KUMARAKOM BIRD SANCTUARY District : Kottayam Location : Banks of Vembanad Lake, 15 km W of Kottayam Known As : Queen of Vembanad Best Time To Visit : Water Fowls, Siberian Cranes

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"I am the eagle, I live in high country,
in rocky cathedrals that reach to the sky;
I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers,
but time is still turning they soon will be dry;
All those who see me, and all who believe in me,
share in the freedom I feel when I fly."

-- John Denver (American Singer and Song Writer)

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a diamond in India's ecological crown, despite being one of the smallest parks in the country. A visit to Kumarakom, nesting on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, will give you the pleasure to meet a variety of migratory birds that cluster in thousands, some from the Himalayas, and some even from the snow-kissed hills of Siberia, a true multicultural avian metropolis. During the rains, some of India's most spectacular avians gather in their finest haunts to court their mates and nest in huge colonies in the trees lining the paths of the sanctuary. Plan a visit to Kumarakom, to enjoy the priceless show of avian acrobats, pulsating on the beats of nature.

With Their Home In The Sky

If you are a bird lover then this is a place which will definitely satiate your avian appetite. It is really fascinating to walk over the leaf-carpeted lanes of the forest - a path you can trust on - and watching numerous alluring creatures in their nests on the green acme, chirping and taking flight every now and then. Look at those snow-white egrets, bedecked with delicate panache, amidst the dancing black and white storks - a natural chessboard with a single player to enjoy, time. Grey herons, with their black head plumes, poise as they interact with their neighbours. it is indeed a memorable experience to see black-headed ibis, perching high on the uppermost branches and raising their wings to unveil crimson armpits. The cacophony of painted storks, with their yellow bills and pink tail ends, has to be heard to be believed. In addition, one can also see the native kingfishers painting the ecosphere in psychedelic colours, experience a walk under rookeries of egrets and lone golden-backed woodpeckers and even enjoy the twists and turns of the paradise fly-catchers.

While rains give life to the greens, winter remains a handsome time to visit the park. Visit Kumarakom bird sanctuary to pop upon the endangered (because of habitat loss and hunting) Siberian Cranes, with bills and faces as red as if dipped in blood, white tufts that is simply peerless and sprawled wingtips in black, like a spinning nebula in the dark sky. Although much of these vegetarian foreigners are absent in this century, it is still possible to spot a few eye-catching demoiselle cranes and 'sarus', the latter hooting for a shield of protection, so that in future years it doesn't meet the unfortunate fate of its Siberian relative.

Put Your Steps

If one is planning to fly before meeting those Siberian entertainers, step down at Kochi airport (106 km), and get a pre-paid taxi from Nedumbassery to reach the beautiful greens of Kumarakom. Tourists can also reach Kottayam Junction (15 km), the nearest railhead and then can catch a cab to reach the reserve. However, the best way to reach the greens is via Main Central Road (SH 1) from Kottayam, that links Trivandrum to Cochin International Airport. Tourists can also ride state buses run by KSRTC from Kottayam.