Just 20 minutes away from the center of Kochi, Kumbalangi is a small, untouched, fishing village that has warmly opened up its arms for tourists and visitors. If you're visiting Kochi, or plan to visit soon, then don't forget to explore, and get a peek into the lives of the local fishermen at Kumbalangi.
Spend a day here observing the locals operate a Chinese fishing net, which are quite small compared to the ones you might spot at Fort Kochi. These ones can easily be operated by one man alone. But if you're lucky enough, you can also give them a helping hand by pulling the net out of the water! If you're luckier, then the friendly locals will invite you to their homes for a warm meal after a hard days' work!
The island is connected to Palluruthy by a bridge making it easily accessible. Further, Kumbalungi is surrounded by backwaters which is perfect if you want to go canoeing here since it is way less crowded than Alleppey. You'll notice an abundance of shrimp and crab farms too, if you decide to take a stroll in the evening to catch a fascinating sight of the nets in operation.
The Kerala Government has recently transformed Kumbalangi village into a tourism model village that also displays the handicrafts and the fishing methods that are being practiced by the locals—to encourage tourism on the island, making it all the more tourist friendly and a hotspot to watch out for.
