Vaikundam Plantations

Vaikundam Estate, has been a working rubber plantation since the early 1900, as per the earliest records available. “Vaikundam,” in Hindu mythology, “the divine abode of the gods” is located in Kanyakumari district, the southern most district of India. The Estate has a long and rich history. These lands were part of the erstwhile state of Travancore (now Kerala) and was ruled over by the Travancore royal family. Under the royal family, these lands were only small agricultural holdings. The kings of Travancore assigned to local chieftains through royal proclamations.

​

In the early 20th century, a few Europeans, mostly Britishers, acquired the small land holdings and converted them into larger estate holdings. Sir Daniel Hamilton was one of the British planters who began to cultivate these lands. The estate was then known as “Kaliel Estate.” From Sir Hamilton, the estate passed into the hands of a trio of British planters-Thomas Patrik Madden Alexander, William Coombe, and Reginald Garnier. Among these planters, Thomas Patrik Madden Alexander is credited with introducing rubber plantations in Kanyakumari district.

In 1928, ownership of the estate passed to The Vaikundam Co. Ltd., which changed ownership and names a few times over the years. Since 1957, the estate has been owned and operated by one family. The estate is now a third generation family owned business.

The estate has been continuously cultivated as a rubber plantation from the 1900s and has been one of the most successful plantations in the Kanyakumari area. In 2014, it was recognized as the plantation with the best productivity in the country. Professionally managed, Vaikundam Plantations has diversified beyond the estate into other plantations and businesses.