Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is situated on the Vembanad backwaters front in Kottayam District, Kerala state, India. This bird sanctuary is home to many species of birds, especially water birds. This Bird Sanctuary is an ornithologist’s paradise. Migratory birds come in large numbers here. There are around 180 species of birds found in this Bird Sanctuary.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea at Kumarakom Birds Sanctuary

History of Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary was earlier known as Baker’s Estate, owned by Alfred George Baker, who got 500 acres of land from the then king of Travancore and planted many trees there on a few acres on the southern bank of River Kavanar. Later on, he did not do anything in this area. Migratory and local birds came to these groves in a few years. It thus automatically became a bird Sanctuary. It is a water bird sanctuary. Baker sold a significant portion of the estate in 1962 and the remaining in 1977.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is spread over 14 acres of land and is the first scientifically developed bird sanctuary in India.  

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is adjacent to the Vembanad backwaters, which helps to get abundant feeds like insects to the birds. It is also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary.

Vembanad Lake & Wetlands

Vembanad Wetland system is the largest of the three Ramsar sites in Kerala. It is also the second-largest Ramsar wetland site in India, after Sunderbans in West Bengal.

Vembanad wetlands or Vembanad lake is also known as Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol. Vembanadu Lake is the name commonly used in Kottayam District and surrounding areas.  It is also known as Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha and Kochi Lake in Kochi. It is spread over an area of 2114 square kilometers.

How Do I Go to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary?

Kottayam, ‘The Press Capital of India’, which houses many of India’s leading vernacular newspapers like Malayala Manorama, Mathruboomi, Deepika, etc., at 15 kilometers away, is the nearest railway station. Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport. Kumarakom is well connected by roads to nearby cities like Kottayam, Allapuzha, and Cochin.

Boating from Allapuzha is a good option for any tourist, as the journey covers the backwaters of Vembanad Lake, The Venice of the East.  This bird sanctuary is at one of the extreme ends of Vembanad Lake, where the 78-kilometer-long Meenachil River empties itself into the Vembanad Lake. There are many other rivers too that empties into the Vemaband Lake. Other Kumarakom places to visit include Pathiramanal Island, an Island around 16.5 kilometers from the bird sanctuary.

There are many hotels at Kumarakam and Alleppey alias Alappuzha that cater to tourist’s requirements.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Entrance Fee, Ideal Season

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary entrance fee is Rs 50 (for Indians). June to August are the ideal months to visit this bird sanctuary. It’s the breeding season for the resident wetland birds.

Kumarakom to Pathiramanal Boat Services

Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) has started a group package boat trip to Pathiramanal island from December 2017. This boat service, accompanied by a guide, will take you to Pathiramanal Island and pick you back on the same day at the agreed time. Minimum charges are Indian Rupees 420 (four hundred and twenty only) for one way. The same charges apply for the return trip. For the abovementioned amount, 42 people can go on this group tour. INR 10 (ten only) will be charged additionally for each extra person.  The rates are much lower than those charged by private boats. For details, please contact the mobile number +91-94000-50331.

Vembanad Lake Cruise from Alappuzha

There is another VEGA-2 Boat service by the Kerala State Water Transport Department that takes you to different islands on the Vembanad Lake and Kumarakom. Charges in the A/C cabin are Rs. 600/ for the two-way trip (One side costs Rs. 300/-). Non-A/C cabin ticket fare is Rs. 400/- for the two-way trip (One Side charges are Rs. 200/-). It starts from Alappuzha Boat Station at 11.30 a.m. and returns to the same place after four hours. There are 40 seats in the A/c cabin. 80 seats are there in the non-A/C cabin.

Eye-Catching Pink Water Lillie’s at Nearby Malarikkal Village

The place, Malarikkal village, is around 8 kilometers distance from Kottayam Town, towards the Kumarakom route. This place shot into prominence, and thousands of tourists started flowing to this small village in October 2019 to see the pink flowers of Water Lillies spread over vast areas of paddy fields. The flowering plants can be seen in October each year. Every year, people come to this village in large numbers in October.

The flowers will be destroyed for agricultural purposes by the end. Again, it will flower at the same time next year.

A similar site exists near Panachikkadu Saraswathy Temple, near Puthupally, in the Kottayam district. Flowers will be there for a few more weeks (one more month, at the most).

Heritage HomeStays

Kodianthara Heritage Home

Kodianthara Heritage Farm House is a government-approved heritage homestay in Kumarakom spread over 2.5 acres of land. It is one of the best homestays at Kumarakom. It was constructed in 1850 by Uthup Ittiavira and was renovated in 2002. It is famous for its Syrian Christian cuisine.

Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa

Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa, Kerala, is another heritage property constructed in 1881-1883. Exclusive villas or cottages numbering 28 are in this sprawling 15 acres of land. It was the former residence of Baker’s family.