If you hear Kerala, you think backwaters. But, very few people know that Kerala can offer you the blissful experience of witnessing the backwaters apart from Alleppy as well. Kumarakom backwaters can also provide an amazing experience which you will cherish for a lifetime! If you are visiting Kerala for a longer duration, choose one of the Kerala tour packages which include Kumarakom.
I visited Kumarakom recently and was endeared by the surreal beauty of backwaters. When I visited Kumarakom, retreat monsoon was at its peak. The gentle showers had enhanced the beauty of the view. Raindrops trickled down the boat’s roof, falling on the wooden edges, eventually assimilating with waters below.
The mild humming of the boat engine and cheerful chirps of evening birds were the only sounds I heard. The lavish resorts and cozy home stays stood at the bank, looking elegant. Gradually, the boat navigated away from the resorts and slowly, no hint of civilization was visible. A waft of air played made our boat sway gently. The showers had now stopped and the clouds started to scatter. Far in the distant horizon, bright shades of orange and pink appeared, resembling an act of a magician. A magician that conjured up colorful patterns out of a gloomy backdrop. The magician here surely wanted to entice the audience and keep them rapt in attention. I bowed down to the sheer brilliance of the act by the great Magician, God!
The gloomy, yet serene landscape (Kumarakom backwaters)
Beautiful properties on the banks of Kumarakom backwaters
As the evening sun inched towards the horizon, with the clouds spreading out, placid backwaters shimmered under the fading sunlight. The sky transformed into a palette of evening colors in the sky. Fluffy clouds gathered and conjured up enchanting landscapes, which I stared gleefully at. My boat gently caressed the calm water surface and created mild ripples around. With the evening birds creating mesmerizing melodies, my experience of admiring Kumarakom backwaters turned into pure bliss.
The grey clouds keep the sun concealed (Kumarakom backwaters)
The sun finally making a grand appearance, and oh, so grand! (Kumarakom Backwaters)
Kumarakom backwaters can be covered in a day if you are short of time. However, I would recommend you to spend at least 2 days here, dwelling in a beautiful houseboat amidst tranquility! In evening, the myriad shades of nature will leave you in awe as the sun goes in hiding gradually.
Alappuzha is also a renowned destination in Kerala, famous for the backwaters. However, the influx of tourists here has not only increased the crowd here but also the cost. So, if you are a believer in visiting places devoid of tourists, Kumarakom backwaters would make the perfect recipe for you.
Beautiful property on the banks of backwaters
An amazing property!
Kumarakom backwaters can be reached in half an hour from the town of Kottayam. From Kottayam, you can opt for a private taxi, an auto or public bus to reach Kumarakom backwaters. They can drop you very close to the beautiful backwaters.
You can reach Kottayam conveniently from Cochin by catching a train from Cochin and it wouldn’t take more than 2 hours. There are plenty of trains plying on the route of Cochin to Kottayam and any time would be good to start your journey from Cochin. There are other alternatives as well to reach Kottayam from Cochin. But, my recommended journey option would be train as the local buses tend to be crowded and taxis, costlier.
Kumarakom is indeed one of the lesser explored, yet beautiful destinations in South India. Spending time here with friends, family or as a couple can create unforgettable memories for you to cherish for life!
Below, I have jotted down some useful information for you.
Experiences:
There are 4 experiences in Kumarakom backwaters during the daytime, boating in lake, boating in canal, bird watching & hiking in dense forest. Apart from these experiences in daytime, for night, you can opt to stay in either a houseboat or a resort. You can ask your boatman for these experiences and he will plan the boat ride accordingly.
The bird sanctuary attracts a lot of migratory birds in winter.
Types of Boats:
There are 3 kinds of boats at Kumarakom backwaters: Shikara, Motorboat & Houseboat. The minimum time to rent a houseboat is 4 hours. If you have lesser time, you can rent a Shikara or Motorboat on a per hour basis. The Shikara & Motorboat are similar. Just that Motorboat is faster. A Motorboat can cover in half an hour what Shikara can cover in one hour. To experience the real beauty of Kumarakom backwaters, I’d recommend a Shikara ride if you have less than 4 hours and a houseboat if you have more than that.
Rates:
You can hire any of these boats on a per hour basis.
1) Shikara: Rs 1000 per hour
2) Motorboat: Rs 700 per hour
3) Houseboat: Rs 1500 per hour ( min 4 hours)
If you want to rent houseboat for an overnight stay, the average cost would be Rs 7,000 (All Inclusive). It is really a great experience!
I hope you find this post useful. Have you been to kumarakom backwaters? Share your experiences with me in comments below.