Kumarakom Is A Better Place To Visit and Better Place To Live
It Is Also An Excellent Natural Tourist Destination For Relaxation
Kumarakom Village is a world-famous Tourist Destination, Well known for its backwaters, three sides of Kumarakom is surrounded by Lake Vembanad, and also the Meenachil river is flowing through Kumarakom. Kumarakom is very famous for very tasty Pearl Spot Fish ( Karimeen) from Lake Vembanad.
Main Attractions of Kumarakom
Lake Vembanad
This is the largest Backwater of Kerala, which extends from Alappuzha in the south and Thrissur on the north and its length is 97 Km. The lake has a maximum width of about 8 km. and is about 4 to 26 feet deep. Four Rivers mainly Meenachil, Manimala, Pampa, and Achankovil directly drain to this lake . The total area of the Vembanad Lake is 13,224 Hector(32,700 Acres)
Marvelous Sight Seeing From The Bank of Lake Vembanad
Beautiful Sunset can be experienced from the lakeside of Kumarakom, Watch the houseboats, motorboats, speed boats, country boats,s and fishermen’s boats sail past. Unique scenery, throughout the day, and also the breeze and the waves of the beautiful lake. Joyous sights of the sunset, stars, moonset. Watch the beautiful sight of the lights and fireworks on the western side of the lake and the stars in the sky during the night. Enjoy the rainy season by experiencing the rain coming from far away and also the breeze and the waves of the lake, nature’s live sound, and light show of thunder and lightning at night. Vellavaley–fishermen catching the pearl spot fish by the bare hand.
Why Kumarakom is more attractive
Fascinating Lake Vembanad is the main attraction of Kumarakom, the maximum length and the breadth of the lake is visible from the lakeside of Kumarakom only, as the Arabian Sea is on the west of Kumarakom, there is always a very good breeze and the waves in the lake, which is more on the Kumarakom side than other places. You can experience the beautiful Sun Set from Kumarakom. The morning on the Kumarakom Lakeside is very pleasant, as the trees on the lakeside provide very good shade and also the breeze from the southeast or the northeast, and in the evening we will enjoy the sun from the west because of the breeze from the west and the fascinating waves on the Kumarakom lakeside. Always the temperature on the lakeside will be 2 to 5 degrees lesser than most of the other places. Lakeside of Kumarakom is having pollution-free fresh air and there is more oxygen in the air, therefore when you stay in the lakeside cottage you will be more refreshed and energetic, moreover, Yoga will be more effective from the lakeside cottages by concentrating at the Sun Set.
Kumarakom is the first destination in India to Implement Responsible Tourism practices. Kerala Tourism was awarded for its path-breaking ‘Responsible Tourism’ project in Kumarakom, which has successfully linked the local community with the hospitality industry and government departments, thereby creating a model for empowerment and development of the people in the area while sustaining eco-friendly tourism. Kumarakom has been declared a Special Tourism Zone by the Kerala State Government in 2005.
Kumarakom Backwater Cruising
Kumarakom backwaters are one of the best backwaters for backwater cruising in a House Boat, Motor Boat, and Speed Boat or in a Country boat. It is around 20 Kms. long and around 8 Kms. breadth. You can see the beautiful Resorts on the lake Side of Kumarakom, such as from north Coconut lagoon, Bird sanctuary, Fish sanctuary, Waterscapes,Taj Garden Retreat, Coco Bay, Kumarakom Lake resort, MRF Guest House, St.Peters Church, Beautiful Cross constructed in the Lake, by Illikkalam Family Members and donated to St.Johns Attamangalam Church in 1965. Rama Varma Union Club, Lake Song Resort. Radisson Plaza Resort, Sailing club, Backwater Ripples, Paradise Resort, Illikkalam Lake Resort, Backwater Resort, Kottayam Club, Abad whispering Palms Etc, Cruising through Kumarakom Backwaters are very good, as you can enjoy the Breeze and waves of the lake Vembanad, You can view the fishing by the fishermen and also the Vellavali.You can see the Pathiramanal Island, R Block, C Block, and also Alleppey Backwaters.
Pathiramanal Island (Midnight Land)
Pathiramanal is a beautiful island in the Vembanad Lake lies on the border of Kumarakom. There is only 30 minutes journey in a Motor Boat and only 10 minutes journey by a Speed boat from Kumarakom to Pathiremanal, and from Alappuzha it will take more than 2 hours to reach Pathiramanal by motorboat and 45 minutes in a speed boat . The Island covers an area of 68 Hectares (168 Acres)
There is a legendary story regarding the creation of this island, One famous Brahmin who possessed supernatural powers was traveling through Vembanad Lake in a country Boat. During the travel, the Brahmin wanted to pass urine, but passing urine in the lake water was considered a sin. So with his supernatural power he created an island called Pathiramanal ( Midnight- sand) in the lake.
The undisturbed atmosphere of the island provides favoured breeding ground for various Birds. This island has its own unique flora with rare plants like crocodile apple, various climbers, mangrove, medicinal plants, etc.
Birds Sanctuary
There are 180 species of birds are found in the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, the story of the bird sanctuary begins in the year 1847 when Mr Alfred George Baker started developing a vast area of Vembanad Lakeshore at Kumarakom. Planted Mangrove bushes and created a green belt on the lakeshore to protect his land and crops. He also kept an area of about ten acres of land with mangroves to accommodate local as well as migratory birds coming from far-off regions. No one was allowed to enter the area to disturb the birds. The permanent Bird sanctuary was thus formed which may be the first of its kind in the country. Later construction works of Resorts and Hotels over this area disturbed the birds. Now the trees in front of the Taj hotel, KTDC entrance, and the forest Office is the breeding area of Darters, Little Cormorants, Indian shags, and Pond Herons.
Thanneermukkham Salt Water Barrage
This is only 12 km. away from Kumarakom by road, and it is on the northwest of Kumarakom, only 15 minutes in a Speed Boat, one and half hour in a Houseboat or in a Motor Boat. Its length is 1400 meters and has 90 shutters. These shutters are fitted to control the entry of saline water from the Arabian Sea to the southern part of the barrage to facilitate two crops of paddy in a year.
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kumarakom
The Coconut Research Station, Kumarakom was established in the year 1947 to cater to the research needs of coconut in the reclaimed alluvial soils of Kuttanad. 24 hectares of land required for establishing the station was obtained from the R.B.A. Baker. This was upgraded the status of a Regional Agricultural Research Station in 1982. The total geographical area of the farm attached to the RARS is 45 hectares’.
How To Reach Kumarakom?
By Air: Via Cochin International Airport, then by Road approximately 80 kilometers.
By Rail: Via Kottayam Railway station (16 Km).
By Rail: Via Cherthala Railway Station (22Km)
By Rail: Via Alappuzha Railway Station(40Km)
By Rail: Via Ernakulam Railway Station(58Km)
By Boat: From Muhamma (near Alleppey) to Kumarakom Jetty.
By Road: KSRTC (12 kilometers) Buses, Taxis and Autorickshaws are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.