Kumarakom

Today, Kumarakom stands for exquisite backwater activities. One can enjoy a beautiful on a cruise or a houseboat while sailing from Alleppey to Kumarakom. You can spend an entire evening and night by on a houseboat. The beautiful locations that you will witness, once you are on the houseboat, will make a trip to Kumarakom memorable. There are some fishing and canoeing options too. The most exciting sport that can be witnessed in Kumarakom is the snake-boat race, which is a way of celebrating Onam, uniquely, in August and September. Large crowds of tourists throng the site to witness the amazing spectacle.

If you are a nature enthusiast then visiting the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a must. This sanctuary was also developed by Alfred George Baker. It is spread across 14 kilometres and stands for the lush greenery that it provides and the migratory birds like Waterfowl, Teal, Cuckoo, Egret, Heron, Owl, Brahminy Kite, Flycatcher, Lark, Parrot and the Siberian Stork that flock in and around this sanctuary. The fact that Kumarakom is covered with green paddy fields and coconut groves ensure that it remains a home for these migratory birds. Also, it is said, that the beautiful Vembanad Lake is home to around 150 different types of marine beings. Perhaps, the best part about Kumarakom, are its Mangrove forests. There are many species in these forests like Bruguiera Gymnorrhiza, Hebiseus Taeliatious, etcetera.

The proper development of Kumarakom as we see it today started off with the efforts of an English farmer, Alfred George Baker, who claimed around 500 acres of land in this area and developed his property too. Due, to his efforts Kumarakom could rise to its true potential as a tourist spot. Later, when the property of the Bakers went into ruin, it was redeemed to its original grandeur by the Taj Group.

The cuisine here is largely Syrian Christian in style which also influences the food culture. You can find Appam- a rice bread, Kappa (tapioca), Karimeen- a very exotic fresh water fish, and other seafood such as shrimps, prawns, crabs and squids that are famous in Kumarakom. If you're adventurous enough, you can try the frog legs, donkey stew and crane fry are also available in more local areas and outlets. At the same time, there are a number of options available for vegetarians as well.
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Day 1: After reaching Kumarakom, one can freshen up and then leave to witness the backwaters of Kumarakom and the Vembanad lake, located at the same place, and spend a few hours there along with the boats in the day time. The place is beautiful to visit during the day and thus is an alluring sight. After the visit, drive down to about 40 minutes of the journey to the beautiful Pathiramal Island to spend the rest of your day.

Day 2: Start in the morning and travel down to the beach, which will be a beautiful sight in the early morning hours. After 45 minutes long drive, you can reach the famous bird sanctuary, which can be roamed around for about 1 hour or more. In the remaining time, visit The Bay Island Driftwood Museum, located at a mere distance of 1.5 km from the Bird Sanctuary.

Day 3: Start early to travel down to the Aruvikkuzhi falls, as they might be a beautiful sight in the early hours of the day, cool and refreshing. In the remaining time, you can plan on visiting Juma masjid, which might be an ideal pick to bring an end to this trip. Also, in the remaining time, roam around the streets of Kumarakom to shop for a few souveniers.

The top things to do in Kumarakom are Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Backwaters, Vellavali, Visit to Toddy Shops, Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Fishing in Kumarakom. You can see all the places to visit in Kumarakom here

The top places near to Kumarakom are Alleppey which is 23 km from Kumarakom, Munnar which is located 77 km from Kumarakom, Kochi which is located 44 km from Kumarakom, Thekkady which is located 71 km from Kumarakom, Kottayam which is located 5 km from Kumarakom

The packages for Kumarakom start at INR 8800 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

The connectivity of Kumarakom to nearby cities through the various modes of transportations act as a perk for tourists planning their trip to the area. The city of Kumarakom is well linked to all the other major cities all over the country, by the means of all railways, roadways, waterways, and airways. Cochin being the nearest major city to Kumarakom acts as a major linking node between various other cities to this tourist destination, thus helping the tourist to avail the mode of transport best suiting their needs.

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The cuisine here is largely Syrian Christian in style which also influences the food culture. You can find Appam- a rice bread, Kappa (tapioca), Karimeen- a very exotic fresh water fish, and other seafood such as shrimps, prawns, crabs and squids that are famous in Kumarakom. If you're adventurous enough, you can try the frog legs, donkey stew and crane fry are also available in more local areas and outlets. At the same time, there are a number of options available for vegetarians as well.
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September to March is the best season to visit Kumarakom. Summers (April-June) are little warm, and the temperatures occasionally reach around 35 degree Celsius or more. Monsoons are beautiful in Kumarakom, and it's a perfect time to enjoy bird-watching in the Kumarakom bird sanctuary. However, backwater cruising is not allowed during the monsoons.
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People interested in witnessing the beauty of nature, along with the vibrant history and the culture, can be the most suitable for visiting Kumarakom. Families, couples, and a group of young people, Kumarakom is a suitable visit for all.

The connectivity to Kumarakom is not direct and is majorly through Kochi and Kottayam. The place is also not a suitable pick to visit during monsoon because of the spontaneity and unplanned nature of the rains.

The place is cheaper compared to many famous tourists destinations, being a smaller town. Commuting within the town is easy, and the number of natural landscapes is a beautiful magnet for all the tourists looking forward to visiting Kumarakom. Also, the place is a rich spectrum of cultural and historical diversity.