Bangalore to Idukki Cab Service - Outstation Taxi with Driver
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Places to Visit in Idukki
Idukki Arch Dam and Hill View Park
The arch stands a hundred and sixty-eight metres high across the Periyar gorge between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills, built without buttresses so that the water pressure holds it into the rock - among the first arch dams in Asia and still one of the tallest. Hill View Park above Cheruthoni gives the view down onto it and the gorge, with a garden and a viewpoint, and it operates independently of access to the dam itself. Visit in the morning before cloud builds. Check the current access position before travelling if walking on the dam is the point of your trip.
Idukki Arch Dam and Hill View Park
The arch stands a hundred and sixty-eight metres high across the Periyar gorge between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills, built without buttresses so that the water pressure holds it into the rock - among the first arch dams in Asia and still one of the tallest. Hill View Park above Cheruthoni gives the view down onto it and the gorge, with a garden and a viewpoint, and it operates independently of access to the dam itself. Visit in the morning before cloud builds. Check the current access position before travelling if walking on the dam is the point of your trip.
Ramakkalmedu
Around forty kilometres from Idukki near Nedumkandam, Ramakkalmedu sits on the edge of the range at about 1,100 metres and looks straight out over the Tamil Nadu plains - Theni, Bodi and the Cumbum valley laid out below with the wind coming up the escarpment hard enough to knock you sideways. It is among the windiest inhabited places in India and a wind farm stands on the ridge. The Kuravan and Kurathi statues are here. Visit at sunset for the view east and the light on the plains, and hold onto anything loose; the wind is not an exaggeration.
Vagamon
North-west of Idukki town, Vagamon is a plateau of open grassland meadows, pine forest and tea slopes at around 1,100 metres - a completely different landscape from the rest of the district, closer to a downland than a hill station, and it has become the most visited part of Idukki after Munnar. Mundakayam ghat road, the pine forest plantation, Kurisumala and the meadows are the standard circuit, and paragliding operates in season. Visit for two days rather than one. It is significantly quieter midweek and the meadows are at their best from September through February.
Thommankuthu Falls
Around fifty kilometres from Idukki near Thodupuzha, Thommankuthu is a waterfall that descends in seven distinct steps down a forested hillside, each with its own pool, connected by a trekking path that takes a couple of hours to follow properly. The lower steps are easily reached; the upper ones need the walk. It is an eco-tourism site run with local guides. Visit between July and January when there is real water, wear footwear that copes with wet rock, and treat the pools with respect - the flow after heavy rain is considerably stronger than it looks.
The Cardamom Belt at Vandanmedu and Kattappana
Vandanmedu, on the road in from Kumily, is one of the largest cardamom auction centres anywhere, where the crop from these hills is graded and traded, and Kattappana beyond it is the market town at the centre of the High Range spice economy. Between them they handle a very large share of Indian cardamom. Plantation visits can be arranged around Kattappana and the trade is the whole reason these towns exist. Visit if the spice trade interests you; auctions run to their own schedule and are not a tourist facility, so ask locally rather than assuming access.
Kulamavu, Malankara and the Sanctuary
Kulamavu is the third dam of the Idukki complex and its reservoir shoreline is accessible and quiet, with a good view back toward the arch. Malankara, near Thodupuzha, is a smaller reservoir with boating and a pleasant lakeside. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds the main reservoir - around seventy square kilometres of forest holding elephant, gaur, sambar and a good deal of birdlife, with access arranged through the forest department. Visit any of these as half days; collectively they are how you actually spend time in Idukki, as opposed to looking at one dam.
Distance
600 Km
One way
Time
12 hrs
Via expressway
Starting from
₹ 17200
Plus GST
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About the Bangalore-Idukki route
Bangalore
Where Your Journey Starts
Dindigul
340 Km
Kumily
540 Km
Idukki
600 Km
Bangalore
Departure Point
Your journey to Ooty begins from Bangalore, the gateway to South India's most beloved hill stations. Pick-up is available from any part of the city — Koramangala, Electronic City, Whitefield, Hebbal, Yeshwanthpur, Marathahalli, or Majestic. The most common route out of Bangalore takes you onto NH275, the six-lane Mysore Expressway, which is one of the smoothest and best-maintained national highways in Karnataka. An early departure between 5 AM and 6 AM is strongly advised to clear Bangalore city limits before peak traffic begins. The first 50 km on the expressway are fast, comfortable, and lightly trafficked in the early hours, setting a pleasant tone for the journey ahead. Our drivers are experienced in choosing the optimal departure window and route based on real-time traffic conditions, ensuring that the first stretch of your Bangalore to Ooty road trip is efficient, calm, and enjoyable from the very first kilometre.
Dindigul
Lock City of India
The first five hours are the fastest of the journey, on four and six-lane NH 44, and our drivers aim to be past Electronic City before 5:30 AM. On this route more than most, time banked early matters - everything beyond Kumily is hill road and you do not want to be doing it in the dark. The Thoppur ghat is the first gradient of the day and our drivers take it conservatively. Salem is the natural breakfast halt with the best highway restaurants on the corridor. Dindigul, where the route turns west, lands almost exactly at lunch - and the Thalappakatti biryani that originated there is the most famous food stop on this highway.
Kumily
Spice Market Town of the Border
West through Batlagundu into Theni district at the foot of the Ghats, with the mountains close and the country green and hemmed in. The Cumbum valley beyond is grape country - the GI-tagged Panneer Thratchai vineyards run along the road under the wall of the Ghats, which is an unexpected landscape in Tamil Nadu. The climb to Kumily is around thirty kilometres of ghat through forest, and the air changes on the way up - cooler and unmistakably spiced. The Kerala border and the interstate permit come at Kumily, arranged by us in advance. For anyone combining Idukki with Periyar this is where you would stop; Thekkady is four kilometres off the road here.
Idukki
Dam Town and the District Seat
Sixty kilometres of hill road north-west through the heart of the cardamom country, and it is slow going - winding, narrow in places and climbing and dropping continuously, so an hour and a half is realistic rather than the forty minutes the distance suggests. Vandanmedu comes first, one of the largest cardamom auction centres anywhere, then Kattappana, the market town the High Range spice economy runs through. Cardamom under shade trees covers the slopes on both sides of the road for most of this stretch. Cheruthoni and Painavu sit either side of the gorge below the arch - Cheruthoni the dam town, Painavu the district headquarters on the hill above. It is a small, steep, working place rather than a resort, and accommodation is scattered across the surrounding hills rather than concentrated, several on narrow approach roads. Send us the property name at booking and we will confirm access. A 5:00 AM departure puts most travellers in by around 5:00 PM, which is why we generally suggest splitting this journey.
Other Popular Routes from Bangalore
Our Trusted Clients
Cab Packages for Every Traveller
Every quotation is built around what you actually need rather than a fixed menu. The four tiers below describe how we typically structure car booking enquiries on this corridor.
District Circuit Package
The booking that makes sense of Idukki. The district is very large and almost entirely hills, and the things worth seeing - the dam and Hill View Park, Ramakkalmedu, Vagamon, Thommankuthu, the cardamom belt - are spread across it on roads where forty kilometres takes an hour and a half. Three or four days with the vehicle retained is the realistic shape, and many groups extend it into Munnar or Thekkady, which are in the same district. Innova and Innova Crysta are the usual choice; on these roads the higher vehicle is genuinely more comfortable.
Vagamon Weekend Package
Vagamon has become the most-booked part of Idukki after Munnar, and for a specific reason - the meadows and pine forest are unlike anywhere else in Kerala, and it is a good deal quieter than the tea districts. It works as a two or three night stay with paragliding in season, the pine plantation, Kurisumala and the Mundakayam ghat road. We route Vagamon bookings differently from the dam ones, since it sits on the western side of the district and is reached more easily from the Kottayam direction than through Kattappana. Tell us which you want at booking.
Family and Two-Day Package
Eleven to twelve hours of driving with hill road at the end is a long first day, and for families we would generally split it - Madurai or Dindigul on the way down, or Thekkady at Kumily which sits directly on the road sixty kilometres short. That gets you into the hills in daylight, which matters on roads this winding, and it turns the journey into part of the trip rather than the price of it. Child seats can be arranged with notice, and drivers on family bookings are used to the frequent stops that hill roads and small children between them require.
Premium and Luxury Cab Package
For senior family groups, guest hosting and travellers who want a long drive and a hill circuit to be comfortable. This tier covers our premium car rentals in bangalore range and the innova hycross rent bangalore fleet, alongside our luxury car rental bangalore options. Idukki involves more hill driving per day than almost any destination we serve - the roads climb and drop continuously and the distances are deceptive - which makes suspension and ride quality a functional consideration rather than a cosmetic one.
Fare Inclusions, Exclusions and Advance Payment
Every Tejas Tours and Travels quotation for the Bangalore to Idukki corridor is issued in writing with the structure below. Nothing outside this list is charged, and everything inside it is stated before you confirm.
Advance payment: 20 percent of the total fare is payable in advance to confirm the booking.
Included in the Quoted Fare
1. Base fare and fuel charges
2. Driver allowance
Not Included in the Quoted Fare
3. Toll and parking charges
4. Interstate tax and permit charges
5. Driver bata after 9:45 PM, charged extra
6. Final rental is calculated on total kilometres and hours from our garage to garage
7. GST
Insurance note: Tejas Tours and Travels does not cover passenger insurance. Passengers are advised to arrange their own travel cover where required. Vehicles carry the statutory motor insurance required under law.
Three points are specific to this route. First, dam access where it is open, Hill View Park entry, Thommankuthu eco-tourism fees and any forest department arrangements are paid on site - and dam access in particular is controlled by the electricity board rather than a tourism body, so it is not something we can secure. Second, the Kerala interstate permit applies at Kumily and is quoted as a separate line at actual. Third, district running here is substantial and slow: Ramakkalmedu is forty kilometres away, Vagamon considerably further, and hill roads make every distance take longer than it reads, so our circuit quotes carry a stated allowance rather than a bare figure.
Our Services from Bangalore and Mysore
Tejas Tours and Travels operates a full ground-transport fleet across Bangalore and Mysore, and every service below is available on this corridor and on every other route we run.
Cab Service: Sedans, SUVs and premium cars for one to seven passengers. Our premium car rentals in bangalore fleet covers car rental bangalore, luxury car rental bangalore and premium cab requirements from local use to week-long outstation itineraries.
Tempo Traveller Service: The 9 to 17 seater band for larger family groups on a Kerala circuit. Our luxury tempo traveller bangalore fleet handles tt vehicle requirements with pushback seating and full air conditioning, though on the narrower district roads we advise on size at booking.
Minibus and Bus Service: The 13 to 35 seater mini bus rental in bangalore fleet covers minibus rental and mini bus booking online for corporate offsites and college groups. Full-size coaches through our bus rental in bangalore service handle rental bus booking and bangalore bus booking, though several roads in this district are genuinely tight for a long wheelbase and we will often suggest two smaller vehicles.
Force Urbania and Luxury Volvo Bus: Our force urbania rent bangalore fleet offers 10, 13 and 17 seater configurations, and urbania on rent bangalore is particularly well suited to this district for its combination of comfort and manoeuvrability. For long-haul group comfort, our volvo bus rental bangalore service covers volvo luxury bus and luxury bus hire.
Corporate Travels: Managed transport for companies. Our corporate travels bangalore desk provides corporate cab service bangalore and corporate car rental bangalore with GST invoicing, PO-based approvals and monthly consolidated billing. Vagamon in particular has become a popular offsite destination, though the drive makes it a three-day commitment.
Airport Transfer: Round-the-clock Kempegowda International Airport pickups and drops with live flight tracking, and transfers connecting to Kochi and Madurai airports, which are the nearest to Idukki at around 120 and 180 kilometres. Our airport transfer bangalore service covers bangalore airport cab and kempegowda airport taxi needs.
Employee Transport: Our employee transportation services bangalore programme covers office cab service bangalore and night shift cab service bangalore with GPS tracking and night-shift marshals, plus it employee transport service, employee pick up and drop service, tech park cab service and employee shuttle service Bangalore.
School Commute: Our school transportation services cover school bus service bangalore and school bus rental bangalore with verified drivers, onboard attendants and live tracking, plus school excursion bus rental bangalore and safe school transport service Bangalore.
Outstation Travel: Our outstation cabs bangalore service handles outstation cab booking, outstation taxi bangalore and outstation vehicle booking, with the Kerala interstate permit arranged in advance on this route.
Wedding Cab and Bus: Our wedding car rental bangalore service covers wedding cars for rent, marriage car rental bangalore and wedding bus rental Bangalore as one managed booking.
Innova Hycross: Our innova hycross rent bangalore service offers innova hycross taxi and hycross car rental for families and executives, and the hybrid drivetrain suits continuous hill driving well. Curated tour packages from Bangalore and Mysore are also available across Idukki, Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon and the wider Kerala circuit.
How to Book a Car for Rent in Bangalore — Step-by-Step
Booking a Car for hire in Bangalore with Tejas Travels takes under 5 minutes. Follow these 4 steps:
STEP1 | Contact Tejas Travels Call or WhatsApp +91 9980277773, or email info@tejastravels.com — available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Share your travel date, Bangalore pickup location (area or landmark — Whitefield, Electronic City, MG Road, Koramangala, KIA airport, hotel name, tech park), destination or full itinerary, number of passengers, and preferred vehicle. For KIA airport pickups, share the flight number — the driver tracks live flight status and adjusts pickup timing for delayed flights automatically. For luxury vehicles (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Rolls-Royce), also mention the occasion — corporate, wedding, VIP event — so the team can ensure the best-condition vehicle and, where required, formal chauffeur attire. |
STEP2 | Receive Your Written Quote Within 2 hours of your enquiry, Tejas Travels sends a written quote via WhatsApp or email. The quote clearly itemizes every charge: vehicle hire rate (Rs/km or flat package), driver allowance (Rs 400-1,000/day depending on vehicle class), applicable toll estimates, and any interstate permit if applicable (Tamil Nadu for Ooty, Kerala for Wayanad, Andhra Pradesh for Tirupati). No verbal-only prices — everything in writing before you confirm. For corporate clients requiring reimbursements, a Proforma Invoice can be issued at this stage. If you want to compare two vehicle classes, request both quotes at the same time. |
STEP3 | Confirm Your Booking & Pay Advance Once satisfied with the written quote, confirm via WhatsApp or phone. A 15-20% advance payment confirms the booking. Payment: UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), NEFT/IMPS/RTGS bank transfer, or credit/debit card via payment link. Advance receipt within 30 minutes. Confirmation includes: driver name and mobile, vehicle registration, departure time, pickup location, and full billing breakdown — all in writing. For luxury vehicles (Rolls-Royce Ghost, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class), advance may be higher due to limited fleet and Bangalore peak-date demand (wedding season November-February, New Year). |
STEP4 | Your Driver Arrives Early Your assigned Tejas Travels driver arrives at your confirmed Bangalore pickup point 15 minutes before scheduled departure. For KIA airport transfers, the driver coordinates at the Arrivals gate. The vehicle is clean, sanitized, fuelled, and ready. For wedding and VIP bookings, the driver arrives in formal attire. The driver calls 30 minutes before arrival as a courtesy. During the trip, the driver handles all routing, toll payments, and Bangalore traffic navigation. At trip end, balance payment is settled after deducting the advance. Any additional km or hours are billed at the pre-agreed rate. |
Quick Booking for Hire: WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with your vehicle preference, Bangalore pickup location, destination, and travel date. Written quote in 2 hours.
Payment Methods — Car Hire in Bangalore
Tejas Travels accepts all major digital and traditional payment methods for both advance booking and final settlement at trip end.
Method | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
UPI | Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM UPI, Amazon Pay | Fastest method. Instant confirmation on receipt. Recommended for all advance deposits. |
Bank Transfer | NEFT, IMPS, RTGS | For corporate clients and advances above Rs 5,000. IMPS instant; NEFT up to 2 hours. |
Credit / Debit Card | Visa, Mastercard, RuPay | Via payment link to registered mobile or email. Valid for advance and full payment. |
Net Banking | All major Indian banks | Payment link via WhatsApp or email. Preferred for Bangalore IT corporate PO-based approvals. |
Cash | Balance at time of travel | Accepted at trip end. Advance must be digital for booking confirmation. Receipt issued. |
Corporate Credit | Registered corporate accounts | 30-day credit terms for signed Bangalore corporate clients. Monthly consolidated invoicing available. |
Luxury vehicle note: For Rolls-Royce Ghost, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes S-Class, a higher advance may be required given limited Bangalore fleet availability and Bangalore wedding season demand.
Cancellation Policy — Car Hire in Bangalore
Tejas Travels maintains a fair, transparent, and tiered cancellation policy. All terms communicated in writing at booking confirmation.
Cancellation Timing | Cancellation Charge | Refund on Advance |
|---|---|---|
More than 72 hours before departure | NIL — No charge | 100% of advance refunded within 5-7 working days |
48 to 72 hours before departure | 10% of total trip fare | Advance refunded less 10% deduction |
24 to 48 hours before departure | 25% of total trip fare | Advance refunded less 25% deduction |
12 to 24 hours before departure | 50% of total trip fare | Advance refunded less 50% deduction |
Less than 12 hours before departure | 75% of total trip fare | Minimal or no refund depending on trip value |
No-show (car deployed, client absent) | 100% of total trip fare | No refund. Full fare payable. |
Cancellation by Tejas Travels (breakdown, force majeure) | NIL — No charge | 100% refunded within 2 working days OR substitute vehicle offered |
Special Cancellation Conditions for Bangalore Car Hire
- Weddings: Bangalore wedding hire: Minimum 7-day notice for full refund. Cancellations within 3 days of wedding date are non-refundable.
- Luxury Cars: Luxury vehicles (Rolls-Royce, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class): Minimum 5-day notice for full refund due to limited Bangalore fleet and wedding season demand.
- Peak Dates: New Year, Diwali, and Bangalore long-weekends: Minimum 48-hour notice for full refund. Less than 24 hours is non-refundable.
- Force Majeure: Bangalore bandhs / force majeure (traffic disruptions, road closures): 100% refund within 2 working days regardless of notice period.
- Modifications: Modifications (date change, vehicle upgrade, route additions) with more than 24 hours notice: Accommodated at no penalty, subject to availability.
How to Cancel: Call or WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with your booking reference. Cancellation confirmation within 2 hours. Refund to original payment method within stated timelines.
Refund Policy — Car Hire for Rent in Bangalore
All refunds processed to the original payment instrument. No cash refund unless advance was paid in cash.
Refund Scenario | Refund Amount | Processing Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Cancellation 72+ hrs before departure | 100% of advance paid | 5-7 working days to original payment instrument |
Cancellation 48-72 hrs before departure | Advance minus 10% charge | 5-7 working days |
Cancellation 24-48 hrs before departure | Advance minus 25% charge | 5-7 working days |
Cancellation 12-24 hrs before departure | Advance minus 50% charge | 7-10 working days |
Cancellation by Tejas Travels | 100% of advance paid | 2 working days — priority processing |
Trip shortfall: actual km less than minimum | Proportional credit on excess | Settled at trip end |
Billing error / overcharge | Full overcharged amount | 2-3 working days after verification |
Duplicate payment | Full duplicate amount | 2-3 working days after confirmation |
Refund by Payment Method
- UPI: UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm): Refund to UPI-linked bank account within 3-5 working days.
- Card: Credit/Debit Card: Refund to originating card within 5-7 working days.
- Bank: Bank Transfer: Refund to originating account within 3-5 working days. Account re-confirmed before processing.
- Cash: Cash: Cash refund at Tejas Travels Bangalore office or via IMPS within 5 working days.
Refund Contact: WhatsApp +91 9980277773 with booking reference, advance receipt, and refund reason. Confirmation within 24 hours.
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What Our Customers Say About Our Cab Services in Bangalore
Travelled to Bangalore
So nice that the service we have received from Tejas travellers. Ms Revati is very good coordinator and so polite and have much patience. Thank you so much for making our journey nice and beautiful with sending experienced drivers.🙂
rahul
6/11/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Very good and clean vehicle provided for family trip for two days. Driver was professional and polite. Excellent service
Mas S
6/3/2026 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Hired for day-out trip, It was very pleasant and comfortable journey, with good driver's behaviour and l may strongly suggest Tejas travels for better and comfortable family trip
Kishore Lal
6/11/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Booked cab from tejas travels, bangalore to madikeri. Excellent service, driver was very polite and he knows all nook and corner. Overall we enjoyed the trip
Jai Kumar
6/11/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Why Choose Tejas Tours and Travels?
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Frequently Asked Questions — Bangalore to Idukki Cab
The bangalore to idukki distance is around 600 km via NH 44 through Salem, Karur and Dindigul, then west through Theni, Kumily, Vandanmedu and Kattappana, with reported figures between 580 km and 630 km. A cab takes 11 to 12 hours with two proper halts. Everything beyond Kumily is hill road where sixty kilometres takes an hour and a half, which is the part people underestimate.
No, though Munnar is in Idukki district - as are Thekkady, Marayoor and Vagamon, which is why the term causes confusion. Idukki as a place means the arch dam at Cheruthoni and the district town at Painavu, around a hundred kilometres south of Munnar by hill road. If you are looking for the tea estates, our Munnar page is the one you want; for Periyar and the boat safari, our Thekkady page. This page covers Idukki proper and the surrounding hill country.
Usually not. The dam is a working installation operated by the state electricity board rather than a tourism facility, and public access to the arch has historically been restricted, opening only for limited periods with arrangements announced each year and changed more than once. We deliberately do not publish a schedule here because anything specific would be out of date within a season - check with the electricity board or district tourism close to your dates, and our drivers check locally before setting out.
A good deal. Hill View Park above Cheruthoni gives the view down onto the arch and the gorge and operates independently. Kalvary Mount looks out over the reservoir spreading back through the hills and is the better view on a clear morning. The Kulamavu dam and reservoir shoreline are accessible. For most visitors, most of the year, this is the Idukki dam experience - and it is a perfectly good one, which is worth knowing before you plan a trip around walking across the arch.
A sedan starts at Rs 17,200. Combined Munnar or Thekkady itineraries and larger vehicles are quoted on plan and group size. Every quote itemizes base fare, driver allowance, toll estimate, the Kerala interstate permit and GST separately, and circuit quotes carry a stated allowance for district running, which on these roads is substantial.
A 20 percent advance on the total fare confirms your booking and holds the specific vehicle for your dates. The advance receipt is issued within 30 minutes, and your confirmation includes the driver name, mobile number, vehicle registration, departure time and the full billing breakdown in writing. For the December to January peak, Onam and long weekends, a higher advance may be requested.
Included: base fare, fuel charges and driver allowance. Not included: toll and parking, interstate tax and permit charges, driver bata after 9:45 PM, and GST. Hill View Park entry, Thommankuthu eco-tourism fees, forest department arrangements and dam access where open are paid on site. The final rental is calculated on total kilometres and hours from our garage to garage, and district running is a real part of that on a circuit booking.
No. Tejas Tours and Travels does not cover passenger insurance. Our vehicles carry the statutory motor insurance required under law and our drivers hold valid commercial licences, but passengers wanting personal travel cover should arrange it independently. For the Thommankuthu trek and any paragliding at Vagamon, the operators run their own arrangements and those are worth checking directly.
Around forty kilometres from Idukki, so an hour and a half each way on hill road, and yes. It sits on the edge of the escarpment at about 1,100 metres looking straight out over Theni, Bodi and the Cumbum valley, with wind coming up hard enough to be genuinely startling - it is among the windiest inhabited places in India and there is a wind farm on the ridge. The Kuravan and Kurathi statues are here. Go at sunset for the light on the plains.
September to May. The southwest monsoon from June brings very heavy rain to these hills and the district has a history of landslips in bad years, so dates in July and August are worth checking against conditions rather than assuming. September to February is the most pleasant, with the hills green after the rains, and it is also when Vagamon and the viewpoints are at their best.