Kumarakom Backwaters A Must Visit Backwater in Kerala

Image Credits : Shubhika Bharathwaj, Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Kerala is known for its panoramic backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches. A major backwater stretch lies in Kottayam district, where a network of rivers and canals empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakam is 16 km away from Kottayam town.

A pleasure trip to Vembanad Lake gives you an opportunity to explore the rich flora and fauna that is supported by this enchanting water world. You are free to go canoeing, dingy sailing, catamaran riding and much more.

The Vembanad Lake happens to be an important Aqua Tourism destination that entices tourists to its luxury picnic spots by the dozen. With the nearby Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary that is home to exotic water birds, a boat cruise at this breathtaking tourist attraction will leave you speechless with wonder and excitement.

Kumarakom is a serenely beautiful and scenic backwater destination, a charming peninsula jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad Lake that is dotted with plenty of traditional rice boats and canoes, leaving a scene that is immensely pleasing to the eye.

When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly one of the most invigorating and fascinating places to unwind in Kerala.

The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters and mangroves with nestling birds of a hundred varieties will all serve to calm and inspire your mind.

Pristinely beautiful Kumarakom is a charming emerald peninsula jutting into the picturesque Vembanad Lake dotted with innumerable traditional country rafts, boats and canoes. The fresh water of the lake flows into the mainland making a labyrinth of lagoons, canals and waterways.

The backwater houses a variety of species of both flora and fauna. It’s rich in marine life especially the exclusive kumarakom karimeen or pearl spotted fish, konju or tiger prawns, njandu or crabs, chemmeen or prawns and many more.

As and when the monsoon winds bring rain to the shores of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom gets transformed into a rich fertile land. The streams and lagoons break their banks to nourish the shrubs that sprout from every available space. The place is renowned for its mangrove shores and the bird sanctuary.

Kumarakom is well-equipped with a range of luxury and budget resorts with unique leisure options like ayurveda massage, yoga, meditation, swimming, fishing and boating. The adventurous could indulge in water sports such as wind sailing and water skiing.

You could even take a canoe out into the quiet lake, and armed with a fishing rod, catch your own supper. The local spring season emerges from August and coincides with the harvest ferstival of Onam when locals enjoy in festivities and tourism blooms.

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. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets. The whole atmosphere spells peace, bliss and tranquillity.

The entire state of Kerala is blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala play a main role in the economy of the state, links remote villages and islands with the main land.

The water ways provide a cheap and economical mode of transport. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala villages. The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breath-taking greens and deep blues.

Boat rides, houseboat cruises and holiday packages are available for tourists at nominal rates. The serene lake comes alive during Onam with a spectacular water regatta-the snake boat races. It is indeed amazing to watch oarsmen, at least a hundred in one boat, slice their way through the waters to the rhythm of their own full throated singing.

Kumarakom on Lake Vembanad , with its unparalleled boating, fishing and sightseeing facilities, makes a picturesque holiday spot in the backwaters of Kerala. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary nearby which houses exotic birds and plants is a beautiful green spot and an orthithologist’s paradise. Tourists can take a cruise along the lake to catch glimpses of the birds.

It is an ideal spot to spend the summer with ducks, cuckoos, Siberian storks, egrets, darters, herons and teals and many more rare and migratory birds. The ideally located Kumarakom is a picture perfect village and an attractive tourist destination.

Bordered by the lofty Western Ghats on the east, the Vembanad Lake and the paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characterestics.

Panaromic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields, highlands, extensive rubber plantations and the total literacy level achieved by the people have given this district the title: The land of letters, latex and lakes.

A voyage towards the north of Alappuzha, about 10 Kms from Kottayam, will bring you to this rich green, sleepy little village of Kumarakom on the Vembanad Lake.

Float in sheer bliss as Kerala’s traditional kettuvalloms or houseboats, styled as per the norms of tradition yet equipped with every luxury and every modern amenity offer the opportunity to relax on the serene waters of the Lake Vembanad. Stay, dine and truly experience the timeless beauty of life along the banks of Kerala.