Kumarakom

A desire that ripples in you to experience the bounty of nature will certainly propose you to visit Kumarkom – a cluster of islands just 14 km from Kottayam. Jutting out in the Vembanad lake, it is a sleepy town where the passing of time has little meaning. The place bears a strong resemblance to Alappuzha in its milieu. To put it straight it is also essentially a backwater destination – a perfect place for a lazy and a laid back holiday. The cornucopia of green color, whether of the slender coconut trees, of swaying paddy fields, of mangroves or the backwaters, seems to swathe the whole area.

While Kumarakom is a part of Kuttanad, the ‘granary or the rice bowl of Kerala’, lake Vembanad is world famous for its aquatic treasure of Karimeen (pearl spotted fish), shrimps and prawn. The cooks here have capitalized over this treasure. Their fish preparations are a tempatation to one and all. Kumarkom’s marshy mangroves are a resort for medley of migratory birds such as Siberian stork, egret and others. Bird watching cruises woo the tourists to get a closer glimpse of them while floating through the rivulets.

Its beauty and serenity magnetized Mr. George Alfred Baker to choose this quaint hamlet of, ‘The God’s Own Country’, Kerala for his stay during his missionary work in the State. When he left India, his grand home was readily taken over by Taj Hotels to transform it into a fancy resort. Many other renowned hotel groups soon followed the trail. Today Kumarkom, crisscrossed with canals all over, is strewn with plethora of lake side cottages and top notch luxury resorts – all testifying the popularity of this destination. The place has become even better known to the world after Arundhati Roy, who was raised in a nearby village Ayemanam, won booker prize for her internationally acclaimed novel ‘The God of Small Things’.