Travel Guide - Kumarakom

Kumarakom

Kumarakom, a pristine city of Kerala located on the bank of Vembanad Lake has many beautiful landscapes and scenic surrounding making it a perfect holiday spot. The soil being fertile, the place is full of paddy fields, mangrove forests and coconut groves. With its amazing greenery, Kumarakom is the perfect location for honeymooners looking for peace & solitude. Thousands of migratory birds flock to this area every year, making it an ideal place for bird watchers. This beautiful island has numerous small fishing skiffs throughout the town. Experience the backwaters and rejuvenate your senses with an ayurvedic massage which is popular in the region.

Getting There

Air: Kochi has the nearest airport and daily regular flights are available from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Tickets are very economical (Rs 2,500-4,000). Train: Kottayam has the nearest railway station and is connected from Delhi (Kerala Express), Mumbai (Kanyakumari Express), Kolkata (Ghy Tvc Express), Hyderabad (Sabari Express), Bangalore (Kanyakumari Express) and Chennai (Trivandrum Express). Bus: Regular buses are available from Kottayam (20 km, 1/2 hours, Rs 20) for semi-deluxe bus, Kochi (80 km, 11/2 hour, Rs 120) for deluxe and semi-deluxe bus, Bangalore (600 km, 10 hours, Rs 1020) for AC Volvo. Car: Kumarakom can be easily reached by car from Kochi, Coimbatore and Bangalore. The routes to be followed from Kochi (1 hour) is to start from Parry Junction-take Eda Kochi Road NH 47-turn left and continue on state road-Kumarakom. The route from Coimbatore (4-5 hours) is through Palakkad-Marathakkara-Kalamassery-Kumarakom. Tourists coming from Bangalore will have to first come to Coimbatore from Hosur-Dharmapuri-Salem-Coimbatore route and take the Coimbatore-Kumarakom route further. For tourists coming from North India (Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai), the best option is to take a direct flight to Kochi or direct train to Kottayam. From here, bus as well as taxis can be hired for Kumarakom.

When To Go

Kumarakom experiences a tropical climatic condition. During summers (March to May), the temperature rises up to the level of 37°C. Winters (December to February) are pleasant and temperature goes down to 18°C. Medium rainfall is recorded in monsoons (June to September).

Sree Narayana Jayanthi Boat race held in the month of September every year is a major attraction to tourists. Best time to visit is September to February. In monsoons, backwater cruising is not allowed.

History

This leisure town of Kerala is said to have been an old rubber plantation ground which was later developed as a bird sanctuary. As far as history is concerned, Kumarakom does not have too much to talk about.

The latest documentation of the city can be dated back to 1878, when George Alfred Baker, got extremely pleased with the serene location and planned to build a home here. Since then, the British have been predominantly settled in Kumarakom.

In 1956, Kumatakom was declared to be a part of the freshly formed Kerala.

Travel within city

Kumarakom is a tourist destination in Kerala and the village is located in the back waters. Due to the proximity to the back waters most of the local transport is done by boats and catamarans using various interconnected waterways in the area. Another option also includes local buses that ply from town to town and they pass through the main areas of the city. The closest railway station is at Kottayam, which is located about 16 km away from the village. There are cab operators in Kottayam that ply regular services to the backwaters.

Taxi

Some of the cab operators are Shankar Taxis, Phone No-0484 2361334

Kerala Taxi Cabs, Phone No-098 09884184
Broadway Travels, Phone No-0484 2360074

Bus

The closest airport is at Cochin and Trivandrum. Bus services are available from both the cities and many local cab operators also offer shuttle services.

Boats/Steamer

Hiring boats and steamers are the best option for local travel and they are available extensively through the rivers. Many hotels also offer boats for hire. However, it may be advisable to book in advance. House boats are also available, which charges around Rs 2,000 to 3,000 a day depending on the size of the boat.

Attractions

Backwaters

    popular

Kumarakom is famous all over the world for its backwater lagoons. Tourists can enjoy an ethereal stay on the luxury houseboats and explore the natural vista of the surroundings.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

    popular The prime attraction of Kumarakom, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a haven for rare and migratory species of birds. Sprawling on an area of 14 acres some of the commonly sighted birds are kingfisher, paradise fly-catchers and egrets. Contact: 0477-2253308, 2251796  Timings: 10 am to 6 pm  Charges: Indians: Rs 5, Foreign nationals: Rs 45, Guide: Rs 100-200, Boat Trip: Rs 200-250 (Two hrs)  

Itineraries

Distances from Kumarakom

Alleppey 38 km 1h Kochi 50 km Sabarimala 72 km 1h, 10m Thekkady 120 km 4h Munnar 124 km 3h Trivandrum 184 km 5h Kovalam 192 km 5h Coimbatore 235 km 3h, 30m Wayanad 339 km 5h Bangalore 559 km 8h, 30m

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