Best Things to Do in Kumarakom for First Time Visitors: A Complete Travel Experience

Kumarakom is not a place you simply visit and check off a list.
It is a place you slowly absorb, like the scent of wet earth after a Kerala monsoon.

For first time travelers, Kumarakom feels like entering a softer version of the world.
The air is heavy with coconut trees, the canals move like quiet poetry, and time itself seems to loosen its grip.

Located on the shores of the vast Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is one of Kerala’s finest backwater destinations.
It offers nature, culture, wellness, food, and unforgettable moments that cannot be rushed.

If you are planning your very first trip here, this guide will help you discover the absolute best things to do in Kumarakom,
so you can experience its magic fully and deeply.

1. Cruise Through the Kumarakom Backwaters

The backwaters are the heart of Kumarakom.
They are not a man made tourist attraction but a living network of lagoons, canals, and lakes that shape daily life in Kerala.

A cruise through these waters is one of the most essential things to do when you arrive.

What Makes Kumarakom Backwaters Special?

Unlike busier destinations, Kumarakom offers a quieter, more intimate backwater experience.
Here you will float past:

• Coconut palms bending gently over narrow canals
• Small village homes painted in bright Kerala colors
• Local fishermen casting nets in slow rhythm
• Children waving from the riverbanks

The scenery feels alive yet peaceful, like nature is simply doing its daily rituals.

Houseboat vs Canoe Ride

Houseboats offer comfort and luxury, while canoe rides take you deeper into hidden village waterways.
First time visitors often enjoy doing both to see different sides of Kumarakom.

2. Stay Overnight on a Traditional Kerala Houseboat

If there is one experience that defines Kumarakom, it is spending a night on a floating houseboat.
These boats, once used to transport rice, are now beautiful moving homes with bedrooms, dining spaces, and open decks.

Overnight houseboat stays are unforgettable because the lake changes mood throughout the day.

Highlights of an Overnight Stay

• Sunset over Vembanad Lake with orange skies reflecting in water
• Fresh Kerala meals cooked onboard
• Silence at night, broken only by distant birdcalls
• Mornings filled with mist drifting above canals

It is not just accommodation.
It is a journey into Kerala’s slow, graceful soul.

3. Visit the Famous Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom is a paradise for bird lovers.
Its bird sanctuary is one of the most visited eco attractions in Kerala.
Spread across lush greenery beside the lake, it shelters both local and migratory species.

Birds You May Spot

• Herons
• Egrets
• Darters
• Kingfishers
• Siberian migratory birds (seasonal)

Even if you are not a serious birdwatcher, the sanctuary feels like a peaceful natural retreat.
Walking under thick trees while hearing birds echo above is its own kind of meditation.

Best Time to Visit

Early mornings are ideal, when birds are most active and sunlight filters softly through the forest canopy.

4. Experience Authentic Village Life

What makes Kumarakom truly special is that it is still an authentic village, not just a resort town.
Beyond the luxury stays and tourism, local life continues as it has for generations.

For first time visitors, exploring this village rhythm is one of the most rewarding experiences.

How to Explore Village Life

• Take a guided village walk through narrow paths
• Visit local markets selling spices and fresh fish
• Watch coir (coconut fiber) weaving demonstrations
• Observe farmers working in paddy fields

You will come back with something rarer than photographs: perspective.

5. Enjoy a Traditional Kerala Sadya Feast

Food in Kerala is not just cuisine, it is culture on a banana leaf.
One of the most delicious things to do in Kumarakom is trying an authentic Sadya meal.

Sadya is a traditional vegetarian feast served during festivals and celebrations, featuring multiple dishes.

What You Will Taste

• Rice with sambar and rasam
• Avial (mixed coconut vegetable curry)
• Thoran (stir fried vegetables)
• Pachadi (yogurt based dish)
• Payasam (sweet dessert)

Eating Sadya is not about speed.
It is about savoring each flavor slowly, the way Kerala itself should be experienced.

6. Try Karimeen Pollichathu: Kumarakom’s Signature Dish

Non vegetarian travelers cannot leave Kumarakom without tasting Karimeen Pollichathu.
This famous Kerala fish dish uses Pearl Spot fish, marinated in spices, wrapped in banana leaf, and grilled.

The result is smoky, spicy, tender perfection.

Many lakeside restaurants in Kumarakom serve it fresh from local waters.

7. Indulge in Ayurveda and Wellness Retreats

Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda, and Kumarakom is one of the best places in India to experience it.
Surrounded by water and greenery, wellness here feels natural, not commercial.

Popular Ayurveda Experiences

• Abhyanga full body oil massage
• Shirodhara therapy (warm oil poured on forehead)
• Herbal steam baths
• Yoga sessions by the lake

For first time travelers, Ayurveda is a beautiful way to slow down and reconnect with health.

8. Witness the Beauty of Vembanad Lake at Sunset

Some sunsets are ordinary.
Sunsets in Kumarakom feel like nature showing off quietly.

Vembanad Lake becomes a mirror of gold and crimson, and even the air seems to pause.

Best places to enjoy sunset include:

• Houseboat decks
• Lakeside resorts
• Public viewpoints near the bird sanctuary

First time visitors often realize this is not just sightseeing, it is emotional landscape.

9. Visit Local Temples and Cultural Spots

Kumarakom is deeply rooted in Kerala’s spiritual traditions.
Small temples are scattered through villages, each with unique architecture and rituals.

If you visit during festival season, you may witness:

• Traditional percussion performances
• Temple processions with decorated elephants
• Oil lamp lit ceremonies

These cultural moments offer a glimpse into Kerala beyond tourism.

10. Shop for Local Handicrafts and Coir Products

Kumarakom is known for coir making, where coconut husk fibers are woven into ropes, mats, and handicrafts.

Shopping here supports local artisans while giving you meaningful souvenirs.

Popular Items to Buy

• Handwoven coir mats
• Coconut shell crafts
• Spices like cardamom and pepper
• Traditional Kerala kasavu textiles

11. Take a Photography Walk Through Nature

Kumarakom is one of Kerala’s most photogenic destinations.
Even amateur photographers find beauty around every corner.

You can capture:

• Birds in flight
• Reflections of palm trees on still water
• Traditional wooden boats crossing canals
• Village life moments

Photography here feels less like chasing images and more like collecting calm.

12. Plan a Perfect Day Trip from Kumarakom

Kumarakom is also a great base for exploring nearby Kerala attractions such as:

• Kottayam town
• Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
• Alappuzha backwaters
• Pathiramanal Island

But many visitors realize they don’t even want to leave.
Kumarakom is enough on its own.

Final Thoughts: Kumarakom is Best Experienced Slowly

The best things to do in Kumarakom are not about adrenaline or crowded attractions.
They are about slowing down.

Cruise gently through canals.
Listen to birds in the sanctuary.
Eat Kerala food with your fingers on a banana leaf.
Watch the lake glow at sunset.
Let Ayurveda unwind your body.
Walk through villages where time feels different.

For first time visitors, Kumarakom is not just a destination.
It is a feeling of peace you carry home.

To explore more travel guides and stories, visit the official tourism site:
VisitKumarakom.com