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Top in the Kadamakkudy to do list

While there are several things one can do at Kadamakkudy Islands, for the right experience – season, time of the day, high-low tide patterns etc matters a lot. During high tide, the birds become rare. The best time for birdwatching is between 7 am and 8 am when the tide is low. At the same time, at very low tide, it becomes difficult to explore the mangroves in a kayak or canoe. Sometimes it affetcs boating as well. The purpose of maintaining this page is to provide real insights about what one can do and experience at Kadamakkudy, depending on the season, time of visit, special interests one has and the point of entry. We try our best to provide insights useful for the visitors based on our rich experiences with Kadamakkudy Island based cycling trips, photography, birdwatching, talking to the locals spanning more than two decades by now.

Click here to learn more about the Immersive kadamakkudy Iterinaries

Top 10 things to do at Kadamakkudy Islands for individuals and small groups

Here are are our top 10 things to do at Kadamakkudy Islands for groups less than 5, during early mornings and late evenings (golden hours)

1. Early morning canoe ride through the mangrove forests during sunrise. Recommended for small groups of less than 4 people
2. Early morning boat rides. There are boats of different sizes available. Choose based on the number of guests.
3. Early morning kayaking through the mangrove forests durig sunrise. These mangroves are the habitats of birds and breeding fish. So, please ensure that;
   1. You are not making too much noise
   2. You are not frightening the birds
   3. You are not getting too close to the mangroves, becuase they are the hatching ground of fish, which in turn feeds the birds
   4. You do not grow as large groups
4. Nature walks & Nature Photography – Walk through the pokkali paddy fields during mornings and evenings
   1. Do not litter. When you throw empty bottles and other plastic to the fields, it contaminates the water and affects the crops and fish, incurring huge loss to the farmers.
5. Bird watching (timing will change based on the high and low tide timings). During low tides, the probability of seeing more birds are higher. According to e-bird, Kadamakkudy is the habitat for more than 215 species of birds which include native and migratory birds.
6. Mingle with the locals, learn about the slow village life
7. Enjoy the splendid sunsets from Valiya Kadamakkudy
8. Evening canoe rides during sunset time
9. Evening boat rides during sunset times
10. Try local street food (kappa & fish curry)

Top 10 things to do at Kadamakkudy Islands for large groups

1. Rent a 15 seater airconditioned traditional boat for the desired duration. Selection of the time is equally important inorder to have the best experiences.
2. Decide your food preferences in advance and the food will be served to you in the boat itself.
3. Conduct small events in the boat itself. Karoke facilities are available within the boat
4. You can even drop into a guest house for dinner and other activities
5. Enjoy the glorious sunsets either from the boat or from the sunset points
6. Photograph nature
7. Bird watching & Birdphotography from the boat itself
8. Combine kayaking with the boat ride
9. Mingle with the locals
10. Get the taste of local street food (kappa + fish curry). If you are vegetarian, order for vegetarian food well in advance.

Here is the all woman team, who are one of our early Guests…Salute their spirit of enjoyment…

Please check the following the day before your trip
1. Check the weather forecast for kadamakkudy. For boating on a rainy day, choose boats with roof. If it is a sunny day, it is better to do boating and kayaking either early in the morning or in the evening.
2. Check the high tide and low tide timings. During the low tide times, you will be able to see more birds. As the water levels recede, kayaking and boating near mangrove forests become difficult. During high tide, bird sightings will decline.

Top things to do at Kadamakkudy Islands between 6am and 9am

• Naturewalks – walk into the paddy fields quietly and enjoy the nature
• Bird watching – while doing the naturewalks one will be able to watch the birds. If this is of interest to you then a pair of binoculars will help to make it more enjoyable.
• Bird photography – Naturewalks, bird watching and bird photography are all intertwined. For bird photography one need to have a camera with a reasonably good zoom lens.
• Boating / Kayaking
• Open gym at Valiyakadamakkudy
• Brisk walking at Valiya Kadamakkudy

Things you can do between 10am and 4pm

At this time, the sun will emerge and it will be very warm for outdoor activities.

• Visit the two centuries old Varapuzha bascilica church which is very near
• Visit the Sree Varaha temple very near
• Visit the glorious two centuries old St.George Church, Puthenpally
• Or straightaway Check into a homestay and relax
• Have lunch. There are many options for lunch.
  • Nihara resorts / Grill
  • Vella kaanthaari – near toll plaza in the container road
  • Johns Haven Made to order – 93886 08498. Must let him know a couple of days in advance.
  • If you are okay with some snacks and juice, then there is a small outlet near the Kadamakudy temple
  • If you want to have lunch in an airconditioned environment at affordable prices then Gopika bar and restaurant is an option
• Get an ayurvedic massage at the government ayurvedic center at Valiya Kadamakkudy
• Visit to the toddy shop located at the middle of the paddy fields (near temple road). Not very clean and at the same time it is very popular.

Top things you can do between 4 pm to 7pm

• Have a cup of coffee and snacks at the open air restaurant near the open gym
• Do boating / kayaking
• Enjoy sunsets
• Enjoy street food (have not tried it myself yet)
• Have a romantic riverside dinner at a home stay.
• Walk or cycle through the streets of Kadamakkudy

Things you can do after 7 pm

• Visit the riverside grill from 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm Phone: 097463 33842

Point of entry to Kadamakudy

Since Kadamakudy comprises of 14 tiny islets, the point of entry is very important. This is very important when you travel to Kadamakudy by road. To reach Valiya Kadamakkudy, the biggest among the islands which constitute Kadamakudy, it is better to enter kadamakkudy via Varapuzha.

Plan your visit in advance – That is the number one advise

Before getting into the Things2do at Kadamakudy, here is one thing you should not do while visiting Kadamakudy Islands. Never visit Kadamakkudy Islands without planning your trip well in advance, bacuase in Kadamakkudy, almost everything good is made to order. This include not just food, but boating, kayaking, enjoying the glorious sunsets, places to relax and unwind and even wash rooms. A back packer or bachelor making a quick vist to Kadamakkudy, these may not matter but if you are visiting Kadamakkudy Islands with your loved ones to enjoy some quality time, make it a point to plan your visit in advance.

Places to stay at Kadamakkudy Islands

There are many options when it comes to where to stay at Kadamakkudy. Of course there the Hyatts, Marriots very near Kadamakkudy. There are resorts which charges almost five star rates from the visitors. There are also budget guest houses and home stays. We have worked out B2B rates with a set of handpicked establishments based on quality, safety, promptness and budget friendliness. When you plan your visits with us (kadamakkudy.org), we will be able to work out very attractive rates which are lower than the regular B2C rates.

The ever growing list of things2do at Kadamakudy Islands which is also known as Kadamakkudy Islands

To be honest with you, no two days are same at Kadamakkudy Islands. One day you will get to witness a glorious sunset and the very next day it could be cloudy. In fact, this unpredictability is the beauty of Kadamakudy or Kadamakkudy Islands. They are really living Islands. Their character changes from day to day and even from hour to hour. At dawn Kadamakkudy has mist and as the sun rises, the mist vanishes. The colour of the rising sun through the mist provides Kadamakkudy a very nice texture in the morning light.

During the evenings the sunsets are even more poetic. The portrayal of Kadamakudy during evenings bear brighter shades.

This diversity of Kadamakkudy makes the preparation of a highly predictable todo list of Kadamakkudy spanning all the seasons very difficult.

Still I am attempting one Kadamakkudy to do list based on a decade long cycling and photography experiences of at Kadamakkudy Islands.

Here are My top10 in the Kadamakudy to do list..

This todo list can be customised based on your time availability, budget and interests.

1. Do-nothing. Just be there. Relax Get into a scenic homestay which can provide good view of backwaters. Just be there. Enjoy the breeze.
2. Enjoy good seafood – Kerala crab curry, Karimeen pollichathu, fish moly, Kakka ularthiyathu, Prawns masala etc…and take a mild nap enjoying the breeze.
3. Kayaking at Kadamakudy backwaters – Kadamakudy is a good place for kayaking. There are many kayaking operators operating at Kadamakudy. Choose the safest ones.
4. Enjoy the glorious sunsets either from a boat or from a scenic location within the homestay. Click some great pictures which you can cherish forever.
5. Early morning boat ride – Early morning boat ride to the mangroves are ideal for bird watching and bird photography.
6. Walking through the paddy fields – Be with the nature. Take a walk through the paddy fields. These walks also will provide excellent opportunities to spot the birds.
7. Morning walks & the open gym – Brisk morning walks, runs and the open gym are other means of unwinding at Kadamakudy Islands.
8. Cycle through the narrow lanes of Kadamakudy Islands
9. Photo walks – Keep walking and clicking the sunsets, birds, streets, people. Contact me. We can walk together and click at Kadamakudy Islands.
10. Visit the nearby heritage places – Kadamakudy is surrounded by centuries old churches & temples which reflects traditional architecture. Visit them.

Feel free to contact me for any assistance. Phone / WhatsApp : 9895372115

How to reach Kadamakudy?

Kadamakkudy travel tips

Contact me

Detailed description of the things to do at Kadamakudy Islands….

These are not in any specific order.

Visit the two centuries old St.George church

The Saint George Roman Syrian church is more than two centuries old. It is hardly five kilometers away from Kadamakudy Islands. A treat for heritage lovers.

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Kadamakudy to do list

Welcome to the Kadamakkudy alias Kadamakudy to do list. Things to do at Kadamakkudy is an ever growing list of things one can do at Kadamakkudy, prepared based on my frequent visits to Kadamakkudy Islands dating back to year 2010. . No two days are same at Kadamakkudy, especially for the nature photographer and for the bird watcher. It has something new to offer almost every single trip.

When people ask me about what to do at Kadamakkudy, I find it very difficult to answer, as there are many things one can do at Kadamakkudy depending on the interests of the visitor. Again this depends on the time of the year, and even the time of the day, you are visiting Kadamakkudy.

If you want to enjoy the basking glory of the nature when the sun rises and sets you must be there either early in the morning (5.30 am to 7.30 am) or in the evening between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm. If you are a nature photographer, these are the golden hours.

But then, if you are interested in bird watching and photography, then these timings are not good as there wont be enough light to capture them. For that the ideal time would be from 8 am to 12 pm.

If you want to just laze around, doing nothing, then evenings are good.

If you enjoy cycling, running or walking then both mornings and evenings are equally good.

The toddy shops start serving fresh stock of toddy by around 11 am onward

Kadamakkudy is still a virgin tourist spot, which is very rustic in nature. The facilities for the tourist is almost nil. There are no good hotels nearby. There are no public toilets as well. The nearest town is Chettibhagam (Varapuzha) which is approximately three kilometers before reaching Kadamakkudy. Hence, one must be well prepared before coming to Kadamakkudi. In my view, this raw nature of Kadamakkudy is it’s beauty as well. One can be away from the busy world, at least for a while.

The detailed Kadamakkudy to do List

1. First and foremost thing to do is to be a socially responsible visitor to Kadamakkudy. You can demonstrate your social responsibility by;
   • Not littering, as it pollutes the environment and it poisons the water in the fish farms
   • Not making too much noise, as it frightens off the migratory birds
   • Wear mask
   • Maintain social distancing
   • Drive / ride slow
   • Be polite and friendly with the friendly locals
   • Avoid alcohol and drug consumption at public places
   • Do not smoke cigarettes, it is prohibited in public places all along Kerala
2. Enjoy the sunrise at Kadamakudy – Must reach Kadamakudy before 6.30 a.m for enjoying the sunrise.
3. Cycle, walk around through the paddy fields / Chemmeen kettu – Try to finish it before 10 a.m during summer.
4. Experience the toddy shop – Opens by 11.am. There are two toddy shops. One on the main road and the other is near the Kadamakudy junction (near temple), which is considered as the better one.
5. Buy fish, crab, prawns from the local fishermen, Chinese fishing nets or from the local market, and get it cooked in Kerala style. Have it for lunch. Contact me
6. Take the ferry services to the nearby islands
7. Do fishing
8. Do bird watching and bird photography. Kadamakkudy has more than 70 species of birds. Do not dress in bright colors. Carry binoculars. Carry a cap and drinking water. Walk through the narrow mud roads connecting to the main rod quietly and you will see them.
9. Laze around the banks of Veeranpuzha (river)
10. Enjoy the sunset at Kadamakudy. Sunsets are beautiful at Kadamakkudy especially between the months of October and April. The best time is between 5.30 pm and 7 p.m. Very often Kadamakkudy is very beautiful immediately after the sunset. So, do not rush back as soon as the sun sets. If you are with family, it is better to leave the place before it gets very dark.
11. Go to Cherai beach and enjoy the sea and the sunset. Cherai beach is hardly 10km away from Kadamakkudy.
12. Lazy cycling jaunts – I enjoy lazy cycling without any hurry, at very low speed, to stop as soon as any bird is spotted, watch them, photograph them.
13. Morning meditations – Another super experience of mine at Kadamakkudy is my morning meditations at Kadamakkudy. Just sit somewhere in Kadamakkudy comfortably. Inhale and exhale. Be mindful. Try to concentrate on your breathing alone…soon you will get immersed in the beautiful sounds of birds which you do not hear otherwise. No music system can replace that experience. Adore the creator. Be grateful for everything….Soon you will start conversing with God….or you feel God’s embrace. I call it is Holy communion with God at Kadamakkudy Islands. The only prerequisite is time to sit and relax.
14. Enjoy the Kettukaazhcha during the last week of every year
15. Rent a boat and cruise through the backwaters around Kadamakkudy Islands. Contact Biju Phone : 9633248862
16. If you are a non-vegetarian, then enjoy the beef with kappa (tapioca) at the S.K. Hotel, a tiny one, on the banks of river periyar. If you call Jose Kuttan (proprietor) in advance, he will be able to provide you lunch or dinner with the local delicacies of your choice like crab, prawns, karimeen etc. Just call him a day in advance. His phone number is 9995852322.
17. Experience toddy and shappu curry at the Kadamakkudy toddy shop (kallu shop)
18. Have kallummakai fry at the kadamakkudy toddy shop
19. Enjoy Kayaking at Kadamakudy Islands
20. Another option for great local cuisine is the Periyar hotel. just before reaching the varapuzha bridge, on the right side, while coming from the Edappally side towards the varapuzha bridge. When you drive back from Kadamakudy to Edappally side, you get it on the left side of the road.
21. Forest bathing – I go to Kadamakkudy to relax and the best way to relax at Kadamakkudy is to get away from the mainland and meditate amidst nature. You do it for 30 minutes, immediately you will experience the benefits. If you are looking forward to experience the beauty of slow living in and around Kadamakkudy, I will be able to guide you. I call it as the art of doing nothing.
22. Join Aby on his cycling tour of the islands of Kadamakkudy, thus add purpose to pleasure.
23. Experience the luxury boats of Kochi Watermetro – If you are travelling to Kadamakudy from Ernakulam or Fortkochi, and if you have some time to spare take the kochi watermetro boats. Get down at Cheranallur. If you can walk 750 meters, you will reach the cheranallur-varapuzha ferry service. Cross over to Varapuzha. There is a beautiful 200+ years old catholic church there (Varapuzha Bascilica). Visit the church. From there take an autorikshaw to Kadamakudy. The distance between Varapuzha and Kadamakudy is less than five kilo meters. Try this out while coming to Kadamakudy as the last boat to ernakulam leaves by 5.45 pm.
24. Visit the local vegetable farms. Some of them are organic farms. Click here for photographs

Things you should not do at Kadamakkudy

• Do not litter. Let us maintain Kadamakkudy Islands as a plastic free zone
• Do not throw anything into the backwaters, especially bottles and other waste
• Reduce noise.Kadamakkudy Islands is the habitat for many migratory and local birds. Now their numbers are reducing as Kadamakkudy is fast becoming a tourst hub. Do not make too much noise as it will scare away the birds.
• Ride your vehicles at slow speed, to avoid accidents to self and others, and to reduce noise pollution.
• Do not ride without helmets. Accidents are increasing here. If you are riding any type of two wheeler including cycle, wear helmet.
• Do not get into watersports without safety jackets and trained guides
• Say no to drugs. Like every other tourist destination, Kadamakkudy also has the presence of drug abusers. Do not fall into it.

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List of Birds photographed by me at Kadamakkudy

1. White throat Kingfisher
2. Common Kingfisher
3. Egret
4. Parrot
5. Whistling Duck
6. Cormorent
7. Grey Heron
8. Swamp hen
9. Brahmini kite
10. Brown Kite
11. Magpie Robin
12. Myna
13. Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus)
14. Black necked Stork

Master list of bird sightings at Kadamakudy or Kadamakkudy

List of Birds spotted by me at Kadamakudy