Kumarakom is a backwater tourist resort situated 15 km from Kottayam on the Vembanad lake. Across the backwaters, to the west, is the unkept coastal town of Alappuzha (formerly called Alleppey), on National Highway (NH) 47 between Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and Kochi (Cochin).  Kumarakom, on the other hand, is a picturesque, clean village like most places in Kerala. A tourist centre has come up here recently. Boat races, houseboat cruise, canoeing and fishing are the attractions

      The huge houseboats, powered or poled, with living rooms, toilets, kitchen, balcony for angling are remodelled cargo barges. They are made of wooden planks joined together by rope and no nails. There is a bird sanctuary. The region of Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, is around. Here farming is done below sea level.

Indian Tourist Offices Abroad