>BrownHairedGirl at 19:19, 28 May 2021

2021-05-28T19:19:37Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary <br> കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ml
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| settlement_type = National park
| image_skyline = Kerala Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.jpg
| image_alt =
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| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.5|N|76.52|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
| established_title = 
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| unit_pref = Metric
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
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| registration_plate = KL-05, KL-36
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kottayam]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = Avg. summer temperature
| blank1_info_sec2 = {{convert|34|°C|°F}}
| blank2_name_sec2 = Avg. winter temperature
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| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KL]]
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}}

'''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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kumarakom|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=41|access-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716231211/http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=41|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Set in the [[Kerala Backwaters]], the bird sanctuary is a favourite haunt of [[migratory birds]].<ref name = "Bird1">{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006111603952100.htm&date=2006/11/16/&prd=th& | title =KTDC to construct hotel in Chennai | access-date = 2008-02-13 | last = Radhakrishnan | first =S. Anil | publisher =The Hindu, 16 November 2006 }}</ref>

==History==
Developed in a [[rubber plantation]] as a bird sanctuary by Englishman George Alfred Baker,<ref>"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>.</ref> the sanctuary was formerly known as Baker's Estate.<ref name = "Book">Ayub, Akber (ed), ''Kerala: Maps & More'', ''Kumarakom'', 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 53, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, {{ISBN|81-902505-2-3}}</ref> The [[Kerala Tourism Development Corporation]] currently manages the sanctuary.

==Geography==
The sanctuary is spread over {{convert|14|acre|ha}}<ref name = "Book"/> on the southern bank of the [[Meenachil River]] River.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/article2274836.ece| title = Seductive symphony| access-date = 2008-02-13 | last =Ayub | first =Akber | publisher =The Hindu, 7 January 2007 }}</ref> 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 {{convert|14|km}} from Kottayam. State Highway No. 1 leads to [[Kochi, India|Kochi]] and [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in opposite directions. [[Cochin International Airport|Kochi International Airport]] at [[Nedumbassery]] is {{convert|106|km|abbr=on}} from Kumarakom.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.shubhyatra.com/kerala/kumarakom-bird-sanctuary.html | title = Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary | access-date = 2008-02-13 | publisher = shubhyatra.com}}</ref>

Neighbouring areas such as Kaipuzha Muttu, Pathirmanal, Narakathara, Thollairam Kayal, and Poothanpandi Kayal are also good locations for spotting birds.<ref name = "Book"/>

==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]], [[Old World flycatcher|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]].<ref name = "Book"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kumarakom.com/bird.htm | title = Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary| access-date = 2008-02-13 | publisher = kumarakom.com}}</ref>

[[Image:Kerala Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary2.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Sanctuary from Kavanar River]]

==Bird watching==
The [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF-India]] organised a two-day bird watching programme in 2008 at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in connection with [[World Wetlands Day]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1178085.ece | title = Two camps for bird watchers| access-date = 2008-02-13 | publisher =The Hindu, 13 January 2008 }}</ref> [[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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.indiatravelblog.com/resources/3327-Kumarakom-bird-sanctuary.aspx | title = Kumarakom bird sanctuary| access-date = 2015-08-04 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.thattekadtrails.com/ Thattekad Bird Sanctuary]

{{commons category|Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary}}

{{Protected areas of Kerala}}
{{Waters of Kerala}}
{{Bird Sanctuaries}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}

[[Category:Bird sanctuaries of Kerala]]
[[Category:Geography of Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Malabar Coast moist forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas with year of establishment missing]]

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 19:19, 28 May 2021