Kumarakom
Kumarakom is 14 kilometers away from Kottayam. It is located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. It is a small and peaceful town.
You could take a boat ride of the countryside for getting a closer look at the rustic lifestyle of Kumarakom. Here you would see the fishermen starting their business with their boats made out of cockleshell. You would see lots of ducks descending on the water from thatched houses. There would be women looking for fishes with their legs while standing neck deep in the water. There are lots of cows and goats going about their lives in the pasture lands. You would also see a number of white lotuses in the pools.
At Kumarakom houseboats, operated by local oarsmen, are available on rent. They are equipped with living rooms, baths and bedrooms. There are central platforms as well that are raised in order to create a private sitting area for you and your companion. In these houseboats there are sections that have been carved out of palm or wood. Their primary purpose is to help you see without any interruption and give some shade. You could also use boat trains if you have many people accompanying you. The boat trains are formed by joining a couple of houseboats. You could also take part in watersports such as water skating and windsailing. There are options of angling available as well. When at Kumarakom you should check out toddy and karimeen, two finest local delicacies of that place.
THE KUMARAKOM BIRD SANCTUARY: The Kumarakom bird sanctuary occupies a space of 14 acres and is situated in the woods close to Kumarakom. This place is well known for the various species of migratory birds that visit it from the Himalayas. There are certain birds from Siberia as well. Some local birds that are frequently seen in the Kumarakom bird sanctuary are kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets, paradise fly-catchers and night herons.
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