Kumarakom: The Rice Bowl of Kerala

Kumarakom is one of the 10 best preferred destinations in India for tourism. It is a small tourist village in Kottayam district, Kerala. The village comprises of cluster of small islands on the famous lake called Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is an enchanting backwater destination to visit. The place offers lots of leisurely options to visitors which include house boat honey trips, boating, fishing and sight seeing. The village Kumarakom is situated just 14 kilometers from the main town of Kottayam.

The picturesque beauty of the place is due to its mangrove forest, unsoiled village, pea green paddy fields, coconut plantations and the intermingling of all such shades in the waterways. The place has tropical weather favorable for tourists from all places across the world. Enjoy the nature unsurpassed and at its best!

How to Get There

The nearest air port is at Cochin. From Cochin you can hire a taxi to Kumarakom. It is just 84 kilometers from Cochin. You can also take road from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. Kottayam is well connected by railways to major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. If you wish to enjoy the flourishing pastures and the countryside life of Kerala, take ferry from Quilon to Kumarakom. Reach Quilon by road from Trivandrum and then take the regular ferry service to Allepey and Kumarakom.

Places of Interest

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: This bird sanctuary is spread across 14 acres of land. The bird sanctuary is the heaver for migratory birds. If you are a bird lover and love watching them play and fly in their most carefree modes, then visit the place to witness some wonderful birds like egrets, teals, herons, darters, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild ducks, migratory birds like Siberian stork and others. The best way to watch the birds is to take a boat trip on canoe through the quiet and still water. It will take just 2 hours to go round about the islet. Start your journey early morning to witness the largest number of birds in the sanctuary.

Backwater Cruise: Enjoy a ride on the large Kettuvalloms (houseboats). They are traditionally built which are over 60 ft long. You will have great experience on such massive house-boats. Oar yourself a snake boat which are traditionally used in snake boat races very popular in Kerala or lost your self on a canoe through the canals passing the green paddy meadows, palm plantations and tall coconut trees.

Ayurvedic Resorts: The floating ayurvedic refreshing spas and salons offer excellent Ayurvedic massages that are holistic in nature to cure lots of ailments.

Cuisines

When you are in Kerala, you are also in a land of paradise of foods. Taste the exotic cuisines of Kerala in Kumarakom resorts, restaurants and food joints. The food primarily consists of rice and fish delicacies. You can also taste some other traditional food of Kerala like rice porridge, fish fries and sea foods. If you like tasting drinks of different places, don't forget to sip "toddy' the local drink prepared from coconut trees. Fish curry prepared in toddy is also an exclusive dish of Kumarakom.