Bevy
of bewitching islands on the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a quintessential
piece of Kerala's heritage. Just 14 kilometers away from Kottayam, Kumarakom
is a part of "Kuttanad region"- - - also called as rice bowl of
Kerala. The landscape of Kumarakom is full of mangrove forests, emerald
green paddy fields and coconut groves and being very close to sea it enjoys
a healthy climate too. Kumarakom has a beautiful bird sanctuary, spread
across 14 acres and it attracts thousands of tourists from all parts of the
world. Truly an ornithologist's paradise! The prime attractions of the bird
sanctuary are: Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck
and migratory birds like the Siberian stork.
Popular Tourist
Attractions in Kumarakom
Visit lakes, explore bird species, enjoy sunrise and sunset cruise and
spend some quality time at the nearby hill stations. There are a number of
tourist attractions in Kumarakom for you to explore and experience. Here is
a list of some of the most visited tour attractions.
Vembanad Lake
The lake is fast becoming a popular backwater destination. The expansive
Vembanad Lake is one of the favourite picnic spots for visitors to Kerala
backwaters. Once here, tourists can enjoy recreational activities like
boating, angling and fishing.
Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls
Cover a distance of just 2 km down a mud lane to reach the Aruvikkuzhi
waterfalls. At this beautiful picnic spot, you can enjoy feasting your eyes
upon waterfalls cascading down from a height of around 100 feet. A visit to
the spot is definitely going to add much to your tour of Kumarakom.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Move towards the eastern bank of the Vembanad Lake and you come across the
bird sanctuary of Kumarakom, one of the most popular bird sanctuaries both
in Kerala and outside. The bird sanctuary spreads over an area of 14 acres
and is known for its Siberian Crane population during winter, aside from a
variety of other migrant and domestic avian species.
Vagamon
Another wonderful tourist spot to be visited, during your Kumarakom tour,
is the hill station of Vagamon, at an altitude of 1100 m above sea level.
The hill town of Vagamon is also an important part of Kerala's ecotourism
project.
Ilaveezhapoonchira
The beautiful valleys of Ilaveezhapoonchira occupies around thousands of
acresof verdant landscape. During monsoons, the place is a sight to behold
for tourists. The views of sunrise and sunset are spectacular from here. You
can also find comfortable accommodation at the DTPC resthouse, located
closeby.
Pathiramanal
It is an island, covering an area of around 10 acres. According to the
Hindu mythology, the island came into being when a Brahmin dived into the
waters of the Vembanad Lake to perform his evening ablutions. The water made
way of land and the island was created.
Poonjar Palace
If you are a history buff and love to explore antiques, Poonja Palace in
the Kottayam district is a must visit for you. Here, you can view a display
of royal antiques, rock cut lamps, sculptures etc. Chandeliers, palm-leaf
engravings, sculptures of Natraja, jewellery boxes and statues are major
attractions here.
Activities to Do in Kumarakom
There are many other leisure options available to the visitors. There are
excellent facilities for boating and fishing in Kumarakom. Exploring this
water world on traditional Kettuvalloms is a lifetime experience that no
other place provides. So, enjoy your tour to Kumarakom as much as you can.
How to Reach Kumarakom (Air/Rail/Road)
Cochin International airport is the nearest airport and is just 70
kilometers away. Trivandrum International Airport is 171 Km. From Bombay,
Madras or Bangalore, you can take a train to Kerala. The best place to
alight is either Cochin or Kottayam (the nearest railhead to Kumarakom).
Kumarakom Hotel Information
Whether you are looking for lake resorts, beach resorts, heritage homes,
lake villas or hotels in Kumarakom, you have got a wide range of
accommodation options in Kumarakom to choose from. Some of most preferred
hotels in Kumarakom are as follows.
» Water Scapes
» Tharavadu Heritage Home
» Taj Garden Retreat
» Coconut Lagoon
» Lake Palace
» Whispering Palms
» House Boats
» Lake Village
» Golden Waters
» Backwater Ripples
» Vembanad Lake Villas
