Explore Punnamada Lake @ Kerala

Punnamada Lake, also known as Punnamada Kayal, is a portion of Kerala’s largest lake, Vembanad Lake. Kerala’s Vembanad Lake extends across several districts. As a result, it goes under various names throughout Kerala. Punnamada Lake or Punnamada Kayal is the name of the lake as it reaches Kuttanad. Two islands in this lake, Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam are where the Port of Kochi is situated. Being one of the top tourist destinations in this region of Kerala, the lake is known as Kochi Lake.

The small island groupings Vypin, Mulavukad, Vallarpadam, and Willingdon Island all reside in Kochi Lake. The Kochi Port, which has been constructed around Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam Island, is located in Kochi Lake. The Punnamada Wetland System is the largest in India with a wide-reaching area of approximately 2033.02 sq km. Barrier Island, which separates the freshwater lake from the salty marine water, is the main feature that draws both modern scholars and tourist. The canals maintain the flow of freshwater into this water body by connecting the lake to other freshwater resources and lakes.

The three largest islands in Kerala, Pathiramanal, Perumbalam, and Pallippuram, are encircled by Punnamada Lake. The islands are situated on the lake’s broadest region, which measures around 14 kilometers in breadth. Vembanad Kayal, which stretches from Alappuzha in the south to Azheekkode in the north, is extended by the lake. 15,770 sq km, or about 40% of Kerala state’s entire size, is the whole area that the lake drains. The surface runoff covers 21,900 km2, which is 30% of Kerala’s total surface water resource. Punnamada Lake is therefore India’s largest surface water ecosystem.

Activities at Punnamada Lake include

• Water sports
• Snake boat contest
• Paddle a canoe on a lake
• Ride a shikara

How to Reach

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Cochin International Airport are the closest airports to Punnamada Lake. Both airports are conveniently situated 85 kilometers to the north and 150 km to the south of each other.

The two main railway stations that connect Kuttanad to the rest of India are Changanacherry and Alappuzha. In all major cities, there are frequent trains that stop at the station.

Visitors who arrive at the airport or train station can hire a cab to take them to Punnamada Lake.

For what it is famous?

The Snake Boat Race and water sports are both well-known at Punnamada Lake.

When to Visit Punnamada Lake Best

Punnamada Lake is accessible all seasons of the year. For the annual Snake boat race, it is best to travel during the Onam month.

Punnamada Lake Visiting Hours

This lake is accessible at any time of the day. Due to municipal regulations to help the fishermen lay their nets, all cruise ships will cease sailing at 17:30.

Entry fee for Punnamada Lake

Free entry to the lake; a 90-minute shikara ride costs $2200.

Places to Visit near Punnamada Lake

Some of the places are-

• Lake Vagamon
• Brock Bird Sanctuary
• Perumbalam Island
• Pathiramanal Island

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