Choose your adventure — Kumarakom backwaters with an overnight houseboat, or Vagamon hills with paragliding, waterfalls, and viewpoints.
Two ways to experience Kottayam — choose the backwaters of Kumarakom with an overnight houseboat stay, or head to the hills of Vagamon for pine forests, paragliding, waterfalls, and viewpoints. Pick the option that suits your style.
Arrive in Kumarakom and spend the morning exploring on foot and by canoe. In the afternoon, board your houseboat for an overnight backwater cruise.
Reach Kumarakom from Kottayam town (about 14 km, 30 minutes by road). Drop your bags at a resort or proceed directly to the bird sanctuary.
Walk through the 14-acre bird sanctuary on the shores of Vembanad Lake. Early morning is prime time for birdwatching — spot herons, egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, and migratory species from Siberia and the Himalayas (especially November to February). The trails wind through mangroves and lush greenery.
💡 The sanctuary opens at 6 AM. Carry binoculars if you have them. Keep noise to a minimum for the best sightings.
Take a small canoe or shikara ride through the narrow backwater canals — past paddy fields, coconut groves, and tiny islands. These smaller boats reach intimate waterways that houseboats cannot. You'll see fishermen casting nets, toddy tappers climbing palms, and kingfishers diving for fish.
💡 A 1–2 hour canoe ride can be arranged at the jetty near the bird sanctuary or through your hotel. Costs around ₹500–₹1,500.
Have a traditional Kerala lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants. Try Karimeen Pollichathu (pearl spot fish baked in banana leaf) — Kumarakom's signature dish. Tharavadu Restaurant or the local toddy shops are excellent options.
Take a boat from the Kumarakom jetty to Pathiramanal Island — a small island in the middle of Vembanad Lake accessible only by boat. The name means "Sands of Midnight." Walk through shaded trails, spot migratory birds, and enjoy the tranquility. The island can be explored in about 30–45 minutes.
💡 Boats to Pathiramanal are available at the KTDC jetty. The ride takes about 15 minutes each way.
Check in to your houseboat (kettuvallam) at the Kumarakom boat jetty. Typical houseboats have air-conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms. As the boat glides through the backwaters, settle into the deck and watch the world go by — coconut palms, paddy fields, village life, and the vast expanse of Vembanad Lake.
💡 Book the houseboat in advance, especially during peak season (December–February). A standard 1-bedroom houseboat for overnight costs ₹6,000–₹12,000.
The houseboat anchors at a scenic spot for sunset. Watch the sky turn golden over the water. The boat may stop at small islands where vendors sell fried fish eggs and local toddy.
The boat staff will cook dinner on board — fresh fish caught during the evening using a hook and line, along with traditional Kerala dishes. Karimeen, prawns, rice, sambar, and local vegetables. Dine on the deck under the stars with the gentle sound of water lapping against the boat.
Wake up to a sunrise on the backwaters, disembark after breakfast, and visit the ancient Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple before heading out.
Wake up to one of Kerala's most serene sights — sunrise over Vembanad Lake from the deck of your houseboat. The early morning mist rising off the water, the first light filtering through coconut palms, and the calls of waterbirds make this a magical start to the day.
Enjoy breakfast on the houseboat — appam, egg curry, fresh fruit, and Kerala-style coffee. The boat returns to the Kumarakom jetty by mid-morning. Disembark and collect your bags.
Head to the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple — about 12 km from Kumarakom (20 minutes by road).
Visit this ancient and revered Shiva temple, famous for its exquisite murals and gold-plated statuettes crafted from jackfruit wood adorned with approximately 13 kg of gold plates. The temple's seven-storey gopuram and the annual Aarattu festival are iconic.
💡 The temple has specific dress code requirements — men should wear mundu/dhoti and women should wear saree or salwar.
Head to Kottayam town for lunch. Try the famous Kottayam-style Beef Fry with Porotta at one of the local restaurants, or visit a traditional toddy shop for an authentic experience with tapioca and fish curry.
If visiting during the monsoon season (June–September), take a detour to Ezhumanthuruthu — a cluster of small islands that transform into a stunning water-filled landscape during the rains. Ride a boat or canoe through the inland waterways, past rice paddies, traditional homes, and vibrant greenery. Skip this in the dry season.
Head to Kottayam Railway Station or continue to your next destination. Kochi airport is about 70 km north (roughly 1.5–2 hours by road).