Located near a bird sanctuary, on the edge of the Vembanad lake and along the backwater cruising route, lies Kumarakom, a typical Kerala village. And not just that, for Kumarakom is ideally situated on the backwater cruising route with a bird sanctuary. Nearby Kottayam is one of the main centers of the Syrian Catholic church and has been, for a long time, the commercial focus for trade in rubber, tea and spices. The traditional tharawad style of housing has been adapted to a resort run by a group from Kochi, on the edge of the water.
Transportation is arranged on both manually-operated and motorised boats.
There is a profusion of coconut all around. A gentle trip on a traditional rice boat is a must along the numerous inter-connected canals. En route, one may stop and come ashore to see village residents working on coir, fish-processing or exchanging views over a cup of coffee at the little shops that dot the canals. Here lies the best opportunity to mingle with the village folk of Kerala where some of the original mangrove swamps are sill intact. One may set the pace to suit the time available or the need to stop when the sun is strong.