KUMARAKOM

District : Kottayam
Poular For : Back waters, Pathiramanal Island, Birds Sanctuary, Boat Races
Best Time To Visit : September, October, November and December
To See :Pathiramanal Island, Birds Sanctuary
Most Famous For :Pathiramanal Island, Birds Sanctuary, Back waters
Must Experience : Boating.
To Shop : Kerala Spices, Cee Pee Spices, Indian Spices, Crescent Spices.
Getting There : Air - Nearest Airport : Kochin International Airport. Nedumbassery.
Rail - Nearest Railhead – Kottayam 16 km / 20 min.
Road - 16 km from Kottayam.

Kumarakom

Fascinating Lake Vembanad is the main attraction of Kumarakom, the maximum length and the breadth of the lake is visible from the lake side of Kumarakom only , as the Arabian Sea is on the west of Kumarakom, there is always 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 Lake side is very pleasant, as the trees on the lake side provides very good shade and also the breeze from the south east or the north east, 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 lake side. Always the temperature on the lake side will be 2 to 5 degree lesser than most of the other places. Lake side of Kumarakom is having pollution free fresh air and there is more oxygen in the air. 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 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).

Pathiramanal Island

Pathiramanal is a beautiful island in the Vembanad Lake it lies on the boarder 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 motor boat and 45 minutes in a speed boat .The Island covers an area of 68 Hectares (168 Acres). The island is a Birdwatcher's paradise. It is home to around 91 local species of birds and 50 migratory birds. One can see Pintail Ducks, Common Teal, Night Heron, Cormorant, Darter, Indian Shag, Purple Heron, gulls, terns, large egrets, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Watercock, Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Cormorant and Whiskered Tern. Some people have even reported seeing the Monarch flycatcher.

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 Lake shore at Kumarakom.he planted Mangrove bushes and created a green belt on the lake shore 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. A permanent Bird sanctuary was thus formed which may be the first of its kind in the country.

Thanneermukkham Salt water Barrage

This is only 12 Kms. away from Kumarakom by road, and it is on the north west of Kumarakom, only 15 minutes in a Speed Boat, one and half hour in a House Boat or in a Motor Boat. Its length is 1400 meters and have 62 shutters at both ends ,470 meter long reclaimed portion in the middle and the western and eastern portion with 470 meters each at both sides with 31 shutters on each side were completed in 1967.The construction of the remaining middle part was completed in 1977.These 62 shutters were fitted on the northern side of the bridge to control the entry of saline water from Arabian Sea to the southern part of the barrage to facilitate two crops of paddy in a year.

Kumarakom Boat Race

Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali or Boat Race, at Kumarakom, Kerala is held on month of September every year during Onam feastival. More than 1000 oarsmen in boats of different sizes and shapes will participate in this event. Even though Snake Boats participate in this race, the importance is given here is for iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row. The Successful iruttukuthi will win The Sree Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy.

The day will begin with special pujas at the Kumaramangalom Temple . This will be followed by Gurupuja and Gurupushpanjali at the Gurumandiram. Arts and sports competitions for children will be held as part of the celebrations during the forenoon. The Kumarakom boat race will commence. Prior to this, the grand procession of country boats carrying a portrait of Sree Narayana Guru and the thidampu from Kumaramangalom Temple will be held up to Kottathodu, the venue of the boat race. The celebrations are scheduled to conclude with a public meeting and distribution of prizes for the winners.