Kumarakom - Magnificent Tourist Attractions in Kerala

 Magnificent Tourist Attractions in "Kumarakom"

If you really want to explore the astonishing beauty of tourism, visit Kumarakom, which has beautiful landscapes, ayurvedic resorts, enjoy home stay, arrange houseboat cruise and enjoy houseboat stay, and make your vacation in Kerala memorable. The main sightseeing spots in the region include Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Backwaters and Kumarakom Beach. 

These places are situated close to the main town and can be reached by buses, auto rickshaws and taxis. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is inhabited by different species of migratory as well as native birds that can be best spotted during the boat trips. The ideal season for watching migratory birds is between November and February. Tourists can also hire houseboats or motorboats to travel through the long Vembanad Lake which is connected with Alleppey and Kochi.

The beach in Kumarakom is known for organising various beach activities and water sports such as swimming, water polo, parasailing, scuba diving, water skiing and many more. Bay Island Driftwood Museum is one of the popular museums in the state which houses a variety of twisted stumps of driftwood articles that were brought here from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. If you wish to observe the copious elements of nature then there wouldn't be any better place than Kumarakom in Kerala, where you will find exotic wildlife national parks, spice plantations to palm-fringed beaches or exclusive backwaters to tropical rainforest, it has everything to offer every kind of vacationers.

How to reach....

To reach Kumarakom from anywhere outside India, you can fly to Mumbai (Bombay) or Chennai (Madras). It lies just 16 km from the nearest city, Kottayam. From there, fly to Kerala where, you have a choice of three international airports as entry point - Kochi (Cochin), Kozhikode (Calicut) and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

By Air - Cochin is the nearest is airport i.e. 64kms, its and international airport so well connected to the other major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc. Another option is Trivandrum airport i.e. 159 km south of Alleppey.

By Rail - The nearest Airport to Kumarakom is the Cochin International Airport, about 70 km away from the Muhamma boat jetty. The second nearest airport is at Trivandrum, 171 km away.

By Road - Kottayam is about 16 km from Kumarakom, and is well connected with the rest of the country by both State highway and National Highway.

By Water - From Trivandrum International Airport, you can come to Quilon by road or rail, and thereafter, take the regular ferry service through the enchanting backwaters, to reach Alleppey. Kumarakom can be reached by a short ride from Alleppey.

When to go....

Best Time to travel Munnar is between September to May.

KOTTAYAM - An important tourist place in Kerala

 KOTTAYAM - An important tourist place in Kerala

Kottayam is located in central Kerala in India. It is believed that the name Kottayam originated from the Malayalam words 'Kotta' meaning fort and 'akam' meaning 'inside', giving the word meaning 'interior of the fort'. The town is an important trading center of spices and predominantly known for its commercial crop rubber. Rubber trees are extensively cultivated in central Kerala, especially in vast areas of Kottayam District, in plantations, both large and small. Interspersed with a network of canals and lakes, Kottayam is also known for its toddy tappers. This is one place where you will find that even one person is not illiterate. The beautiful Vembanand Lake and its associated backwaters border Kottayam district on the West. There are many famous churches in Kottayam including the St Mary's church and the St Joseph's monastery. Some of the famous temples in Kottayam are the Ettumanoor Shiva Temple known for its paintings and sculptures and the Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple. You can see the historic churches and temples of Kottayam on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

The temples of Kottayam like thes Thirunakkara Mahadevar Shiva Temple boast of a magnificent architecture along with a rich historical past. There are more than 50 temple shrines located in Kottayam each one unique in its architectural style. Some of the other tourist places of Kottayam like Thazhathangadi Juma Masjid, are located near Kottayam, while others such as Pallipurathu Kavu temple are situated within the geographical premises of this district of Kerala. Apart from religious places, Kottayam is also popular for many cultural events like boat racing. Boat racing has become one of the annual events of Kottayam which is attended by many tourists from different parts of India and even from other countries. The bird sanctuaries, enchanting backwaters and the lush green plantations offer an ideal framework for eco tourism and features as one of the prominent tourist attractions of Kottayam. Blessed with a natural splendor and religious bliss, Kottayam tourist attractions captivate the imagination.

What to See in Kottayam

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - It is the place to go if one wants to have a look at the natural habitat of elephants, the tiger and the bison.

The Thirunakkara Shiva Temple - It is also a famous must-see spot in Kottayam. The temple is a storehouse of the typical Kerala temple culture. The walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful paintings. Phalguna Utsav is celebrated here every March. The Kootiattam or the Sanskrit dramas are also an event of attraction in Kottayam.

Vembanad Lake: It is a great water-body which is part of Kerala's famous interconnected Kerala Backwaters that run virtually the length of the state. Vembanad Lake is 52 miles (84 km) in length and 9 miles (14 km) in width. Traditional cargo boats called Kettuvallams have been modified into luxurious cruise boats and house boats for the convenience of the tourists. These boats gracefully move around the back waters, enabling its passengers to enjoy the beauty of the Vembanad Lake in a relaxed pace.

Pathiramanal: Translated as the midnight sands, Pathiramanal is a small yet beautiful island located within the Vembanad Lake that is accessible only by boat.

Kumarakom bird sanctuary: Kumarakom bird sanctuary is home to migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl and water hen and other common varieties like the woodpecker, sky lark, crane and parrot can also be spotted here. Approximately 91 species of local and 50 species of migratory birds are found here making it a bird watchers paradise.

Vagamon: is a hill station in the Kottayam-Idukki district.

How to reach Kottayam
By Air - The nearest international airport is at Cochin, located at a distance of around 80 kilometers.

By Rail - The railway station of Kottayam is located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from the bus station. There are regular trains from major cities of Kerala that come to Kottayam.

By Road - Kottayam is well connected to the rest of Kerala and India by a wide network of motorable roads.