Destination: Kumarakom

Backwaters bay

Beaches and Lagoons – Venice of the East

Kumarakom the ‘Wonder Land’, a tourist village is located near the city of Kottayam, in Kerala, India. This group of small picturesque islands is located between the remarkable Vembanad Lake (The largest lake in Kerala) and the parallel network of calm backwaters. The name Kumarakom is derived from the Malayalam words ‘Kumara’ and ‘Aham’, ‘Kumara’ refer to Lord Subhramanya and ‘Aham’ to home, so Kumarakom means the home of Lord Subhramanya. This rapidly developing backwater tourism spot is 12 km west of Kottayam town with the real beauty of Kerala and mangrove forests, lush green paddy fields, waterways, canals etc.

Kumarakom is man-made land; this small town was established by the Indian government as a part of a special preservation effort. The modern history of this exotic backwater village started in 1847, with Alfred George Baker, an English farmer. He found this place fertile and most suitable for the cultivation of rice and coconut trees. He built the History House, and his four generations lived in the house until 1962. After Baker, the Taj Group take over The Baker House and restored it into a luxury heritage hotel.

Kumarakom, on the backwaters, is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world, Ayurvedic massage, yoga, meditation, boating, fishing, and swimming are also attractive activities for visitors.

Best Places to Visit in Kumarakom

Vembanad Lake

Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India. It is one of the most happening picnic spots here in Kumarakom. You can boat, fish, and enjoy the pristine natural beauty of this place.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread over 14 acres of land. There are all kinds of birds here, right from wild ducks, cuckoos, waterfowls, wood beetle, native kingfishers, flycatchers, larks, and parrots to migratory birds such as Siberian stork, teals, herons, darters, and egrets.

Juma Masjid

Juma Masjid lies on the banks of River Meenachil. It is one of the oldest mosques in India.

Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple

This temple was constructed by Thekkumkoor Maharaja, with a special building named Koothambalam. The main deity of this temple is Lord Shiva and the temple walls are decorated with beautiful mural paintings.

Kumarakom Beach

Kumarakom Beach is located near this beach are replete with facilities like a spa, ayurvedic massage centers, yoga training, and other health-related programs.

Kumarakom Backwaters

Kumarakom Backwaters houseboats take visitors through the canals, lagoons, lakes, rivers, and backwaters in the region.

Pathiramanal

The term Pathiramanal refers to the sand of night or midnight sand and features a zoo and an aquarium. This island covers over 10 acres of land and is inhabited by varied species of migratory birds.

Bay Island Driftwood Museum

It is a unique museum, which houses a collection of twisted stumps of driftwood that were collected from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some of these articles are similar in appearance to animals, birds, reptiles, fishes, and amphibians.

Best Time to visit Kumarakom

Kumarakom experiences tropical climatic conditions. Summers (March to May) days are accompanied by a warm climate and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 37ºC and a minimum of 20ºC. Winters (November to February) are pleasant and the temperature goes down to a minimum of 18ºC and a maximum of 32ºC.

How to Reach Kumarakom

By Air

The nearest airport to Kumarakom is the Cochin International Airport, which is 70 km from Kumarakom. The Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) International Airport is 171 km from Kumarakom.

By Rail

Kottayam is the nearest railway station. There are regular local and express trains, which connect Kumarakom with major cities in India.

By Road

Kottayam, the main road junction is just 14 km from Kumarakom. Kumarakom is also well-linked with all the major cities in India through the State and National Highways.

By Water

From Trivandrum International Airport, you can come to Quilon by road or rail, and thereafter, you can take the regular ferry service to Alleppey, a long and delightful ride on Kerala’s backwaters. From Alleppey, it’s just a short ride to Kumarakom.