Backwaters in Kerala
Kerala Backwaters are not a destination in themselves. Rather, they are an
opening which take you to a whole new world called Kerala. True, the
backwaters tend to overshadow the other attractions of Kerala but at the
same time they also draw you to these very attractions which complement the
backwaters beautifully.
Once
you arrive here, you realize why the backwaters are the most sought after
destination in South India. There was a time when the backwaters were only
the trade highways of the region. In fact they were used for a whole variety
of transportation needs. These backwaters are lakes of sorts which are
interconnected with canals. There are about 41 rivers that flow towards the
west stretching the backwaters up to the distance of about 1900 km. The
backwaters connect the remotest of villages with the mainland of Kerala.
The Kuttanad region, also known as the rice bowl of Kerala, is one of the
most important one as this belongs to those rare places where rice farming
is done below the sea level by using dykes and bunds. The Vembanad Lake is
the largest backwater stretch that meets the sea at Port Kochi and passes
through the three districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kochi. The Ashtamudi
Lake is another large stretch of backwater which covers a large portion of
the district Kollam.
Cruise in Backwaters
You won't need a third person to introduce you to the Kerala Backwaters
when you can yourself move forward and become an acquaintance. All you've to
do is to go on a backwater cruise through the heart of Kerala. Unbelievable
as it may sound, but not a single nail is used in making these multi deck
houseboats which are also known as 'Kettuvallam' locally. These are made by
joining together Jack wood planks with coir ropes and then coated with black
resin prepared from boiled cashew nut shells. Everything that goes into the
making of these houseboats is eco-friendly. Great skill and meticulousness
is required to construct these giant houseboats. A skill which had faded
with time as the modern modes of transports developed.
In
the earlier times these houseboats were largely used for the purpose of
transportation which has reduced with time as the development in the
transport sector has overtaken the houseboats as a means of transport. But
these houseboats have adapted beautifully with times and have turned
themselves into luxurious accommodations for tourists who want to tour the
backwaters. Generally one Ketuvallam has one or two rooms with attached bath
rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchen, crew and a cook. For light,
traditional lanterns are used in the houseboat.
Go past the Chinese fishing nets or just take a peek into the lifestyles of
local rural folks as life along the backwaters is as unique and pulsating as
it gets.
Backwater Destinations
The backwaters definitely are amazing but the destinations that lie
alongside are no less enchanting. Some of these destinations are:
Alappuzha
The city of Alappuzha is complete with its lovely lakes, fresh water rivers
and lagoons. Of course you'll have access to every thing that you've come to
expect here such as houseboats, boat races, beaches and marine products but
there's more to the city than just these. The city is also home to diverse
bird and animal life. The rice bowl of Kerala, the Kuttanad region in the
backwaters is situated here. If you are an avid birdwatcher then you've to
just undertake a half an hour journey on a speedboat to reach the island of
Pathiramanal where a range of rare migratory birds come from many parts of
the world.
Cochin
The
city of Cochin attracts you with the scenic islands such as Bolgatty, Gundu,
Vypeen and Vallarpadam. All the travellers who have come to the city of
Cochin have left their imprints on the city. The other not-to-be-missed
attractions of Cochin are the coconut plantations and the coir villages.
Thiruvananthapuram
Even otherwise, Thiruvananthapuram is an attractive destination as it is
the capital city of the state of Kerala. It is a bustling hub for tourists,
politics and for commercial activities. It's location along the backwater
stretches makes it even more tempting for the tourist.
Thiruvallam
Situated very close to Thiruvananthapuram, this place is great for a day
long tour. If you are interested in water sports then you'll be spoiled with
choices here as you can choose canoe rides or the short village cruises
using the country boats.
Other popular backwater destinations in Kerala are
Kumarakom,
Kottayam and
Kollam.
Festivals
Some of the festivals that you can enjoy while you are on the Kerala
Backwater tour are:
- Snake Boat race
- Temple Festival Thrissur
- Onam Festival
- Sabarimala Temple Festival
