Situated at a distance of 14 km away from Kottayam, the village of Kumarakom is basically a group of little islands along the banks of Vembanad Lake in the Kuttanad region. The natural features of the place consists of several rows of palm trees, luxuriant paddy fields, blue lagoons, green backwaters, and dense mangroves that serve as abodes of several species of flora and fauna.

Tourist Attractions in Kumarakom:
A bird lover�s paradise, Kumarakom allows you to enjoy a number of tourist sites to be explored. You can travel to the following places while you are on tour to Kumarakom:

Water Bird Sanctuary:
Spread over 14 acres on the eastern banks of the Vembanad Lake is located the bird sanctuary. It is home to the birds like waterfowl, water ducks, cuckoos, and wild ducks. Birds like Siberian storks migrate here every year. Domestic birds like egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl and migratory birds like the Siberian storks can be spotted at the water-bird sanctuary. As an excursion from Kumarakom you may choose to visit the beautiful backwater town of Kottayam where you can visit the extensive rubber plantations and the old churches.


Backwater Cruise:
The backwaters are some of the greatest tourist attractions in Kerala. Sailing down the serpentine waterways filled with a sense of mystery and magic past the tall swaying palms, Chinese fishing nets, paddy fields, tiny villages and rustic faces can be utterly fascinating. Here you can experience moments of tranquility and peace far from the ruckus of the city life. Also, boat races, houseboat cruise, canoeing and angling are other leisure options not to be missed. An interesting feature of the backwater cruises is the houseboat. A rides in the houseboat, called Kettuvallom is gives you the opportunity to soak in the sparkling beauty of nature while you are served with excellent lodging facilities, washrooms and kitchens offering lip smacking freshly prepared dishes.

The Vembanad Lake:
Kottayam is a huge network of rivers and canals, which lead themselves to the great stretch of water called the Vembanad Lake. The lake, a captivating picnic spot and a fast growing backwater tourism destination, offers entertaining activities like boating, fishing and sightseeing. It is actually home to several marine and freshwater fish like shrimp (chemmeen in the local language), �Karimeen� (Pearl Spotted Fish), and prawns.

TAruvikkuzhi Waterfalls:
During your trip to Kumarakom you can as well opt for an excursion to Kottayam - 18 km away. This is an ideal picnic spot where the rippling streams and the cascades running down the mountains from a height of 100 feet make for wonderful scenery. The rubber plantations here are other Kumarakom tourist attractions that draw huge footfalls.

Log on to www.touristplacesinindia.com which gives online information on the various tourist attractions in Kumarakom on your tour to India.