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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A visit to Kumarakom Backwaters

Recently I visited the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake. It has 2.5 KM of well laid out paths for moving around within the sanctuary...


A rubber plantation was developed into this bird sanctuary by an Englishman. You can still see the decades old rubber trees from the erstwhile Baker's Estate...


I saw this boat and made up my mind to take a boat ride on my return from the walk...


 I learnt that some of the migratory birds come here from the Himalayas, and a few from far away Siberia. As this is not the migratory season, I was looking forward to sighting some native birds. This Black Crowned Night Heron with bloodshot eyes looked sloshed... 


A fisherman seemed to have caught something good... 


The Kerala backwaters are a chain of saltwater lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. I set out on this boat to explore the Vembanad lake...


Thought this Heron was waiting for her lover who has gone fishing... 


She looked pretty with that blue and yellow bill... 


There were some lovely green reflections...


Here's a pond Heron... Are there only Herons around here? 


The vastness and the calm. So serene...


Just when I thought I will get to see only Herons, I see a Cormorant posing like a Heroine...


There's more variety, a Black Drongo...


The kettuvallams (Kerala houseboats) are one of the main tourist attractions. They were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Converted to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become air-conditioned floating cottages with all modern amenities... 


I was zooming my lens at the shells on the bank of the lake when I noticed this kid looking at me...


This White-breasted Kingfisher just made my day... 


It was a very satisfying three hours spent at the Kumarakom backwaters...



56 comments:

  1. Awesome post and amazing clicks

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  2. a very peaceful and relaxing place to be....subjects were great.

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  3. Your bird shots are gorgeous - so clear and with bold color. Very nice!

    Violet N. (promptings 2)

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  4. Incredible photography. The birds are especially beautiful.

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  5. wow. Amazing photos! Thanks so much for sharing your visit to the Kumarakom backwaters through these lovely pictures.

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  6. Beautiful photos, especially like the Heron photos. Also reminds me that everything in the tropics seems to have brighter colors!

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  7. Terrific bird captures, especially the heron with the blodshot eyes. I love the shot of the serene lake, hard to get that much still water to look good - well done! And the shot of the reflected house boat, Wow! Loved this post.

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  8. Thank you for sharing your tour of the bird sanctuary. I wish I could have been walking along with you. Beautiful photography!

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  9. what a great place. I bet you could spend hours there. nice shots, all!!

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  10. Fantastic reflections. Great place,love the birds and and cute kid

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  11. What a gorgeous place! You have some beautiful bird photos! My favorite is the Black Crowned Night Heron.

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  12. what an amazing place. it looks so peaceful. i can see why your visit was a nice one. what a bright bird that kingfisher was. hoping your boat ride after was as nice too. hope all is well. have a great day~

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  13. Lovely series of a very unique place. So beautiful.

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  14. You have some wonderful bird photographs. I also like the reflections you photographed. Great post.

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  15. Wow what an adventure you took. So many wonderful things. I really enjoyed all of your photographs. The houseboat looks pretty cool and that Kingfisher was amazing. It was a pleasure to see your photos.

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  16. Such amazing photos. Love that you shared your walk and info on the sanctuary, and that way it was as if I traveled along with you. Very nice. :)

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  17. Stunning shots, details and scenes.

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  18. Awesome post, the herons are gorgeous. And I love that houseboat.. what a cool ride. Wonderful photos! Thanks for linking up your post with my critter party.. Have a happy weekend!

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  19. What a wonderful place for bird watching, terrific captures!

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  20. what a great place to visit and take photos. I love the boat in the sanctuary photo very much along with the white breasted kingfisher, thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, i want to visit this place

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  21. What an amazing selection of beautiful images.

    Mollyxxx

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  22. Such glorious birds!!! That kingfisher is beautiful in color. Actually, ALL your photos are marvelous.

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  23. Fabulous pictures. Now I want to visit.

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  24. Wonderful photos and gorgeous birds !

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  25. Beautiful pics. I have never been to Kerala..but would love to...and to stay on a houseboat - even better! I did stay on one in Kashmir many years ago though.
    Thank you for sharing your image on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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  26. Gorgeous shots, and I too want to stay on one of those houseboats!

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  27. Marvelous as usual! I was there once and Never saw a bird. Off season probably

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  28. What a marvelous tropical place for a stroll and bird-watching! Your bird photos are great, I enjoyed the bloodshot eyes of the heron and the feathering of darker feathers down over the lighter feathers. The electric blue kingfisher feathers are so beautiful, especially contrasted with the colorful beak.

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  29. Those are all awesome shots, love all those birds. And that houseboat is really inviting.

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  30. Lovely set of photos! The bird shots are gorgeous!

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  31. What a beautiful peaceful place those photos are so clear too ;-)

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  32. Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.

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  33. Wonderful collection.Your bird photos are really amazing. So colourful and clear. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Lovely photos, great captures they sure are!!
    What a cool little boat.

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  35. My favorite is the boat shot, but they are all top notch! http://lauriekazmierczak.com/working-weekend/

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  36. Absolutely beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  37. I love the vibrant colors in your photos! So pretty!

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  38. Gorgeous birds and wonderful reflections in the water! Love the kingfisher!

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  39. Fantastic photos! I love all of these!!

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  40. I thoroughly enjoyed having a look around the backwaters too. A delightful post, and am in awe at that fascinating Kingfisher :D)

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  41. lovely birds here -- I was watching the Australasian Drongo version over the weekend too

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  42. These photos are stunning! Loved the one with the pathway...I could picture myself wandering in peaceful bliss for quite some time!

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  43. Excellent post, some real quality images and good photography throughout, well done.
    Dave

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  44. I especially enjoyed the kid watching and the King Fisher. We have blue herons here (Vancouver) but I've never seen a heron with a blue and yellow bill. Wonderful close-up shots of your beautiful critters.

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  45. What a nice morning you had!!! I would love to spend a couple of days on one of those houseboats...maybe a honeymoon?? Nope, Shiju, just kidding...no honeymoon, just a getaway for me and a friend, though!! I love that kingfisher, one of the most beautiful birds I've seen, thanks to you. I have seen some brilliantly colored macaws in the jungles around Iguazu Falls but I would love to see this little feathered beauty face to face.

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  46. On my to go places :)

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/06/mans-insignificance/

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  47. Great read! I love how you've explained everything so well. Do you have any tips for someone just starting out in this field?

    South Kerala Tour Packages
    Kerala backwaters boat rowing
    Best Time to Visit Kerala

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