The backwaters fishing village of Kumarakom has its attractions advertised by some stunning top-end resorts by the side of Lake Vembanad. But till around 1880, this area was a marshy tract, part of the huge Vembanad Lake wetlands ecosystem, itself part of the backwaters that connect Kottayam, Kochi and Alappuzha districts. Then, the king of Travancore granted 500 acres here to one AG Baker, later to become Kumarakom’s local legend. In his watery acreage, Baker reclaimed land, filled the marsh, made embankments for fields, planted mangroves to protect the soil, and grew paddy and coconut. He also retained some protected area for birds. And today the little village by the vast lake teems with water and palms, birds and fish, boats and rice, sun and breeze. And, of course, high-end tourism.
