The state of
Kerala is endowed with such tremendous natural beauty that tourists are
constantly attracted to it. There are so many towns and interesting tourist
destinations that tourists are spoilt for options. One such destination is Kumarakom.
It is a famous tourism destination not far from the city of Kotayam which is
just 16 km away. Kumarakom is well known for its backwater tourism. All this
backwater tourism is set up in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is one
of the largest fresh water lakes in the country and the largest in Kerala. Kumarakom
village basically consists of a group of small islands on the Vembanad Lake. It
is part of the Kuttanad region. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is the favourite
haunt of migratory birds. Ornithologists will just love to spend time in the
bird sanctuary. It is spread across 14 acres and is home to a number of avian
species such as Egrets, darters, herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoo, wild duck
and migratory birds like the Siberian Stork. These birds flock the sanctuary
during season and tourists are especially fascinated to watch these birds.
Kumarakom is also
home to a diverse species of flora and fauna. Apart from the bird sanctuary,
there are other places of interest too. The Vembanad Lake is home to many marine
and freshwater fish species. It is teeming with life and species such as
Pearlspot, known as Karimeen locally, and shrimp are found here in abundance. The
bird sanctuary and the Vembanad lake make Kumarakom a very beautiful place and
a major tourist destination. The climate in Kumarakom is balanced and tropical.
Both the south west and the north east monsoons bring rains to the region. The
weather is conducive for tourists throughout the year, although some might not
prefer the rainy months.
The mainstay of
the local economy is fishing, agriculture and tourism. The balanced climate of
Kumarakom is conducive to cultivation. The place has abundance of mangrove
forests, coconut groves and paddy fields. Fruits like Banana, Mango, Tamarind,
Jackfruit, Ambazhanga, Chaambenga, Peraycka, Aathaycka and Pineapple grow here
in abundance. Coffee and cocoa plantations too are found here. Yam and
colocasia are cultivated too. The canals of Meenachi River and the interspersed
waterways are tapped for irrigation. The construction of the Thanneermukkam
bund has ensured that connection between the backwaters and the sea is cut off.
So the tidal movement of the water in the canals has stopped and it is not as
salty as it used to be in the olden days when the water in canal moved in and
out with the sea water. Since the waters are pretty much stagnant these days,
it has caused the growth of water hyacinths forming a beautiful green carpet
studded with lilac flowers.
Hinduism, Christianity
and Islam are the religions practiced in Kumarakom. There a number of churches,
temples and also a Jumma masjid in the town. Fish is a staple food in Kumarakom
as in most parts of Kerala. Small boats called vallam and gill nets are used
for fishing. The most sought after varieties of fish in the region are the
black clam, Pearl spot and shrimps. Tourists can even get a boat ride on these
fishing boats. Especially honeymoon couples will love these boating trips.
Kumarakom is
world famous for its boat races and houseboats. There are a wide variety of
houseboats and the place is renowned the world over for the top notch house
boat experience on offer. Most of the houseboats are used for tourists these
days but special boats known as Kettuvallam is used by the locals to go fishing
or to transport goods. Most of the tourism in Kumarakom mainly revolves around
the backwaters of the Vembanad Lake. There are several luxury and budget
resorts lined up on the shores of the lake. These resorts provide tourists with
facilities for boating, yachting and fishing. Such trips offer tourists with
panoramic views of the lake. The Bird Sanctuary can also be approached by water
by use of canoes. These trips are carried out by local fishermen at the
entrance of the sanctuary. Dawn and dusk are the best time to visit the
sanctuary. Even though the bird sanctuary timings are between 6 AM and 6 PM,
its best to avoid the afternoon sun.
The annual
Kumarakom boat race attracts millions of tourists from across the country and
around the world. The boat race happens around Onam festivities. Over one
thousand oarsmen in boats of all sizes and shapes participate in the event. The
most sought after race is the Iruttukuthi in which 50 oarsmen row each boat
during a race. The races are conducted in the canal near the central market
place. All these races are contested in order to win the Sree Narayana Ever
Rolling Trophy. The Taj Garden Retreat, the biggest and most modern tourist
resort in Kumarakom is set up in a Victorian two storied bungalow which was
built by Alfred George Baker in the year 1881. It is built on huge pieces of
Teak rafters. The bungalow was the house of the Baker family for four
generations spanning over a 100 years. The bungalow along with the bird
sanctuary and the lake are places of interest for tourists from all over the
world. The Bungalow still has a grand, imposing presence and is a silent
reminder of an age gone by. Its design and architecture are simply
spellbinding. Kumarakom has recently been declared as a special tourism zone
(STZ). Tourists will just love spending a few days in Kumarakom. An enchanting
backwater destination that Kumarakom is, it offers tourists many other leisure
options. Apart from the premises of the lake, boating and fishing facilities
are also available at the Taj Garden Retreat. Then there is also Waterscapes, a
backwater resort developed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation
(KTDC). Waterscapes has independent cottages built on stilts and it is set
amidst coconut groves and offers panoramic views of the backwaters. Holiday packages involving houseboats and
traditional Kettuvalloms (rice barges) offer great experiences and tourists,
especially honeymoon couples should make use of such packages.
Kumarakom is
accessible by road from Kottayyam which is 16 km away. The nearest airport is
the Cochin International airport which is 94 km away. Kottayyam is also the
nearest rail head which is just 13 km away. There is also a waterway leading to
Kumarakom from Alappuzha. Intercity bus services are abundant and a ride from
Kottayyam to Kumarakom should take about half an hour. Pre paid cabs can be
hired from the Cochin Airport. The awesome beauty and tremendous landscape of
Kumarakom are just hard to describe in words. Such beauty must be experienced
in person. Anybody visiting Kerala should definitely include Kumarakom in their
itinerary.
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