Kadamakudy travel tips – Kadamakkudy.org

Kadamakudy travel tips for visitors to Kadamakkudy Islands

When to travel?

The best months for a Kadamakkudy trip are from September to March. November to February is the peak season due to pleasant weather. The monsoon season from the month of June to September is a good option for budget travellers who dont mind occassional rains. The rainy season has it’s own charm.

Peak tourist season (November to March)

Pros: Ideal weather with cool, pleasant temperatures and lots of sunshine, making it perfect for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Cons: This is the most popular time, so expect larger crowds and higher prices for flights and accommodations.

Monsoon season (June to September)

Pros: Lower prices for travel and accommodation, fewer tourists, and vibrant, lush green scenery. The constant drizzle can also be appealing to some.
Cons: High rainfall can sometimes lead to flooding, particularly during the Southwest monsoon in June, July, and August.

Shoulder seasons (Seasons in between the peak seasons and the off-seasons)

March to May: This is the summer season, which can be quite hot. It’s a good option for budget-conscious travelers if you can tolerate the heat.
October: The retreating monsoon season occurs in October, with temperatures still cool but with some rain possible. It’s a good time to visit before the main tourist season begins.

Kadamakkudy travel tips

Plan your visit in advance is the most important travel tip. A little amount of planning will help you to enjoy Kadamakudy to the fullest. You must plan your day of travel, arrival time, boating time, kayaking time, food etc well in advance. Planning the budget and time is very important.
If money is not a constraint it is better to check into a resort or guest house and ask them to organise everything for you and they will take care of all the planning.
If money is a constraint or time is a constraint then it is better to focus only on kayaking, boating. That will take approximately two hours to complete.
Day of the visit is another factor. During weekends and holidays the demand and the rates will be higher whereas during weekdays it can be negotiated better. On weekdays if you just land up without prior planning, then somedays nothing may be available as well.
The normal visitor is happy with just the kayaking and boating. Then there is another category who has special interests like birdwatching, bird photography, nature photographers, heritage and culture explorers etc, they need longer planning.
Eat food from clean places. One can rely on the homestays for good hygenic food which can be ordered in advance. It is not necessary that one must stay in the homestays / resorts to have food there.
Another option is to bring your own food, and eat within the comfort of your vehicle or if you are going for boating, you can have it in the boats. Please ensure that you are not littering Kadamakudy with plastics and food waste.
There is a scarecity of hygenic toilet facilities at Kadamakkudy. There is a paid toilet facility at the middle of the Valiya Kadamakudy road. I do not know how clean it is. In the worst case, do not hesitate to knock at the doors of the nearby houses or the churches. There are toilets for the public at churches.Before visiting Kadamakkudy, try your best to avoid this unpleasant situation.
Kadamakudy Islands are good for birdwatching, bird photography, walking, running, experiencing nature, fishing, cycling, boating, dawn and sunsets. For a detailed to do list click here
Kadamakudy Islands are good for birdwatching, bird photography, walking, running, experiencing nature, fishing, cycling, boating, dawn and sunsets. For a detailed to do list click here
By road it will take approximately 45 minutes from the Kochi city as well as from the Kochi International Airport
There are direct buses to Kadamakkudy from Vytilla hub via Edappally and from North Parur and Alwaye. Please check the timings before planning. Frequency of service is low.
Another option to travel to kadamakkudy by bus is to board any bus via Varapuzha bridge and get down at SNDP junction. There is an auto rikshaw stand there. Hire an auto to Kadamakkudy. To go back, you can catch a bus or connect with any of the local auto drivers of Kadamakkudy. Their contact numbers are provided in the photo at the bottom of this page.
If coming by road from Ernakulam side, cross the Varapuzha bridge, and take the first left. Go straight till you get a ‘T’ juction. Take the left, go forward and then take the right. You will reach a temple. Take the road going to the left, and you are almost there.
Check this Uber option as well. If coming from Ernakulam side, take the Kochi Metro Rail and get down at the Changapuzha Nagar station and then take a uber taxi.
Soon the Kochi water metro will start operations to Kadamakudy Islands. Once that starts, it is better to rely on it to have a relaxing, environment friendly trip to Kadamakudy Islands.
I enjoy lazy cycling without any hurry, at very low speed, to stop as soon as any bird is spotted, watch them, photograph them.
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.
The dawns and the sunsets are really beautiful at Kadamakkudy from October to June. After the month of June, it is rainy season. Normally the sun rises by 6.15 a.m. So, If you want to experience the sunrise, be there before 6 a.m. In my opinion, the sunsets are more glorious than the sunrise. Sun set starts by around 5.30 p.m.
The maximum number of birds are visible in the mornings till 8 a.m. Once it gets warm with sun light, the birds retreat to the shades and will not be visible.
Bring your own food and drinking water, as there are no decent hotels near by. There are some thatu kadas.
The nearest town is Chetti bhagam (Varapuzha), which is around 3 km before reaching Kadamakkudy.
There are a couple of toddy shops, and I am not happy with the cleanliness of these. Of the two toddy shops available, the better one is in the middle of the paddy fields. One has to park their vehicle away and then walk through the narrow path, through the paddy field to reach there. Sometimes, these paths can be really muddy. Wear suitable foot wear.
Please do not litter. Help to keep the environment clean. Support responsible tourism.
Do not make too much noise, as the birds will fly away.
Do not wear bright color clothes which will make you highly visible to the birds. Wear lighter color clothes.
Cameras with good zoom is required to capture the images of birds. Mobile phones are sufficient to capture splendid images of sunrises and sunsets, street photography.
The fish in the fish farms are highly susceptible to any sort of poisonous things. So, please do not throw anything into the water bodies.
There are waste bins kept on the road sides. Use them. Do not litter. Be a responsible tourist
In the case of any medical emergency Aster medcity is the nearest hospital
The nearest police station is the Varapuzha police station
The narrow 5km stretch of road cutting through the Kadamakudy islands is a delight for walkers and cyclists. The humming sound of the first bus from the island…and the cyclist crossing each other on a narrow strip of road …that needs presence of mind and confidence. When in doubt I just stop and give way for the other vehicle.
Kadamakkudy is attracting lots of tourists these days, hence the traffic has increased. It is no more safe to ride two wheelers without helmet. That include cycles as well. Ride safely and be a responsible tourist. Take care of your safety and others safety.
Emergency contacts