Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Beautiful view...Boating experience was good... They had good buffet options... It was raining the day we visited most of the time... Nice experience...

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) is situated at Kumarakom in Kottayam taluk of Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala, on the banks of Vembanad Lake. Set in the Kerala Backwaters, the bird sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds.

Developed in a rubber plantation as a bird sanctuary by Englishman George Alfred Baker, the sanctuary was formerly known as Baker's Estate.The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation currently manages the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is spread over 14 acres (5.7 ha) on the southern bank of the Meenachil River River. There is a system of paths for moving around within the sanctuary. Beyond the sanctuary, one can take a boat ride in Vembanad Lake or along the Meenachil River.

Kumarakom is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Kottayam. State Highway No. 1 leads to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in opposite directions. Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery is 106 km (66 mi) from Kumarakom.

Neighbouring areas such as Kaipuzha Muttu, Pathirmanal, Narakathara, Thollairam Kayal, and Poothanpandi Kayal are also good locations for spotting birds.

The main attractions are local birds like waterfowl, koel, owl, egret, heron, cormorant, moorhen, darter, and brahminy kite, as well as the migratory gull, teal, tern, flycatcher, and other birds are seen here during their respective migratory seasons. Some of the migratory birds come from the Himalayas, and a few from Siberia.

Sprawling across 14 hectares, and sitting by the banks of the river Vembanad, Kumarakom bird sanctuary is a vibrant hub of rare and numerous avian species. A multitude of migratory birds, from places as varied as the Himalayas to Siberia, flock to this wet land area. November to February is the ideal season to watch migratory birds. The other best option to visit the sanctuary is between June and August, which is also the breeding season of resident wetland birds such as Indian Darter, Little Cormorant, different species of egrets and herons, White Ibis and several species of kingfishers. Kumarakom bird sanctuary is located in Kottayam taluk in the district of Kottayam.