Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) is situated at Kumarakom in Kottayam taluk of Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala, on the banks of Vembanad Lake.[1] Set in the Kerala Backwaters, the bird sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds.[2]

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം
National park
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം
Location in Kerala, India
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം (India)
Coordinates: 9.5°N 76.52°E / 9.5; 76.52
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKottayam
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-KL
Vehicle registrationKL-05, KL-36
Nearest cityKottayam
Avg. summer temperature34 °C (93 °F)
Avg. winter temperature22 °C (72 °F)

History

Developed in a rubber plantation as a bird sanctuary by Englishman George Alfred Baker,[3] the sanctuary was formerly known as Baker's Estate.[4] The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation currently manages the sanctuary.

Geography

The sanctuary is spread over 14 acres (5.7 ha)[4] on the southern bank of the Meenachil River River.[5] There is a system of paths for moving around within the sanctuary. Beyond the sanctuary, one can take a boat ride in Vembanad Lake or along the Meenachil River.

Kumarakom is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Kottayam. State Highway No. 1 leads to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in opposite directions. Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery is 106 km (66 mi) from Kumarakom.[6]

Neighbouring areas such as Kaipuzha Muttu, Pathirmanal, Narakathara, Thollairam Kayal, and Poothanpandi Kayal are also good locations for spotting birds.[4]

Fauna

The main attractions are local birds like waterfowl, koel, owl, egret, heron, cormorant, moorhen, darter, and brahminy kite, as well as the migratory gull, teal, tern, flycatcher, and other birds are seen here during their respective migratory seasons. Some of the migratory birds come from the Himalayas, and a few from Siberia.[4][7]

Sanctuary from Kavanar River

Bird watching

The WWF-India organised a two-day bird watching programme in 2008 at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in connection with World Wetlands Day.[8] Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, which owns the largest chain of hotels in Kerala, including a resort in the middle of the bird sanctuary at Kumarakom, has opened an interpretation centre in the bird sanctuary for the visitors.[9]

References
  1. "Kumarakom". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  2. Radhakrishnan, S. Anil. "KTDC to construct hotel in Chennai". The Hindu, 16 November 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  3. "Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary." Kerala Tourism. Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2017. <http://www.keralatourism.org/kumarakom/kumarakom-bird-sanctuary.php>.
  4. Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, Kumarakom, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 53, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ISBN 81-902505-2-3
  5. Ayub, Akber. "Seductive symphony". The Hindu, 7 January 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  6. "Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary". shubhyatra.com. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  7. "Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary". kumarakom.com. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  8. "Two camps for bird watchers". The Hindu, 13 January 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  9. "Kumarakom bird sanctuary". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
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