Thazhathangady Juma Masjid
Kottayam is located very close to Kumarakom and is home to a large collection of interesting religious buildings. With construction occurring over a millennium ago, this mosque is considered to be one of the oldest in the country and is notable for its magnificent architecture as well as the beautiful carvings in wood which adorn its interior. The mosque is the product of the efforts of followers of the prophet Mohammad from back during their early visits to Kerala.

Cheriyapally
There are two churches in Kottayam dedicated to St Mary, this one having been built and consecrated in 1579 by the Portuguese with the assistance of a local Hindu raja. The architecture is therefore unsurprisingly, a blend of Portuguese and Hindu influences. Notable features of the temple include the suspended lamps of the halls, the murals on the interior walls created out of vegetable dyes, and the granite pillars.

The God of Small Things
The novel entitled The God of Small Things by Indian writer Arundhati Roy, is set in Ayemenem village which is adjacent to and adjoining Kumarakom. A building referred to as the History House in the book is the focal point of the story and, contrary to its state of ruins in the novel, it has been restored by the Taj group and is now a popular visitor centre. The Ayemenem House, in which Arundhati Roy spent some years of her childhood, is also open to visitors.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
It might be more accurate to refer to this location as a nature sanctuary, since this protected area is home to a huge selection of different species of flora and fauna. Birds however, are especially prevalent and of particular interest, there being a mix of both indigenous and migratory species. A boat trip around the sanctuary is the ideal opportunity to see not only birds but plant and marine life also.

Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple
This Hindu temple in Kottayam is located in the middle of the town centre and was dedicated to Lord Shiva after being built at the beginning of 16^th century. The then Raja of Thekkumkur was responsible for construction of the temple, which illustrates a definite conforming to the typical Kerala style. Murals on the temple’s interior walls tell epic Hindu tales while an annual festival is known to attract large numbers of Hindu worshippers.

Valiyapally
Also dedicated to St Mary, Valiyapally is the older of the two churches, having been constructed in 1550. Among Kottayam’s largest churches, it is famous for its two 8^th century Persian crosses, both of which feature ancient inscriptions, suggesting that they date from some of India’s earliest Christian days.

Check out the snake-boat races during the Onam festival. Onam falls in August, running often into September and is the time when folks in destinations across Kerala take to the waterways to participate in adrenalin-charge events. Boats hold a series of rowers who push themselves to the absolute limits in their quest to be victorious over rival competitors, all to the great delight of the enthusiastic spectators.

Enjoy lazy days at Kumarakom beach. The ideal destination at which to chill out with a good book or just lie back and catch a few rays, Kumarakom beach offers an especially picturesque portion of coastline which remains largely unspoilt by local commercial ventures, promising peace and tranquillity with little in the way of disturbances from hawkers.

Go bird-watching. One cannot stress enough what an excellent location Kumarakom is from the perspective of ornithologists, nature enthusiasts and anyone with even a mild interest in wildlife. Opportunities abound to see indigenous species such as kingfishers, golden-backed woodpeckers and night herons and migratory species such as snake birds, crow pheasants and white-branded water hens. Grab your binoculars and head for the boats at the shores of Vembanad lake.

Take a sunset or sunrise cruise on a Kettuvallam. Kettuvallams are large cargo vessels, traditionally used for transporting rice and other foodstuffs across the state of Kerala. These wonderfully handcrafted boats are made entirely without the use of nails, relying on coir ropes to hold the wood together. While many still operate cargo routes, modern day vessels are used for cruises and feature comfortable bedrooms, modern toilet facilities, living quarters and kitchens. Spend a day or several on a Kettuvallam, and besides getting a unique perspective of a Kerala sunrise or sunset, you can watch local fishermen go about their business, see some interesting flora and fauna and watch traditional local villages drift by.

Try a Kumarakom seafood dinner. With its location close to the sea, Vembanad lake and a variety of interconnecting waterways, Kumarakom has access to a large selection of edible water fare including the popular karimeen or pearl spotted fish plus a large variety of crustaceans including prawns, crabs and lobsters. The restaurants of the area’s top hotels are best known for their seafood menus and are the ideal places to sample dishes such as karimeen mappas and karimeen pollichathu.

Try the ancient healing therapies of Ayurveda. As well as being famous for its bird sanctuary, Kumarakom has something of a reputation for its Ayurvedic spas. Several of the reputable hotels have onsite spa facilities offering the ancient techniques of this highly respected Eastern medical philosophy. Try an invigorating garshana massage or a relaxing session of shirodhara before enjoying a meal of healthy Ayurvedically balanced food.