Kumarakom Sightseeing - Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

12 kms out of Kottayam in Kerala is the breathtakingly beautiful Kumarakom, a cluster of little islands dotting the wide Vembanad Lake. One of the places of interest at this locale is the bird sanctuary which is a favorite haunt of migratory birds. A large number of mangrove forests cover most of the area here. Green paddy fields and coconut groves provide a perfect home to birds.

Home to egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo and wild duck, the sanctuary is an ornithologist?s delight. During peak migratory season, the visitor is treated to the sight of flocks of migratory birds like the Siberian Crane; Indian Peafowl perched atop trees across the region.

Kumarakom offers a range of bird watching spots for avid bird watchers. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands. Keep your binoculars and your camera handy to catch the psychedelic beauty of the native kingfisher. Moor your boat to a small island and walk under the rookeries of egrets and night herons or lone golden-backed woodpeckers and delight in the acrobatics of the paradise fly catcher. The flora of this rugged terrain adds colors to this picturesque bird sanctuary. This is God's Own County at its very best.