Vagamon Heights

After enjoying the morning Jeep drive to Ullupooni, we decided to relax at the resort. For the evening, we planned to visit Vagamon Heights, following the suggestion of the resort staff.

We could drive our vehicle to Vagamon Heights, which is on the outskirts of the main Vagamon city. From there, it's a 15-minute Jeep drive to the activities area.

Vagamon Heights offers various activities for visitors, such as boat rides, kayaking, zip-lining, rock climbing, and more. We could choose activities based on our interests. The package included a Jeep drive and a couple of activities. We opted for the boat ride, kayaking, and zip line.

If you go for the complete package, it's around Rs. 1400/- for all the activities. However, since we chose specific activities, we got it for Rs. 500/-, which included the Jeep ride, boat ride, and kayaking. Later, we paid an additional Rs. 200/- for the zip line.

I was expecting it to be crowded, but fortunately, the place was peaceful, and we had a great time exploring the activities around.

It sounds like a good and peaceful place to spend some quality time with family and friends.

Uluppuni Wildlife Sanctuary

When we planned our trip to Vagamon, we had a list of places to visit. However, upon seeing the crowd in the city, we decided to spend our time at the resort. While chatting with a resort member, he suggested trying the Ulupunni Wildlife Sanctuary. He explained that there’s a quick 3-hour tour package, starting with a Jeep ride to the Sunrise point, followed by visits to various viewpoints.

They asked us to be ready by 5:30 AM, and the jeep was punctual, providing us with a thrilling off-road experience. We were the first vehicle to reach the viewpoint, allowing us to capture some great pictures. The drift at this point was particularly awesome.

From there, we could see the backwaters of Idukki Dam, making the view spectacular. Although it was a cloudy day and we couldn’t fully enjoy the sunrise, the morning drive was still delightful. 

Next, we headed towards Uluppuni waterfalls and caves.

The final highlight of the drive was a river crossing in the jeep, adding a fun element to our adventure.

The cost for this ride is Rs. 2,500, and one jeep can accommodate 6 to 8 members. It’s definitely worth visiting, and the place is incredibly beautiful.

Travel Tips

Distance from Bengaluru	–	550 Kms
Road Condition	–	Very Good
Nearest Town	–	Vagamon
Fuel Station	–	Vagamon
Near by places to visit	-	Vagamon, Meghamalai,

Vagamon

We planned a trip to Vagamon during the Christmas holidays, aiming for a place that wouldn’t be too crowded. Vagamon isn’t very popular, so we thought it would be less crowded.

Vagamon is about 550 kilometers away from Bengaluru, and it takes around 12 hours to reach there. To save time, we decided to drive overnight, leaving Bengaluru around 9:00 PM and arriving at our destination by 11:00 AM the next day, with a few breaks along the way.

However, as we drove, we noticed the roads were quite crowded. Seeing this, we decided to stay at the resort and relax instead of exploring further. It turns out our assumption about Vagamon being remote was wrong. The area was no longer secluded, with many tea estates transformed into homestays and resorts. Most of the surroundings were filled with homestays.

We booked a stay at Falcon Crest Resort, located on the outskirts of town, where it was comparatively less crowded. While exploring the area, we managed to take some nice pictures of birds.

The Eurasian golden oriole, also known as the common golden oriole, is the only bird in the Old World oriole family that breeds in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. During the summer, it migrates to Europe and the Palearctic. In the winter, it heads to central and southern Africa.

The Chestnut-headed bee-eater, also known as the bay-headed bee-eater, is a bird that belongs to the bee-eater family. It breeds in places like the Indian subcontinent and nearby areas, all the way from India to Southeast Asia. Like other bee-eaters, this bird is brightly colored and has a slender body.

The Long-tailed shrike, also known as the rufous-backed shrike, is a bird that belongs to the shrike family called Laniidae. These birds are found all over Asia, with different colors of feathers depending on where they are. They can be seen in many parts of Asia, both on the main continent and on the nearby islands.

The Garden sunbird, once called the olive-backed sunbird, is a type of small bird in the Nectariniidae family. These birds live in the Philippines but not on the Palawan island group.

The Verditer flycatcher is a type of bird called an Old World flycatcher. It lives in areas from the Himalayas through Southeast Asia to Sumatra. This bird is known for its unique blue color, similar to copper sulfate, and it has a dark patch between its eyes and above its bill.

We also visited Ulupunni and Vagamon Heights, where we had a great time.

Scuba Dive at Kundapura

Kundapura now offers a new exciting reason for adventure lovers – scuba diving. Having tried scuba diving before in Andaman, I was eager to do it again during our family vacation in Kundapura.

The resort staff helped us get in touch with Meridian Adventures. Mr. Vishak Hebbar from Meridian Adventures called and booked our slots for the dive. Since we went on weekdays, we were the only group for the dive. The cost for an individual dive is 3000 INR per person, and it's recommended to book at least a day in advance.

We were asked to assemble at 7:30 AM near Meridian Adventures, where they briefed us about the day's plan. They informed us that it would be a half-day event.

The dive spot was near Shiroor, about 45 kilometers from Kundapura. We took a boat ride, but it took around 2 hours to reach the designated dive spot. They mentioned they are working on a new double-engine boat to reduce the travel time to approximately 45 minutes.

They also offer pick-up from Shiroor for those who want to avoid a long boat ride. From Shiroor, the ride is quicker, around 15 to 20 minutes.

While on our boat ride, we were fortunate to see dolphins, although we couldn't capture them in our cameras.

They took a few complimentary pictures during our dive, and if you want videos, they charge Rs. 500/-

The dive itself lasts for 20 minutes and is 8 to 10 meters deep.

It's a fantastic experience, and I recommend trying it if you're in Kundapura. Meridian Adventures also provides various courses; you can find more details - click here

Contact Details:

Meridian Adventures

Delta Point, Kodi Sea Walk, Kodi Beach Rd, Kundapura
Mobile: +91 80502 75566

Mangrove Forests Kundapura

In Kundapura, Udupi district, tourists now have a new attraction – a peaceful boat ride through beautiful mangrove forests. This area, located along the Panchagangavali River in Kodi, Kundapura, has become a popular eco-tourism spot. The forest department played a crucial role by planting mangroves over the last decade, increasing the plantation areas in the backwaters by 450 hectares.

The mangroves not only protect the shore but also enhance eco-tourism activities. Recently, about 15 hectares in Kodi were planted with mangrove seedlings, and now, these thriving mangroves create a lush green canopy for boat rides in the serene backwaters. Visitors can enjoy wildlife watching & recreational angling in this picturesque environment.

The boat ride through the enchanting mangrove forests in Kundapura costs Rs. 1500 per trip and can accommodate up to 15 people. It's a great way for a group of friends or family to enjoy the serene beauty of the backwaters and experience the diverse eco-tourism activities offered in the area. I had the opportunity to take pictures of a couple of birds with my camera.

Black-Headed Ibis: 

The black-headed ibis, also called Oriental white ibis or Indian white ibis, is a type of bird that likes to wade in water. It belongs to the ibis family and is often found in South and Southeast Asia, from India to Japan. These birds make their nests in these regions. They are known for their black heads and necks.

The common redshank

The common redshank, or simply redshank, is a type of bird that likes to wade in water. It's part of a big bird family called Scolopacidae and is usually found in Europe and Asia.

Great Egret: 

The great egret, which is also called common egret, large egret, or great white egret (sometimes even great white heron), is a big bird that is found in many places. There are four different kinds of this bird, and they live in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. Lately, they have also started moving to more northern parts of Europe.

Pygmy cormorant:

The pygmy cormorant is a kind of seabird that belongs to the Phalacrocoracidae family. These birds make their nests in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. Some of them fly to warmer places during winter, especially those from the north, but mostly they stay in the same areas where they breed.

Asian Openbill:

The Asian openbill, also known as the Asian openbill stork, is a big bird that likes to wade in water. It belongs to the stork family. You can usually find this unique-looking bird in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

The Brahminy Kite:

The Brahminy kite, also called the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia, is a medium-sized bird that hunts for prey. It belongs to a group of birds that includes eagles, buzzards, and harriers, called the Accipitridae family. You can spot these birds in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Little Cormorant: 

The little cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. Slightly smaller than the Indian cormorant it lacks a peaked head and has a shorter beak. It is widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent and extends east to Java, where it is sometimes called the Javanesez.

Kingfishers:

Kingfishers are a group of small to medium-sized, colorful birds that belong to the Alcedinidae family. These birds are found all around the world, with many of them living in warm areas of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Some types of kingfishers can also be spotted in Europe.

Great Cormorant:

The great cormorant, also called the black shag or kawau in New Zealand, used to be known as the great black cormorant in the Northern Hemisphere, the black cormorant in Australia, and the large cormorant in India. It's a bird that is found in many places and belongs to the cormorant family, which is a group of seabirds.

One should not miss this ride, while around! 

Travel Tipls 

Distance from Bengaluru	–	410 Kms
Road Condition	–	Very Good
Nearest Town	–	Kundapura
Fuel Station	–	Kundapura
Near by places to visit	-	Kundapura, Kodi Beach, Udupi, Agumbe