport road towards Tripunitura. At the end of the road, took a left towards Thiruvankulam. From Thiruvankulam we took the wrong root by going straight, instead of taking a left towards Moovatupuzha, and ended up at the famous Chottanikkara temple just about 3kms from there. Feeling happy to get there even though accidently, we stopped and prayed from outside and stated back from there to Thiruvankulam. And from there towards Moovatupuzha. The roads were so good, twisting and turning and the traffic was also less. We took a tea break at Anikadu after Muvattupuzha and again hit the road towards Thodupuzha. After Thodupuzha, we stopped at the Malankara dam for some time. The dam is hardly 1km off the main road. The place was calm and is a nice spot for a small break and a few snaps. From there, the next junction was Muttom and we took the Muttom - Erattupetta road. This road was not so good compared to the road till Muttom, but still was not so bad too. From Erattupeta, took the Wagamon route and we reached there by around 10.30am. The drive was normal as the roads were good and there were no difficult hair pins bends on this route except for some twists and turns here and there. The fuel indicator was almost empty when we reached there and to make it worst, there were no petrol bunks in Wagamon. You'll get in black or have to travel 16kms to Elappara for the nearest bunk. After some confusion, we decided to take a chance and drive to Elappara and we were lucky to reach there with an almost empty tank and got it filled from there. Anyone visiting Wagamon by private vehicle, please ensure that you have more than enough fuel before you start, or please fill it before Erattupetta itself. On the way back from Elappara to Wagamon, we stopped at the pine valley. Unlike outside, the climate was so cool in the pine forest. We came to know that there's a water falls inside the pine valley and set out for that. Taking snaps and talking about almost everything on the route, we walked about 5kms in between the pine trees, up and down the hills, lost the way in between at times, and finally reached a small falls, or rather we can all it a water flow. The water was so chilling that my foot got numb holding in the water for a few minutes. We took a good break there as we all were so tired after the walk. We spent about an hour there and were not so sure about the return route. The distance was long and there were no landmarks in the pine valley. But for our luck, a good friend who came there by a jeep gave us lift back to the main road. The short trip from that falls to the Wagamon meadows was an experience. There was no proper road and the only path was like an extremely off-road kind of route. Work for some by-pass was going on there by cutting out the rocks from both sides. The meadows looked like a badly maintained golf course with small small hils covered with light green grass extending through out a large area. From that place, the entrance of the pine valley (where we left our car) was around 3kms far. We started walking and then got an auto to pine valley. From there we directly came to Wagamon and went to a place called "Wagamon heights" for boating. The entry fee was 150/- per head and we almost dropped the plan as 600/- is a huge amount for a group of 4 for boating. The manager over there told there's a suicide point, rose garden, tree house and all inside and the fee covers for all. Partially convinced, we deiced to go ahead and see. The lake was 1km inside that resort (which was more like a forest) and they dropped us there in a jeep. The rose garden was on the other side of the lake with a maximum of 10-15 roses. The jeep driver told the suicide point is again 2km from there and the rose garden's gate and the tree house are also 1km far in different directions. He made a great offer that he 'll show us the places if we pay another 300/- to him. What I felt for that offer cannot be expressed in words on a public blog. Thanking him and declining his offer, we took the the pedal boat and rounded a small lake for some time. It was getting dark and we had only the option of walking back to our car parked in the reception. In total, we paid 600/- for a 20mins boating. I recommend everyone to skip this "Wagamon heights" when you visit the place. By 6pm, we started back from there and took the Wagamon - Kanjar route. The road was good travelling thru some rubber estates. From Kanjar, we took the left and reached Muttom in few mins. From Muttom, we came by the same route we took while going. In total, it was a nice trip. A good place for a day off. The climate was not so cool against our expectations. We heard that during March-April season, paragliding will be there which would be worth a try. The roads were good. We couldn't find much good hotels there. Reaching there early in the morning will be a good option to enjoy the cool morning dew. A small place with a few things to see....