Kumarakom is a small village on Vembanad lake near Kottayam city. It is just an hour drive from Kochi and the way itself is beautiful.
If you are one of the people who smile seeing tall palm trees, love serenity and do not want to be disappointed by reality, Kumarakom is the place for you. It has a rustic vibe.
I love Alleppey. In fact, I loved all of Kerala and that is one trip I’d love to take every year. But popularity has its cons too. Tourist spots are flooded during peak season. Beautiful places are full of littered garbage and this makes everything worse.
Kumarakom is a shy village. It is simple, warm and welcoming; a perfect destination for a peaceful getaway. The smell of fresh flowers, the soft sprinkle of sunlight and the generosity of its people will steal your heart.
I went to Kerala on a family vacation in June. We landed in Kochi and stayed there for a day. Next morning, we booked a traveller and headed straight to Kumarakom. The ride was smooth and the pretty landscape with the cool breeze made the trip delightful. I am sure it would be amazing if you rent a car, put on some music and just plan a weekend trip there.
Kumarakom has better resorts than Alleppey. We entered our resort and there was this peculiarly indescribable fragrance of incense sticks which gives you a sense of belongingness. The staff was polite. The food was great and fresh.
Here is the bonus: The view from the balcony is the Backwaters itself. Every now and then, there’s a houseboat passing by and you can just sit and relax, sip some filter coffee and enjoy the view.
The hotel manager arranged a boat ride for us which cost about a thousand rupees for the entire boat. The boat can easily accommodate 10-12 people. We hopped on it from the backyard of the hotel, that’s how close the property was.
The ride was exactly how you must imagine it- calm and tranquil. An episode where you want to sit and enjoy the view; you do not want to speak or chat or use your phone. It was a soul- searching kind of experience. The cool breeze, the chirpy sound of the water and the oh so mesmerizing view!
Just when we thought this was it, we searched for things to do other than backwaters escapade. We found this bird sanctuary, where I was reluctant to go to. Spending hours in a forest looking for birds isn’t something that entices me. But if you are patient enough (or if you have cousins who would kill to take you everywhere), there’s a hidden gemstone there. You will feel bored and crazy to take a long walk without really spotting any bird at all. And that is when there’s this surprise. A perfect picturesque view of the ocean, right towards the end of the sanctuary. It’s a postcard. It’s a painting. It’s what you look for when you think of Kerala.
I don’t know how else to pen it down, I am a fangirl smitten by the beauty of Kerala. And I am so glad we didn’t skip Kumarakom for spending more time in Alleppey.
Kumarakom is a perfect destination for a weekend road trip, a romantic getaway, a peaceful vacation with your family.
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Do pen down your experience in the comments below or book your tickets if you haven’t had any yet!
