On the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake, 14 km from Kottayam, lay Kumarakom a small-town. The most interesting area in the backwaters is the "Kuttanad region" called the rice bowl of Kerala. Kumarakom is just one little village in this region on the banks of the beautiful Vembanad Lake.
The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary in Kumarakom is spread across 14 acres is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live in flocks, in Kumarakom, are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.
An enchanting backwater destination, Kumarakom offers visitors many other leisure options. Boating and fishing facilities are available in Kumarakom. Earlier an old rubber plantation, Kumarakom was developed into a Bird Sanctuary. Kumarakom is now a leisure retreat very popular with foreigners, who club a visit to the sanctuary with a ride on Kerala's houseboats, known as Kettuvallams.