Kadamakkudy.org

Namasthe…

Welcome to Kadamakkudy Islands, an archipelago of fourteen tiny islands along the estuaries of river periyar located near the Kochi city of Kerala State of India.Local lore attributes the name Kadamakkudy to the phrase, ‘kadannal pettu കടന്നാൽ പെട്ടു’ – a playful warning that once you step into this network of islands, it’s raw charm holds you captive and there is simply no escaping it. I started journeying through these islets on my cycle watching, photographing birds and nature for more than two decades now. With mixed feelings I witnessed and still witnessingthe transformation of the almost unknown Kadamakkudy Islands to one of the most sought after tourist destinations. At times, I feel that the influx is more than Kadamakkudy can manage. What can I do about it?. The best way is to portray the real beauty of Kadamakkudy Islands to those who seek real experiences which they can cherish.

Quick facts about Kadamakkudy Islands

Comprises of 14 tiny islets. Of these the biggest one is the Valiya Kadamakkudy
Made up of highly sensitive eco system comprising of wet lands, mangrove forests and is the nesting ground of hundreds of species of birds both local and migratory
According to e-bird, more than 215 species of birds are spotted here
The migration patterns of the birds have become quite unpredictable due to global climatic changes
As the boating and kayaking operations are dwindling day by day, the mangrove islands are under threat
The best season to visit is from September to April

How to experience and enjoy Kadamakkudy Islands to the fullest?

Check into a spick and span waterfront facility by 12pm
Relax for a while
Enjoy the sunset kayaking through the most serene routes guided by specialists.
- Proceed to the Kayaking site by auto or your own vehicle (5 km)
- The orientation starts at 3.30 pm
- Kayaking starts at 4.30 pm and ends by 6.30 pm
- Timings are subject to change slightly based on the high tide and low tide timings
- There are single and double kiaks
- There is a dress changing room and a clean wash room
Enjoy the complimentary snacks
Return back to your room, relax
Enjoy dinner by the river side (must order in advance)
The next day early morning 6 am, proceed to the boating location (5 km away)
Enjoy the boating at sunrise for 1 hour in a canoe or a covered boat
Do nature walk / birding
Get back to the room
Enjoy complimentary breakfast
Relax and check out by 12 pm

Total charges – for 2 pax INR 7,600

Based on the guests requirement, these can be customised

Airport pick up and drops can be arranged – at actuals
Only boating can be arranged (either in the morning or in the evening) – INR 2500 / hour for 4 pax max. For larger teams, the charges will vary based on the group size
Only kayaking can be arranged (either in the morning or in the evening) – INR 750 / guest
Only nature walks with bird watching can be arranged in the morning or evening – INR 250 / guest

Get in touch with us +91 9895372115, 8129118111

Namasthe..

Welcome to Kadamakkudy Islands !

Experience Kadamakkudy Islands with the carefully curated services based on my decade long rich experience of photographing nature, birdwatching, cycling through the islands and mingling with the local community and visitors. These are created to provide relaxing and soul enriching Kadamakkudy experiences to the visitors.

Hope, You will also enjoy..

Aby, Curator @ Kadamakkudy.org

Phone / WhatsApp +91 9895372115, 8129118111

What is there to see in Kadamakkudy?

What is there to see in Kadamakkudy? – this is the most difficult question to answer. If I have to answer honestly, I do not have many things to list down. Then the next question is to myself – Why am I visiting these islands again and again for more than fifteen years?. Kadamakkudy has lots to experience. No two days are same at Kadamakkudy. Some days you see lots of birds, and the next day you dont find them. One day you witness a glorious sunset, and the next day it is fully cloudy. This diversity is the reason why people come to Kadamakkudy again and again. Come to Kadamakkudy to experience nature, birds, glorious sunsets and sunrises, good sea food, good photography – ultimately time well spent with great memories to take back…

Co-creating soulfilling experiences at Kadamakkudy Islands

We had this wonderful young couple from Bangalore as our Guests very recently. They have taken a room at Fort Kochi and came to Kadamakkudy on a rented scooter. They reached Kadamakkudy ahead of time. Based on their interests, we sggested the canoe instead of the boat. We also suggested 30-45 minutes nature walk immediately after the savari. That was a perfect decision. He could capture many bird photographs. We are super happy !

Emilia came from France. Having understood her tastes for enjoying raw nature and village life, we recommended the canoe. The best part of canoe we have is its stable design and Mr. Michael who is the owner and operator of the canoe. The best about Michael is the fact that he knows inside out of Kadamakkudy, becuase he is born and brought up there. He is fisherman, good swimmer, boat owner, boat operator and tourist guide in hiw own way. We like and trust him…

Two questions we ask every guest while planning their visit are about number of people and average age group. For senior citizens and for families with small children, we suggest a small boat with a cover on top. While safety is of paramount importance, a highly friendly atmosphere is also important to create the best experiences. Vineesh, the boat operator is a highly customer oriented person who also has good understanding of the geography of Kadamakkudy Islands,

Grey herons, brahmini kites, king fishers, blue hens, indian spot billed ducks, ploughers, stilts…the list can go on and on..Depending on the seasons and the time of the day one can spot many birds. According to e-bird, more than 215 species of birds are spotted at Kadamakkudy. So, do not litter, do not make too much noise, do not frighten them. Be a responsible tourist. If you have a pair of bonoculars at home bring them. Do not forget your telelenses as well, if you want to photograph them from close quarters.

Glimpses of village life. During the Kadamakkudy Savari, there are amble opportunities to see and interact with the local community. This include, fishermen, ladies practising the traditional fishing known as thappal (picture above). Please remember to interact with them respectfully and they will treat you very well. I wanted to interact to this particular woman and I could not as she was talking to someone continuously over bluetooth. I did not feel like disrupting it. Mostly the ‘thappal’ mode of fishing is likely to get extict sooner or later.

Glorious sunrise at Kadamakkudy Islands. September to May are the best time for sunset and sunrise photography. The El-Nino effect is making it difficult to predict the golden hours. Some days they are glorious, where as the next day, it all could be covered by the clouds. Hence, I would like to set the expectations right for the visitors, even before they start. Kadamakkudy is always unpredictable and that is the charm of it. Often it exceeds your expectations in ways you did not or could not imagine. Kadamakkudy is beautiful.

Welcome to Kadamakkudy Savari…

Sunrise & Sunset Savaris in a an open Canoe or Boat

Two time slots to choose 6.30 am to 8.30 am and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm

Maximum group size – 4 persons in Canoe & small boats, which will allow exploration of island life through the shallow and narrow waterways

For larger groups, bigger boats are recommended based on the number of people

Two hours early morning or evening boating in an open canoe or small boat during sunrise & sunset time

What can one experience?

From Morning Savari from 6.30 am to 8.30 am

Enjoy the sunrise from the backwaters sitting in an open canoe
Enjoy the beauty and serenity of thick mangrove forests responsibly
Take a small break in a uninhabited small island
By around 7 AM, the birds will start emerging and the lights will be good enough for birdwatching and photography from the canoe.
Reach back to Valiya Kadamakkudy by 8.30 am
Walk through the main street watching / photographing the birds in the backwaters. It is almost certain to see brahmini kites, grey herons, pond herons, white storks. Chances are very high to spot stilts, ploughers,
End the savari by 9 am

According to e-bird more than 215 species of birds are located in and around Valia Kadamakkudy which is the biggest island among the fourteen islets of Kadamakkudy Islands. From certain spots within Valiyakadamakkudy sunsrises and sunsets can be enjoyed to the fullest.

From the Evening Savari from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm

Enjoy the splendid sunset from the backwaters in an open canoe
Enjoy the beauty and serenity of the thick mangrove islands
Take a small break in an uninhabited small island
Reach back to Valiya Kadamakkudy by 6.30 pm
Enjoy the besuty of the sun setting from the mainland
End of the Savari by 7 pm

Glorious sunrise at 6.15 am. This photo is captured with a sony alpha 6400 camera with kit lens and is post processed minimally. Sometimes, the sunsets are much better becuase of the texture. The flip side is, while mornings are calm and quiet, evenings are always crowded, noisy and busy. Mornings are better for the soul enriching experience.

While the sun is still rising, it is time to for the local fishermen to return after selling their catch in the nearby Varapuzha market which is well known for fresh and tasty fish. People from all over the Kochi city come to varapuzha market for good fish. Now, there are multiple home delivery services available who deliver cleaned fresh fish from the Varapuzha market. If you have time, it will be good idea to visit the Varapuzha market as well, which is on the way to Kadamakkudy Islands.

According to me, I am not very happy with the quality of this photo and at the same time, I love the drama and emotion in it. If he had to finish his work by 6.30 am, when he would have started?

Ever since, I got slightly serious with photography, it was my dream to click a photo like this of the Indian spot billed duck. Most part of my photowalk, I clicked with the kit lens, which is 50mm. At the fag end of the photowalk, I noticed a cluster of black winged stilts (next photo). Should I change the lens to the tele-lens and set up the tripod was the question. I did, and I spend lot of time clicking at the stilts without realising the presense of these pristine birds. From a distance, I thought, they are ordinary ducks. The moment I realised that it is the Indian spot billed duck, I clciked. I have another wish..to click them in flight….

The Indian spot billed duck. A small group is there in and around Valiya Kadamakkudy. We were lucky to spot them during the nature walks and click them.

The black winged stilt. They are migratory birds and are coming from Europe. This year, they came back faster. Someone was attributing that to the extraordinary warm climate in the European countries. This year in Kerala, there is 35% shortage in the monsoon rains. Hope the water levels will not do down too much. These birds have to be here till March – April.

This a speldid sunset…As discussed earlier, sunsets are sometimes more vibrant and they have better texture. As far as possible, I strive for a human element in my nature photographs. That adds more life to the photograph. This couple in the photograph were standing next to me for a long time, and they decided to take a walk and that made my composition complete. This photograph was catured with a sony compact camera. It was a fantastic camera. These days sony compacts are not available in India and whatever is available is very expensive.

The local people of Kadamakkudy Islands earn their livelihood from fishing, fish farming and pokkali paddy cultivation. Six months of the year, the fields are used for pokkali paddy cultivation where as the remaining six months they are used for fish farming. The people are very friendly. They have very rich experiences to share with you. They speak Malayalam (the local language). Feel free to interact with them….

Kadamakkudy is famous for sea food. If you are a strict vegetarian, then it can be slightly difficult, unless you plan for it well in advance. So, while planning your visit to Kadamakkudy, make it a point to communicate what type of food you prefer, well in advance. There are some nice eateries in and around Kadamakkudy Islands. According to the local law, alcohol, including beer can be served only in licenced bars and at the same time, there is no restriction if you have it in your room..

One day I got a message on whatsapp asking the details of the nature walks. After lots of interactions and planning, we met at Kadamakkudy. They came from Gujarat, and his main interest is to capture sunrises. He travels across the globe capturing sunrises. Have not heard from him for a while. When we walk together we make many new good friends.

Join the Nature Savari from 6.30 am to 8.30 am or from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm- Let us create more stories to tell. Just let us know when you are planning

How much does it cost?

The whole package costs INR 3000/- for upto four members
If the group size more than 4, then we need to go for bigger boats, and charges will vary according to the batch size
Advance booking atleast 1 week prior is advisable for better planning

When can this be organized?

Preferably Saturday & Sunday mornings
Can be organized on other days as well
Advance planning & booking is advised for hazzle free enjoyment

Experience Kadamakkudy Island Tour – 2 day iterinary

Day#1
Pick up from the airport / railway station	On request, at actuals / Uber
Check in	2 pm. Room tariff INR 3500 + 5% GST per room, per night for 2 people. For the entire property INR 21000 + 5% GST, per night. Max 14 pax (7 rooms) Extra person INR 1000 per person. Extra bed and breakfast included Parking available / Cook available
Lunch	On request (extra)
Local conveyance to the Kayaking site and back	Will be arranged. To be paid at actuals
Kayaking through the most serene routes, during sunset time, guided by trained and qualified guides	4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. INR 650 / person
Back to the room	7.30 pm
Dinner	In the guest house. Either in the room / dining area / water facing lawn outside. To be paid at actuals (Medium pricing). Vegetarians must inform in advance at the time of check in.
Day#2
Travel to the Nature walk location	6 am
Nature walk	6.30 am to 7.30 am – INR 250/participant
Boating – visiting the nearby Islands – including a 15 minutes break for local breakfast	7.30 am to 9.30 am – INR 3500/- for upto 4 guests
Visit to the St. Mary’s Bscilica Church established in the Year 1673. and to the shrine of Blessed Mother Elishwa (Optional)	10.30 am to 11.30 am
Check out	12 pm
Drop to the airport / railway station	On request, at actuals / Uber
Contact us, and we will plan it out for a seamless experience	+91 9895372115, 8129118111