The pristine Vembanad Lake is a much sought after tourist attraction and an enchanting backwater destination in Kumarakom. Renowned as the largest lake in Kerala, it is known by different names in different regions such as Punnamada in Kuttanad and Kochi Lake in Kochi. Every year, it serves as the venue of the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race held in Kuttanad and draws a huge number of visitors from all the corners of the globe. Acclaimed as a popular site for enjoying backwater cruising, the lake is also a picture perfect spot to enjoy bird watching as varied species of birds, reptiles and animals can be seen near the lake.