State : Kerala On the shores of the tranquil Vembanad lake, 14 km from Kottayam, lies Kumarakom a little picturesque town in the state of Kerala. The little village of Kumarakom consists of cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region. Formerly an old rubber plantation, Kumarakom has now grown up as a bird sanctuary. Ornithologist's paradise, Kumarakom is now a leisure haunt, very popular with domestic as well as foreign tourists. An enchanting backwater destination, Kumarakom offers visitors many other leisure options like - boating and fishing, very popular with the visitors. The beauty of nature amidst spectacular mangrove forests, coconut canopies and pulsating paddy fields peppered with enchanting waterways and canals decked with wild lilies, adds to the beauty of its surroundings. Kumarakom is the place for the people looking for a lazy and laid back holiday.

Kumarakom History
Way back in 1878, the swampy mangroves on the banks of the Vembanad Lake were cleared and the entire area was brought under coconut plantation. The man behind the operation was one George Alfred Baker son of Henry Baker of Essex who had come to India sixty years earlier to take up missionary work in Kottayam in the kingdom of Travancore. The Englishman was so fascinated by the beauty of Kumarakom that he settled here and made Kumarakom his home. Henry and his wife, Amelia, contributed greatly to the literacy that Kerala is so proud of today. Later developed into a Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom is a popular leisure retreat.


Place to See
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
This fabulous bird sanctuary is on the banks of the Vembanad lake house. An ornithologist's delight, this place is the favourite haunt of the migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

Backwater in Kumarakom
Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake. The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web.

Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls
Pay a visit to the picturesque Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls . It is this beautiful picnic spot where streams tinkle as they make their way through the landscape and waters roar as they cascade down the mountains from a height of 100 ft.

Pathiramanal (sands of midnight)
This is an enchanting island on the lake, can be accessed by boat from here. This 10 acre island on the backwaters is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world.


How to Reach
Air : Nearest airport at Kochi at a distance of 106 km from Kumarakom (76 km from Kottayam). Prepaid taxis are available to transfer you to Kumarakom.

Train : Nearest railhead at Kottayam which is 15 km away. Taxis are available from Kottayam for Kumarakom.

Road : Kumarakom is 15 km away from Kottayam which also has the nearest KSRTC Bus Stand. Buses from here run to Kochi, Trivandrum, Allepey, Thekkady, Thodupuzha, Kollam, Kozhikode and Bangalore.