Kumarakom Featured Image

Who doesn’t want to holiday in the backwaters of Kerala? Kumarakom – the enchanting backwater destination in Kerala, is on the trajectory of domestic and international tourists worldwide. A cluster of islands surrounded by the Vembanad lake in the backwaters, beautiful Kumarakom is widely acclaimed for its natural beauty and a wide variety of flora. Exotic sightseeing, boating and fishing experiences await you at Kumarakom, a must-see destination in God’s own country.

A sleepy little hamlet on the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is located 13 km away from Kottayam. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary spread across 14 acres is one of the main attractions of Kumarakom along with the swaying palm trees and the exquisite houseboats. Apart from that, legendary temples and churches, the Pathiramanal island, the stunningly beautiful Thanneermukkom bund, Bay Island museum, Mango Meadows Nature park etc. all add to its charm!

Kumarakom is undoubtedly a tourist paradise with many sights to see!

Why Visit Kumarakom?

Kumarakom is truly a paradise on earth & one of the foremost travel destinations in Kerala! The mesmerising backwaters of Kumarakom have brought visitors from far and wide to its shores.

Houseboats plying on the backwaters are one of the stunning sights of Kumarakom tourism. A backwater cruise on these houseboats, enjoying the shimmering backwaters and the fresh air is a must-have in your trip to Kumarakom. These houseboats are made like the traditional ‘Kettuvallams’, which were used to carry commodities in olden days. 

There are many places to visit in one day in Kumarakom. A trip to the scenic Pathiramanal Island and the different churches and temples leave you with a full itinerary in Kumarakom. You can experience the typical Kerala cuisines while cruising through the backwaters.  

The Kumarakom bird sanctuary, one of the top attractions of Kumarakom, is a bird-watcher’s paradise not to be missed! It is visited by many migratory and domestic birds like Siberian stork, wild duck, darters, herons, egrets, waterfowls and cuckoos. The flight and nests of these birds present a fascinating sight for the avid bird-watchers. 

Kumarakom abounds with many other tourist hotspots like Thazhathangadi, Thanneermukkam bund, Aymanam, Panachikkadu reservoir, Kudamaloor, Pallikoodam, Kallara, Nattakom etc. A day at Kumarakom will undoubtedly recharge you as your eyes feast on the greenery around! 

Kumarakom is undoubtedly a romantic destination! It’s the best place to start the most romantic journeys of your life with your partner! Days spent on a leisurely honeymoon cruise aboard a houseboat are sure to give you the most memorable moments in your lifetime. You get to watch gorgeous backwater sunsets and awesome sunrises. You can get great deals on the best honeymoon packages to spend time with your partner. Kumarakom can be enjoyed in every season. Just book your stay to visit places in Kumarakom for two days!

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Where is Kumarakom?

Kumarakom is located 13 km away from Kottayam is a sleepy little village on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala.

How to reach Kumarakom?

Air:The Kochi International Airport is the nearest airport to Kumarakom, and it lies 94 km away. You can hire a taxi from the airport to reach Kumarakom.

Rail:The nearest Railway station is Kottayam, 13 km from Kumarakom.

Road:Kumarakom is around 16 km from Kumarakom and is well-connected by both State interstate and National Highway to major cities in Kerala as well as India.

What is the best time to visit Kumarakom?

Kumarakom is an all-season destination to visit as moderate climate prevails all round the year. The average temperature runs somewhere in the range of 18°C and 32°C. The best time to visit the place is from the period of September to February.

Here’s an account of what to expect in Kumarakom for each season 

Summer (April till June)

Sweltering heat marks the summers in Kumarakom but not unbearable. The temperature may soar to 380C. The evenings are quite cool. Occasional downpours may fall.

Monsoon (July till September)

Rainstorms can occur in this season, and backwater cruising is challenging at this time. Temperature goes between 200C to 250C. 

Winter (October till Mid-March)

Winter is the best time to visit Kumarakom. It doesn’t turn out to be excessively nippy; the climate remains lively and stunning in winters. The temperature runs between 18 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius. Days are lovely and evenings are cool amid this season. You can investigate the best attractions of Kumarakom in the winter season. Many tourists rush to Kumarakom at this time. You can visit Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Backwaters, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Vaikom Mahadev Temple, Juma Masjid, Kumarakom Beach, Saint Mary’s Church and numerous other lovely attractions of Kumarakom.

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What are the best places to see in Kumarakom?

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Observatory Tower
Photo Credits : Niya

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an ornithologist’s paradise! The bird sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and is spread across 14 acres of wooded forest. It is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

When you visit the Kumarakom Bird sanctuary, you get to see a variety of migratory birds that come in thousands from different parts of the world like the Himalayas & even from Siberia. As one of the best places to visit in Kumarakom, the bird sanctuary with its acres of wooded greenery amazes you! You can get glimpses of multi-coloured birds in psychedelic colours. Nature walks under the haunts of birds like egrets, herons or woodpeckers are a fantastic experience. Many Houseboats and Motorboats can be hired for bird watching cruises in the bird sanctuary.

Pathiramanal Island

Pathiramanal at Kumarakom
Photo credits: Athira

The bewitching beauty of Pathiramanal  Island lies 20 km from Kumarakom. This scenic island at the centre of the Vembanad Lake is home to several bird species like Darter, Indian Shag, common teal, pintail duck etc. The quickest way to reach the island will be to hire a taxi and then travel on a boat or a House-boat.

Punjavayalkkaattu View Point

 

Punjavayalkkaattu
Photo Credits : Arun

Lying just 24 km from Kumarakom is the Punjavayalkkaattu  ViewPoint – an excellent stop-over point for travellers on the Neendoor – Kallara route. A stunning view of the beautiful green fields awaits you here, along with a calm and pleasant atmosphere. Indeed, a great place to enjoy Kumarakom sight-seeing!

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Bay Island Driftwood Museum

Driftwood Museum
Photo Credits : Neethu

 

Situated 1.5 km from Kumarakom, the Bay Island Driftwood Museum is home to driftwood sculptures in some unique shapes. The extensive collection displays a variety of modern artefacts, and root carvings and the museum is quite a beautiful place worth visiting in Kumarakom

Mango Meadows Agricultural theme park

 Agricultural theme park
Photo Creditd : Veena

Be one with nature! Mango Meadows, located 24 km from Kumarakom, is the world’s first agricultural theme park and resort. One of the top 10 places to see in Kumarakom, the park spreads across 30 acres of land with more than 4500 species of plants and trees. There are cottages built in the lap of nature and activities like archery, boating, farm tourism etc. are available here.

Thanneermukkom Bund

Bund
Photo Credit : Reema

The largest mud regulator in the country! The massive Thanneermukkam Bund is built across the largest lake of the State, and Lake Vembanad slices the magnificent water body into two parts. One part with salty water and the other half with fresh water fed by the rivers draining into the lake. The lake has distinctive shades of green and blue.  The Thanneermukkom Bund prevents tidal action and intrusion of saltwater.  

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Mozart Art Gallery

Amazing Art Gallery
Photo Credits : Jisna

An art lover’s paradise! Mozart Art Gallery is a private gallery with a beautiful collection of contemporary and classical paintings and sketches. It is visited by artists worldwide to view the methodology and technique behind the painting, sketching and other fine arts. The gallery displays paintings and works of Artist Somu in Acrylic, Oil, Charcoal, Pencil and different combinations. Apart from the paintings & sketches, many antiques and other traditional products from Kerala are also displayed. A few artefacts are based on the theme of the book – God of Small Things.

Adithyapuram Surya Temple

Temple
Photo Credits : Manu

The only Sun temple in Kerala! Located at Eravimangalam, around 23 km away from Kumarakom, the Adithyapuram Surya Temple attracts visitors from far and wide.  The last Sundays of the months of November-December and April-May are considered auspicious as per the Zodiac celebrated with pomp and grandeur here. Many devotees pour in from across the country to join in the festivities.

Karthyayani Devi Temple

Devi Temple
Photo Credits : Asha

One of the five important centres for Durga Ardhana across India!  Sree Adi Sankaracharya has identified the Kumaranalloor Sree Bhagavathy (Karthyayani Devi) temple as an important Devi temple amongst the 108 Durgalayas in Kerala. It lies 16 km from Kumarakom. Karthika is the most important festival at the temple attended by lakhs of devotees. 

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Varanad Devi Temple

Devi Temple
Photo Credits : Darsana

 

Jagadamba bestows her blessings to her devotees at the Varanad Devi Temple!  The deity is in the form of Devi riding on a Vethala posture. It is believed incurable diseases get cured and blinds get sight by worshipping at the temple. People from all over the world visit the temple. Pongala & Bharani are important festivals.

Sree Kumaramangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple

Subramanyaswamy Temple
Photo Credits : Aswathy

Get the blessings of Lord Murugan at the Sree Kumaramangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple! Located on the banks of Vembanad Lake, at Kumarakom, the Kumaramangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple idol was consecrated by Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer of Kerala. A must-see temple in Kumarakom!

Neelamperoor Palli Bhagavathi Temple 

Bhagavathy Temple
Photo Credits : Simi

Get the blessings of Goddess Vanadurga at Neelamperoor Palli Bhagavathi Temple! A 1700-year-old temple which is one of the few remnants of the Buddhist culture in Kerala. The original construction is believed to be done as a Buddhist Temple by Cheramanperumal, the Emperor of Kerala. Later it was converted to a Hindu Temple.  Neelamperoor Padayani Festival held at the Bhagavathy Temple is a colourful festival. 

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Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Temple

Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
Photo Credits : Praveen

The hungry Krishna blesses you at the Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Temple. Located 11 km away from Kumarakom is the Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Temple,  one of the famous temples of Krishna in Kerala which is at least 1500 years old. It is said to be the four-armed idol of Krishna given to the Pandavas by the Lord himself. Later Pandavas deposited the Krishna idol into the sea along with the Akshaya Patra (Uruli). The idol was recovered later by a divine saint along with the Uruli and consecrated the idol in a temple. People believe that Lord Krishna’s idol in the temple is of the very exhausted and hungry Krishna after he killed Kamsa. 

Thiruvizha Mahadeva Kshethram

Mahadeva Temple
Photo Credits : Amala

Invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva worshipped as Lord Kalakandha at the Thiruvizha Mahadeva temple Kottayam. Kalakandha means he who swallowed the poison to save the world. The famous temple is where people seek blessings, for curing madness and poisoning.  The Linga idol can be seen at the bottom of a pond & water would constantly be oozing out.  It is believed that Kanichukulangara temple Goddess is the daughter of Lord Shiva. The Goddess is brought for prayers to the Thiruvizha Mahadeva Kshethram at noon.

St.Thomas Church Kokkamangalam

St.Thomas Church
Photo Credits : Nidhin

An ancient church which is reputed as one amongst the seven churches founded by St. Thomas. The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Marari has a portrait of St. Thomas, which was brought from the Carmelite Monastery Mannanam in 1897. It’s said that St. Thomas sailed to Kokkamangalam where he preached the gospel and converted around 1600 people into Christianity. He blessed a Cross for the faithful community. Thousands of followers visit the St. Thomas church as it consists of an ancient Relic of Apostle St. Thomas. Pope John Paul II brought the relic in November 1999 from Ortona, Italy.

St. Mary’s Forane Church

Get the blessings of Marth Maryam at St. Mary’s Forane Church, known as the Champakulam Kalloorkad Marth Mariam Basilica. An ancient Syro-Malabar church in the Archeparchy of Changanacherry lying 22 km away from Kumarakom, it can be reached by renting a car. The church is one of the top 10 places to visit in Kumarakom. It is said to be founded by St. Thomas, the apostle himself in 427 AD. 

It is one of the oldest Syrian Catholic churches in India built in a blend of Syrian and Portuguese architecture. Elaborate rock inscriptions and ancient artefacts are worth a visit here. 

St. Joseph’s Monastery

St. Joseph's Church
Photo Credits : Akshay

Seek the blessings of the Chavara Achan at the St. Joseph’s Monastery! The Abbey at Mannanam was founded by the blessed Saint Father Chavara Kuriakose Elias. He was a prominent saint of the Syrian Catholic Church in Kerala. It is also the final resting place of the Chavara Achan, and his mortal remains are preserved here. Every year the St. Joseph’s Monastery is visited by thousands of devotees to worship the saint.

The church is almost 18 kilometres away from Kumarakom and can be reached by renting a taxi. It is one of the best places to visit in Kumarakom in one day.

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Places to visit near Kumarakom

Kochi

Kochi, the Queen of Arabian Sea, welcomes you with open arms! The charming port city of Kochi has a trading history which dates back 600 years, and it is the financial, commercial and industrial capital of Kerala.

The natural harbour Kochi played host to many traders right from the Chinese, Arabs, Dutch, Portuguese & British.  Kochi has to its credit many imprints of these foreign influences in the form of many monuments, bungalows, churches, cuisine and more. Kochi has many tourism hotspots like the backwaters, beaches like Cherai & Puthuvype, Chottanikkara Temple, Wonderla, Lulu Mall & more. Kochi is one of the prime spots to visit from Kumarakom.

Munnar

The remarkable beauty of Munnar is said to inspire, many a poet! The beautiful hill station is located at the height of 1,600 m above sea level, right at the merging point of three mountain streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Munnar is 34 km away from Kumarakom and can be reached by hiring a Taxi. It was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. A beautiful and one of the most sought-after honeymoon destinations in Kerala, Munnar is one of the top places to go from Kumarakom. It has a lot of tourism hotspots which are attracting hordes of travellers. The sprawling tea plantations, enchanting towns with winding lanes and other holiday facilities make Munnar a popular resort town. Neelakurinji flowers bloom here once in 12 years. Mattupetty, Pallivasal, Top Station, Chinnakanal, Tea Museum etc are some of the top attractions of Munnar that simply take your breath away!

Alleppey

The remarkable beauty of the backwaters of Kerala awaits you at Alleppey the Venice of the East! Lying 34 km from Kumarakom, Alleppey is known as one of the oldest planned towns in India. With its shimmering backwaters, iconic beaches, and lagoons Alleppey is an excellent crowd-puller! You can go for a leisurely houseboat cruise or a spiritual pilgrimage trip visiting temples and churches. A rejuvenating Ayurvedic session or beach fun at the scenic beaches of Alleppey the backwaters and the houseboats are the two main attractions of Alleppey. As one of the most beautiful nearby places to visit from Kumarakom, the fastest way to reach Alleppey from Kumarakom will be to rent a car.

Thekkady

Thekkady – The land of hills and meadows beckons you to relax in the lap of nature! The green paradise Thekkady is a nature lover’s haven and a place for the adventure enthusiast! As one of the must-see places in Kerala, Thekkady has many attractions to charm visitors from far and wide. Home to the Periyar Tiger Wildlife Sanctuary, the main tourist hotspots of Thekkady are the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Lake Boat Tea estates and factories, Spice Gardens, the Kalaripayattu Centre & Elephant Ride Park. Boating in Periyar Lake takes you around the Periyar wildlife sanctuary. The beautiful hill station of Kerala, Thekkady with its beautiful lake, misty hills, enchanting valleys, coffee & spice plantations is a tourist’s dream come true! 

Varkala

Fabulous beach fun awaits you at Varkala, the beach destination of Kerala! Located on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district at a distance of 130 km from Kumarakom, Varkala can be reached by hiring a taxi. The beautiful rocky beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the  Sivagiri Mutt Ashramam are the main attractions of Varkala. The Papanasam Beach at Varkala has a natural spring which is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. The holy waters at the Papanasam beach are believed to purge the body of impurities. The two-thousand-year-old Janardhanaswamy Temple stands on the cliffs overlooking the beach. The Sivagiri Mutt is the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organisation built by the eminent social reformer of Kerala – Sree Narayana Guru.

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Interesting Questions on Kumarakom

Which is better, Kumarakom or Alleppey?

Both Alleppey & Kumarakom are beautiful backwater destinations in Kerala. As much as Alleppey is a town-based tourist destination, Kumarakom is the collection of various islands known for its houseboats.

How to reach Kumarakom from Kochi?

You can either go by direct bus or take a taxi from Kochi itself. Another option is to take a train to Kottayam from Ernakulam station and take a prepaid taxi, auto or bus to Kumarakom.

How many days are needed to explore Kumarakom?

Three days are needed to explore all places in Kumarakom and watch the gorgeous backwaters sunrise and sunsets.

How far is Kumarakom from Trivandrum?

The distance from Kumarakom to Trivandrum is 158 km, and it needs a 3hr 40 m journey to reach there by car

How far is Kumarakom from Munnar?

Kumarakom is a distance of 146 km from Munnar, a 4 h 23 min via SH42 and NH85 will take you to Munnar from Kumarakom.

How far is Kumarakom from Kottayam?

Kumarakom lies 15 km away from Kottayam and can be reached in a 30 m journey by renting a taxi.

How far is Kumarakom from Kochi airport?

As Kochi Airport is 74 km away from Kumarakom, it takes 1hr 50m drive if you hire a taxi.

How far is Kumarakom from Alleppey?

Kumarakom to Alleppey by road is 33 km, and it takes a 55m ride to reach there.

How far is Kumarakom from Cochin?

Kumarakom to Cochin distance is 50 km, and it takes a 1 hour 30m ride to reach there if you rent a car.