The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is counted among the most popular and attractive bird sanctuaries in India. The sanctuary is located at a distance of 16 km from the Kottayam town, in the village of Kumarakom, in the Kuttunad region, Kerala. The sanctuary is spread across a vast area of 14 acres of land and is well famous for its varied avian population. The sanctuary is considered to be an ornithologist`s paradise. The sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Vembanad Lake and it offers the visitors a wonderful glimpse into Kerala`s natural beauty. The climate of the Kumarakom Bird sanctuary remains excellent throughout most of the year, as it is located along the coast.
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to more than a few hundred bird species and a large number of migratory birds also arrive here, on a regular basis. Hence, the sanctuary witnesses the rush of a large number of visitors, every year. The bird lovers from all over the world come and visit the place for spending a calm and peaceful time, on the lap of nature. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between the months of June and August. However, as the migratory birds are most visible during the months of November to March, this is also considered as the best time for visiting the bird sanctuary. During this period, the migratory birds flock in huge number to reside in the park for a while.
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary has a wonderful landscape that is replete with mangrove forests, green paddy fields and coconut groves. The blooming lilies enhance the beauty of the park a lot and also attract a number of visitors. Among the numerous bird species found in the sanctuary, there are many that are residents of this place and several others are migratory birds. The birds flutter their wings and sing their mellifluous tunes and always keep the environment of the park alive. The resident bird species of the sanctuary include the Waterfowl, Cuckoo, Owls, Egrets, Herons Water Ducks, Parrots, Teal, Larks, Flycatchers and the Wood Beetle. On the other hand, the Siberian Cranes are the most notable amongst all the migratory birds like Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal, Parrots, flycatchers, wood beetle, larks etc, in this bird sanctuary.
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary offers several wonderful ways to the visitors to watch the birds. The visitors can visit the birds on houseboat and motorboat cruise and this is perhaps the most popular way to sight the bird population in this park. The visitors can watch birds without actually disturbing them, on board the houseboats and motorboats. Apart from that, the visitors can also choose to simply walk through the sanctuary and watch the bird species. Though the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is well famous for its great collection of bird species, it is home to several animals, as well. The most commonly found animals in this sanctuary include the Bears, Elephants, civet cats, lion-tailed macaque, Deer, monkeys, Tigers, Nilgiri Tahr, Wild Pigs, Leopards, leopards, deer, and the squirrels including the Malabar giant squirrel. Apart from these, several varieties of snakes like Python, Cobra, Ciper, Rat Snake, and Iguana, can also be found in this sanctuary.
