Kurisumala Ashram Cistercian Abbey - Ashram in Vagamon - Kottayam, India

This is the only one monastry in hill top in vagamon. This Monastry belong to Oriental catholic church called Malakara catholic monastry. There are monks and priest- monks and Bathani nuns in separate residences. They havevAustere life style. They allot a huge hours of theirs time in liturgy of hours or called they are in prayer. Other time they also spend in labour. Hope they also sleep well. The best milk in their farm is a sign that whatever they do the grace of the Lord is with them. People who search for truth and inner calmness landed up here. Musical holy mass in the morning brings a beautiful experience of hindustani music and Sanskrit expressions of Rishis. Men and women reach who wish to fly from the world (fuga Mundi). It is hard for the people who are ambitious for worldly things. Beautiful ambience but bit stinchy of beasts (the Cows) all around. The monks are living not much far from the milk processing and cow raring. The landscapes are really beautiful from its top one can see the kurisumala church in hill top and the way of the cross. Lavarna, the capuchian ashram is around 1700 meters distance. There are many resorts, hotels, Rs2000 jeep services are very popular of the surrounding area for the help of the devotees.

"This joyous site of rocks and hills, the sparkling jewls of the highlands of Kerala, a land of grassy slopes with flowers of many hues, with glades where fair trees dance in the wind....."francis Acharya wrote VAGAMON The beauty of our mother nature. What a wonderful place!!!!! "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I'll show you"(Gen. 12:1) The proximate reason for the establishment of Kurishumala Ashram was the response to this divine call. Though a Belgian by birth, seed of his vacation, which culminated in the oblation of his life at Kurishumala as a true lndian , where sown by none other than the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.. This took place during the days of the roundtable conference in London, where Francis Acharya was a student at that tim. After making Proffession at the Cistercian(Trappist) Scourmont Belgium, he followed a persistent call to India and set foot in this "cradle of monasticism " in 1955.After an extensive 'stay and study at major India Ashrams. It is a great place.Big Salute Kurishumala Asramam is not a clerical community. The principal activities of the community of Kurishumala is living monastic charism, as already explained. It is the temporal needs are met by the dairy farm which makes it self -supporting. Many families have settled near the Ashram, some of them in land donated by the community. Almost 100 local families are supported by the Adhram by accepting milk from them at a good price. Supplying medicines to the under privileged and offering guidence. Vegetable garden and a small bakery managed by the brothers provide vegetables and bread for the community 's consumption. Day in the day out they strive towards that ideal of unceasing- prayer for the world, for the unity of the Churches for peace... "LOKAH SANASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU.. OM SHANTI, SHANTHI, SHANTHI..." THANK GOD FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIFE.. SIMPLE LIFE IS THEIR GOING ON... We experience the silence of meditation and Blessings of God God's signature..

Very serene, and isolated perfect for meditation at the first chapel before reaching the Ashram. The entry to the Diary farm is not permitted anymore. Must Visit if you would like to spend some quality spiritual time.

It's a great place, provided you have access to the innards. If you have friends or relatives who can connect with the saints here, they would help you get in. (like we had).

The Ashram is a quiet and peaceful place. There are no vehicles allowed inside the ashram. The parking must be done outside and visitors have to walk to the ashram from the main entrance where the parking space for the vehicles are provided. Visitors are supposed to maintain silence. There is a specific visiting time and certain restrictions that are subject to change over time. On the way from the parking to the ashram, the is a small chapel on the right side which has the tomb of Abbot. Francis Acharya and various other priests. The people inside the ashram follow a very simple and humble life. They meditate most of the time and work in the gardens and with the cattle during the rest of the times. There is a small chapel in the ashram where visitors are allowed except from 1 pm to 3 pm (subjected to change) when the people in the ashram pray. The main highlight of this place is it's silence and the beauty of the scenery and the grasslands in and around the ashram for their cattle which is bred and grown in the ashram itself by the people there Over 1000 litres of milk is produced in this farm every day. There are so many cows in number. Milk can be brought from the ashram itself. Visitors are not allowed to enter the farm at present. However they might have the privilege to if they call the authorised person in the ashram and book a visit in prior. As photography is prohibited inside the ashram, there aren't much photos taken.

Once I was there in Vagamon. There I was working as a teacher in Govt. U. P. School , Vagamon from 1971 to 1978. It's a lovely place surounded by Hills and valleys. Lakes ,waterfalls , meadows and flower gardens. Tea Estates, Pine valleys, Cardamon estates and cattles. Nowadays Fine Holiday Homes for stay like Drizzle Mount Home Stay. Kurisumala Ashram is a pilgrimage. Zion Worship Center is a best place for Christian worshipping. In Kolagalamadu there is a livestock Centre. Kokkavalavu Pullikanam is also a site seeing place etc.

Heaven at height ..is best to quote this place... But font take this place as tourist spot .... U can visit oen day ... But to feel the depth must take permission and stay for some days and feel the peace and silence in life ...... Atmosphere is completely silence and this is christain monastery where monks meditate and pray ... With different lifestyle ..... Must enjoy the nature around there too....

The Jerusalem of Kerala. One should come and witness the serenity and beauty of the ashram. The ashram sets the example of simple living. Come and witness the peace and spirituality here.