In 1878, the marshy mangrove on the bank of the Vembanad Lake was cleared and replaced by coconut plantations. The person in the wake of this maneuver was one George Alfred Baker of Essex who had arrived in India sixty years earlier to take up missionary work in Kottayam. The Englishman was so awestruck by the splendor of Kumarakom that he settled here and made Kumarakom his abode.

Positioned 14 kms from Kottyam and around Kuttanad region lies Kumarakom popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A huddle of tiny islets on the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a pictorial, unsoiled village. An incredibly stunning ecstasy of mangrove forests, pea green paddy meadows and coconut coppices intermingled with enthralling waterways and canals. Kumarakom, located on the Southern coast of India enjoys a proportionate tropical weather. Nature has poised its magic to perfection here. Copious luxuriant coconut palms lining the rivers bow to look at its likeness on the shimmering rivers. Ubiquitously, nature is unsurpassed.

The flourishing pastures and the countryside life are interspersed with the beautiful Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Stretched across 14 acres, the bird sanctuary is a desired haven of migratory birds and a bird lover’s paradise. Teals, egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live there in teems are an enthrallment for guests. The finest way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islets 16 km west of Kottayam on the Vembanad lake. The Sanctuary teems with local waterfowls and over wintering migratory birds such as the Siberian storks. Boats are available for backwater cruises in the lake.

Backwater
The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. Local people call it Kayals The backwaters of Kerala- twisty inland lakes networked by canals - extend to over 1900km.. Vembanad lake is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 sq km, and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.

Just 12 km from Kottayam, this exclusive backwater destination sited on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered the gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake's outlet to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey, populariy known as " Venice of the East" has a network of canals that meander through the town.

Boating across these soothing stretches is an experience exclusive to Kerala. Large Kettuvalloms (traditional country crafts over 60ft. in length) have been renewed into luxury houseboats for these cruises The Vallam Kali (the Snake Boat Race) held every year in August is a major attraction. 12km from Kottayam, this unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered the gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad.

Bird Sanctuary
Inhabiting an islet on the Vembanad Lake at a distance of 12 kilometers from Kottayam in Kerala, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an enjoyment for the bird lover. Showcasing a mystifying collection of unique birds among the pantheon of general bird population it is an ideal place for tourists to enjoy the serene loveliness of the environs.

The solitary tones that can be heard at this point are that of placid flow of water and smooth calls of the birds. Tourists can chill out here for a while if they are worn out of leading a swift existence. A visit to this sanctuary will endow with them a peep into the astounding work of the natural world. The main attractions are local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian cranes.

Boat Contest
The yearly Snake boat races are a exhilarating fiesta held in Alappuzha, Kerala, India, just before the festival of Onam in August or September every year. These annual races characterize many classes of boats, but the most magnificent event is the race involving the colossal Snake Boats or Chundanvallams at the annual races or Vallamkalis held on the Punnamada Backwaters at Alappuzha. The Snake Boats or Chundanvallams, can seat up to 100 people. The rowers pull with all their strength, sitting two in row along the length of the Snake Boat. The boats drift low in the water and have an elongated curvature. The prow is pointed in shape or may have an ornamental knob at the end. The prow rides low in the water with the length of the Snake Boat expanding behind it.