Vembanad Lake Information | Photos | Location

The India's Longest and Kerala's largest lake, Vembanad Lake spreads across several districts in Kerala State. It has different name in different districts through which it sprawls like Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in Kochi etc. An enchanting place, Vembanad Lake in Kerala is astonishingly surreal, sealed with tranquility and a rare element of the 21st century, oxygen. Spread over the three districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam, this beauty slithers over a distance of almost 100 kilometers making it the longest lake as well as a largest fenland area of our nation. Given the vastness of this gorgeous backwater, the Vembanad Lake is best accessed from Kumarakom village, almost 15 kilometers away from Kottayam.

Kumarakom has thus gained spurt in its tourism statistics, adding revenue for the humbe oarsmen. One of the interesting things that travelers ought to notice is the Thanneermukom Bund (salt water barrier), created to prevent the interference of salt water into the fresh water across the lake. So in brief the water body is sectioned into two parts, one with briny water and freshwater of the rivers depositing in the lake. This was essentially done for the cultivators, so that they could grow crops with fewer obstacles to overcome. However this has created an imbalance when it comes to the breeding of fishes. So fellow travelers, if you’ll feel like having luscious sea food you’ll have make some worthwhile efforts. Also travelers having a fetish for winged creatures can visit the Kottayam Bird Sanctuary, in the rubber plantation of the Baker’s Estate. Birds from Himalaya and Siberia make expected trips to this handsome haven. On the next visit if you happen to be in God’s own country, even for business purposes make sure you that you float on that kettuvallam, because there is no pleasure as immense as drifting through the murky waters of Kerala.

The entire lake is divided into two halves namely the “Salt water zone” and “Fresh water zone”. The tourists love a house boat ride on the waters.
The famous Nehru trophy Boat Race is organized in the Kuttanad region of the Lake. There is a small Island named “Pathiramanal Island” located within this lake. The east coast has the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.