Kottayam is a town that's choc-a-bloc with churches and seminaries. Bustling with industrial activity, this town is not exactly a relaxed place for a holiday. But don't give it a miss - Kottayam is a hop, skip and a jump away from the serene Kumarakom, a must on the backwaters luxury tour route.

Kumarakom more than makes up for Kottayam's lack of charm. A sleepy little backwater village set on the Vembanad Lake, this place is truly a bit a paradise, a luxury-seeker's dream come true. The Kumarakom countryside is dotted with beautiful samples of the traditional Kerala home, complex in architecture, yet simple and touching in its hospitality.

At Kumarakom, you can take a leisurely ride around the countryside in a country raft and watch people at work in the fields. A must-see on this route is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, home to an exotic array of birds. During winter, the sanctuary is filled with the cries of cormorants and migrating ducks. For the rest of the year, the sanctuary hosts herons and Siberian storks. Most of these birds are early risers, so the best time to spot them is also in the wee hours of the day.

A little distance away from Kottayam is also the Shiva Temple at Ettumanur, famous for its wood carvings. The elephant procession at the annual festival here is worth a dekko.

How to Get There

By Air: Kumarakom (technically an island on Vembanad Lake), the jetty landing, is accessible from Cochin Airport.

By Rail: Kottayam railway station is 15 km from Kumarakom.

By Road: Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses have good service from Cochin, Trivandrum and Calicut.