| Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary കുമരകം പക്ഷി സങ്കേതം | |
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| Settlement type | National park |
| Country | India |
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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.[1] Set in the Kerala Backwaters, the bird sanctuary is a favourite haunt of migratory birds.[2]
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 Template:Convert[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 Template:Convert from Kottayam. State Highway No. 1 leads to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in opposite directions. Kochi International Airport at Nedumbassery is Template:Convert 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]
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
- ↑ Kumarakom. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ↑ KTDC to construct hotel in Chennai, Radhakrishnan, S. Anil. The Hindu, 16 November 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ↑ "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>.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, Kumarakom, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 53, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, Template:ISBN
- ↑ Seductive symphony, Ayub, Akber. The Hindu, 7 January 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ↑ Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. shubhyatra.com. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ↑ Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. kumarakom.com. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ↑ Two camps for bird watchers. The Hindu, 13 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ↑ Kumarakom bird sanctuary. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
External links
Template:Protected areas of Kerala Template:Waters of Kerala Template:Bird Sanctuaries Template:Tourism in Kerala