Kumbalangi is a neat fishing village in beautiful Kochi’s calm backwaters. There are a lot of cool, real-life things to do in Kumbalangi for travellers who want a true, deep-dive experience. This place is known for quiet water channels, green mangroves, and loads of talented local craftspeople and fishermen. You can take super boat tours to see the complex canal system, watch how coir-making and net-weaving happens, and meet the friendly locals. There’s more than just beauty here, as Kumbalangi has big cultural roots too. You’ll have chances to try tasty seafood from this area and learn about local life. So, if you want a chill getaway or a unique, local experience, the Kumbalangi is sure to wow you.
Things To Do In Kumbalangi
Kumbalangi, a beautiful village situated in the serene portrayal of the backwater destination of Kerala offers a lot of attractions for capturing the herbal beauty and cultural values of the area. Also, cultural lovers can watch exceptional orientations of classic arts like Kathakali and Theyyam, which is helpful to understand the dynamics of energetic art of the area.
1. Explore The Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village
Image Credit: Aruna for Wikimedia Commons
In the peaceful backwaters of Kerala, the Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village welcomes visitors. This is an upfront look into a historic Kerala fishing community. Kerala’s government put it together—it’s a showcase of the local culture and sustainable methods. Travellers get a special chance to connect with the heart and soul of the area. As you enter the village, you’ll get to meet the friendly locals.
Eager to share their life stories and include you in their daily activities. The Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village is alive. It’s brimming with traditions. The everyday life here blends right in with the surrounding, undulating backwaters. It is also possible to take a great boat ride passing through the interwoven network of canals and waterways. Wave at the beautiful Mangrove forests as you glide through them. One feels that one can see local fishermen at work: throwing nets, tending to the boats. It is a kind of skill inherited over the many generations.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
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2. Witness The Coir-Making Process
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Welcome to Kumbalangi! This pretty, quiet fishing village in Kerala is famous for the traditional craft of making coir. Coir? It’s a tough fibre from coconut husks. They make lots of different things from it here. As you tour the village, you’ll see and hear coir being spun and woven into various useful things, big and small. Coir has been made here for centuries, passed down from parent to child.
So, you’re peeking into a real slice of history. Want to see how a coir is made? It all starts with resting. What’s that? It’s the first step to extract the fibres from the husk. How do they do it? They soak the husks in the nearby backwaters for weeks. Nature does the rest! Once ready, these fibres then get spun into strong, lasting threads. This is a skill that takes years of practice and patience to perfect. Watching these artisans at work is truly a sight to behold.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
3. Birdwatching In The Mangrove Forests
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Kumbalangi’s peaceful backwaters nestle live mangrove forests. They teem with various birds, both local and foreign. If you love nature, take a guided birdwatching tour. It lets you spot many intriguing birds, such as stylish herons, egrets, and colourful kingfishers. The Kumbalangi mangrove forests are a bird-lover’s joy. They’re a bird biodiversity hotspot nestled in a maze of roots, leafy trees, and calm waters. Under our guide ‘s expertise, you’ll explore tranquil channels and bays, keeping an alert watch for bird movements.
Gliding quietly along the mangrove-bordered waterways, you might spot the magnificent Brahminy kite flying high. Its unique reddish-brown feathers and delightful call are a birdwatcher’s treasure. The rare and elegant little heron may skim over the water while the bright white-breasted kingfisher waits on a branch for the perfect prey moment. Your birdwatching journey might reveal other species, too.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Kerala
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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4. Indulge In Authentic Seafood Delicacies
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Picture this: a quiet fishing village in Kerala, Kumbalangi. Here, seafood lovers find paradise, getting to try fresh, local dishes. As a visitor, you embark on a food trip, exploring the area’s deep-rooted sea culture and food practices. Family-owned restaurants in Kumbalangi value serving dishes that present the best of the nearby sea. Think about delectable prawn curry; it’s a combination of fresh prawn taste plus the smell of rich spices.
Then there’s the crispy, seasoned fish fry. Each bite takes your tongue on an exciting journey. A must-try is the crab masala, a showcase of the local cooks’ expertise. The soft crab meat swims in a mix of flavorful spices, creating a flavour mix you’ll want more of. But don’t forget to try Kumbalangi’s other seafood dishes too. Enjoy the crunch of prawn fry. Delight in the fish moilee’s rich coconut-based curry. Each dish aims to please and amaze your taste.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Kerala
Timings: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
5. Participate In Crab Catching
Image Credit: Hartmut Inerle for Wikimedia Commons
Picture this: a quiet fishing village in Kerala, Kumbalangi. Here, seafood lovers find paradise, getting to try fresh, local dishes. As a visitor, you embark on a food trip, exploring the area’s deep-rooted sea culture and food practices. Family-owned restaurants in Kumbalangi value serving dishes that present the best of the nearby sea. Think about delectable prawn curry; it’s a combination of fresh prawn taste plus the smell of rich spices.
Then there’s the crispy, seasoned fish fry. Each bite takes your tongue on an exciting journey. A must-try is the crab masala, a showcase of the local cooks’ expertise. The soft crab meat swims in a mix of flavorful spices, creating a flavour mix you’ll want more of. But don’t forget to try Kumbalangi’s other seafood dishes too. Enjoy the crunch of prawn fry. Delight in the fish moilee’s rich coconut-based curry. Each dish aims to please and amaze your taste.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Kerala
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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6. Witness The Vallam Kali (Boat Race)
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In the tranquil fishing haven of Kumbalangi, nestled on Kerala’s soothing backwaters, the local boat race called Vallam Kali brings the location to life during Onam. This exciting race offers an opportunity to marvel at the local community’s marine traditions, skill, and cooperation. The Vallam Kali, a longstanding tradition in Kerala’s history, makes Kumbalangi a top spot to watch the show.
As the Onam festival draws nearer, the area’s water bodies buzz with the local boatmen and their teams readying the polished, wood-crafted Vallams for the upcoming contest. Crafted delicately by skilled craftsmen using age-old methods, the long, slender Vallams are symbols of the locals’ waterborne lifestyle. With race day upon them, the edges of Kumbalangi backwaters pulsate with eagerness and life. Fans amass, ready for the rush of the contest as the Vallams, pushed by the harmonised strokes of their rowers, race one another. Watching the graceful boats skim the water, vibrant flags and banners fluttering, is a unique sight.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: Varies from year to year
7. Explore The Kumbalangi Mangrove Walkway
Image Credit: Aruna for Wikimedia Commons
The Kumbalangi Mangrove–Walkway allows you to enjoy our mangroves’ beauties. On this boardwalk and while walking on it you will cross gentle and green countryside and backwaters. It is a sneak preview into one of the most essential ecosystems of the coastal environment. When one sits on Kumbalangi Mangrove Walkway, the mangrove tree around welcomes you. They grow forming twists and a natural complex in which different plants and animals can find protection.
Constructed eco-friendly, this path lets you enjoy the fragile ecosystem without harming its balance. While you walk, check out the mangrove plants. They’ve adapted to the brackish waters and salty soil. Look for the special aerial roots (pneumatophores) popping from the soil; they help trees get needed oxygen. Going down the path, enjoy beautiful views of calm backwaters. Hear the water lap and birds call amidst this tranquil setting, the perfect escape from the daily rush. Embrace the soothing nature all around you.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
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8. Visit The Kumbalangi Butterfly GardenRelated Post
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The Kumbalangi Butterfly Garden pops up in the lush green of Kumbalangi. It brims with butterfly species, offering a peek into their world. Unlike anywhere else, here you can study their relevance to ecology and admire their beauty. The Kumbalangi Butterfly Garden greets you with a colour splashed scene. Butterflies flit among plants heavy with nectar. The planning of this garden is thorough, with paths that meander and seating in the shade. There’s food to pull in a variety of species.
Witnessing the life cycle of butterflies is a key feature of the Kumbalangi Butterfly Garden. Eggs rest on leaves, caterpillars feast on leaves, and adult butterflies drink nectar. This cycle lets you delve deeper into their evolution. Watch for the blue Mormon’s brilliance, the yellow Crimson Rose’s boldness, the Common Jezebel’s grace, and the Tawny Coster’s charm, along with countless other species. The expert guides available can fill up gaps in your knowledge about these unique insects, making your Kumbalangi Butterfly Garden visit more meaningful.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
9. Attend A Toddy Tapping Demonstration
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Have you ever been to Kumbalangi? It’s a charming fishing village in Kerala. Here, you can see something special – the art of toddy tapping. This is an old tradition, right at the heart of local culture. Toddy, a drink made from coconut palm sap, is a loved treat in Kerala. Watching toddy tapping in Kumbalangi, you get to see an old craft in action. The toddy tapping happens at the village centre. Local “Kallu Shappis,” or toddy tappers, show off their skills here.
Through years of practice, these craftsmen have perfected their craft. Its skills reflect the area’s culture which was rich. At the demonstration you will also be able to watch very high coconut palm trees and their leaves swaying gently. The toddy tappers with their time tested equipment, have this exuberance and grace as they climb these trees. These people undergo a number of careful procedures to extract the sap from palm flowers. Getting toddy isn’t easy. It’s hard work. Tappers have to make precise cuts in the palm flowers.
Location: Kumbalangi Panchayat, Ernakulam, Kerala
Timings: 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM
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Kumbalangi is a peaceful fishing town tucked away in Kochi’s calm backwaters. Here, you will discover a formation of impressions that allow for stimulation and the attainment of novelty. Have the magic boat ride along its serpentine-like waters. Here is what you would do as you tour the natural fishing village of Kumbalangi: Find calm in its backwaters if you opt for this place as your travel destination. Connect with the welcoming locals and learn about age-old crafts handed down generations and the best things to do in Kumbalangi. Book your trip to Kochi and get an opportunity to make lasting memories that will add depth to your understanding of Kerala’s coastal customs.
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Cover Image Credit: Aruna for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In Kumbalangi
What can you do in Kumbalangi?
You can enjoy peaceful boat tours on the beautiful backwaters and see how coir and nets are made traditionally. You can visit the local fishing village and interact with the community!
How long should you stay in Kumbalangi?
One to two days should be enough to see the main sights and activities leisurely. This way, you can enjoy a boat tour, see local crafts, and experience the village life.
Can you get to Kumbalangi from Kochi easily?
Yes! Kumbalangi is near Kochi and is easy for visitors. There are regular buses and taxis to get to Kumbalangi from Kochi.
When is the best time to go to Kumbalangi?
You can visit Kumbalangi all year, but it's best from November to February. The weather is cooler, and local festivals and cultural events happen during this time.
Can you try local food in Kumbalangi?
Yes, you can! Kumbalangi is famous for seafood like fresh fish, prawns, and crabs. You can also try traditional Kerala food and local dishes made by the community!
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