Kumarakom

The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, a state in India.

Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine species and it teems with 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish ), shrimp (chemmeen in local language)and prawns. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction.

Agriculture and tourism are the major economic activities. The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals. Kumarakom's perfectly balanced tropical climate is conducive to cultivation.

 

One can access Kumarakom by many means:

By air: via Cochin International Airport and the Trivandrum International Airport
By rail: via Kottayam (16 kilometres)
By boat: From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.
By road: Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.

There are several activities for visitors, depending on how much time, money and local language skills they have.

The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by boat, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing boat trip may cost about INR 200-250, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun.

House boats or speed boats can cover longer distances but cost more for hire.

Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is set in Ayemenem village, which adjoins Kumarakom. The explosive success of this novel has given some added touristic impetus to this area. The Taj Garden Retreat hotel complex is centered around a building that is called "History House" in the novel; it was built by British missionary George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elided form of "Baker Sahib"), as in the novel[1]. Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962, speaking Malayalam, and even wearing the mundu. It is in ruins in the novel, but has been restored by the Taj group. The Ayemenem house, where Arundhati Roy spent part of her childhood (like the twins in the story), can also be visited in the village, which can be reached by boat along the Meenachal river that figures prominently in the story.