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Backwaters
Serene backwaters, scenic vistas, luring villages,
Ride them on country craft, speedboats or luxury cruisers.
For quiet intimate moments and reflective solitude.
Or to get up close and personal with a fascinating country life Or for a break-free indulgence in water sports like wind sailing and wind skiing.
Or perhaps - going out with a canoe and a fishing rod - to catch your own supper.
Backwaters refer to the large inland lakes of Kerala, consisting of the entire network of lakes, canals, estuaries and curious water formations. The backwaters of Kerala stretch over 1900 kms, providing drinking water and irrigating paddy fields. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala villages.
For an enthralling and intensive experience on the backwaters, one should take a rigorous ride on a ferry from Kollam to Alappuzha, lasting about 8 hours. A cruise between Alappuzha and Changanasserry could be an unforgettable experience.
Backwaters host many special events during August -September. The electrifying races by carved wooden boats set the backwaters on fire. The 'Nehru Boat Race' is the most exciting of all the boat races, held in the second Saturday of August. During the ‘Onam’ festival including the spectacular Aranmula boat race, are conducted in the Alappuzha region.
ALAPPUZHA
The intricate network of canals, honeycombing the town of Alappuzha (Alleppey) has earned for the place its sobriquet - "The Venice of the East". Small, low-slung country boats are the taxis of this water land. Alappuzha becomes the cynosure of the eyes of the world on August-September, every year, when it hosts the celebrated Snake Boat Races - a water regatta unique to Kerala. Don't miss to venture into Kuttanad on a ferry through the shimmering paddy fields. Home to the Coir industry, this township had been a trading center for hundreds of years.
Access: Frequent ferries serve Alappuzha from Kumarakom (2 hours), Kollam (8 hours) and Kochi (3 hours). A one-hour journey from Kochi along the National highway also brings you to Alappuzha.
Other Places:Krishnapuram Palace is situated 42 kms from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam (travel time 1 hour). This 18th century palace houses the largest mural in Kerala - the Gajendra Moksham.
Ambalappuzha, Sri Krishna Temple is situated 14 kms south of Alappuzha (travel time 20 mins). Devotees throng this temple during its festival held in March-April.
ALUMKADAVU
Alumkadavu is a quiet spot in the town of Karunagapally - 20 kms north of Kollam. Alumkadavu is famous for its Kettuvallom, built here. These huge, long and tapering barges were traditionally used to cargo tonnes of goods across Kingdoms. Today, widely and appropriately called houseboats, they carry furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, and even a balcony for angling. At Alumkadavu you can even find a floating conference hall, designed to seat 35, with a dais and a sophisticated public address system.
Access: Alumkadavu is just half an hour drive from Kollam or just two hours from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
KOCHI
Kochi known as the Queen of Arabian Sea boasts of having one of the finest natural harbors in the world. An ideal place for ferry rides, which gives a breath taking view of the natural beauty as you cruise around the man, made islands. Adorned with Chinese fishing nets the backwaters of Kochi present a magnificent view of the waterfront.
Access: Kochi is a major entry point into Kerala. There are daily flights to from Mumbai (Bombay), Bangalore and Chennai (Madras), Delhi and Goa. By rail or by road Kochi is just 4 hours away from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Other Places:Visit the 2000 year old Jew Town. Built in 1568, its synagogue is the oldest in the commonwealth. The great scrolls of the Old Testament are preserved here.
The historic St. Francis Church built out of wood in 1503 is the oldest European church in India. Vasco-da-gama was buried here.
KOLLAM
A charming old port city, Kollam (Quilon) is situated in the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake. Kollam is an inviting gateway to Kerala's backwaters. For the most intense backwater experience, take a ferry to Alappuzha - a rigorous ride lasting over 8 hours. For the less intrepid, shorter cruises can be made in the larger comforts of the houseboats with idyllic villages such as Alumkadavu as your launch base.
Access: Thiruvananthapuram International airport one of the major gateways to Kerala and India is just 71 kms away. By rail or by road it takes just over an hour to reach Kollam.
Other Places:Thirumullavaram is a shallow and secluded beach just 6 kms north of Kollam, and is ideal for sunbathing and swimming.
Palaruvi Waterfalls is an hour away from Kollam and is the site of a spectacular waterfall at an altitude of 300 feet.
Sasthankotta is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala and is 29 kms away from Kollam.
KOZHIKODE
Up north in Kerala, the cool backwaters of Kozhikkode (Calicut) lie waiting to be discovered. With a bewitching beauty of its own. Unspoilt. Uncommon. Unknown. Northeast of the city, Elathur offers an ideal jump-off base into the Canoly canal which links itself to the Kallai River, which offers its shores to Kozhikode's historic timber trade. Further south lies Kadalundi with its charming bird sanctuary, which is a haven to an amazing assortment of delightful water birds. Another river of the region - Korapuzha - is a venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam, the water sports festival held every August.
Access: Access to Kozhikkode (Calicut) is very easy with flights operating daily from Mumbai (Bombay), Bangalore and Chennai (Madras). Kozhikkode (Calicut) is easily accessible by rail from all major Indian cities. By rail or by road Kozhikkode is just 5 hours away from Kochi.
Sidelights:Kappad the famed beach where Vasco-da-gama set set foot 500 years ago is a short hop from Korapuzha River.
Beypore, the small coastal town eleven kilometers south of Kozhikkode has built up a reputation worldwide as a shipbuilding center where large wooden vessels called 'Urus' are built.
Pazhassiraja Museum displays ancient murals, antique bronzes and rare coins as well as models of temples and megalithic monuments.
KUMARAKOM
Kumarakom is a small town located in the shores of Vembanad Lake, 14 km from Kottayam (Travel time 14 mins). At Kumarakom you could sail the backwaters in rented houseboats, poled by local oarsmen. These boats are furnished with a living room, a bedroom, and bath room. The boat also sports a ramp - a private sit-out for the passengers. You can also indulge in water sports like wind sailing and water-skiing. Make sure you sample Karimeen (the tasty fresh water fish) and toddy (the local wine).
Access: From Kochi, a fascinating one and a half hour journey by speedboat or Luxury cruiser, or a two-hour drive takes you to Kumarakom.
Other Places:The Kumarakom bird sanctuary set in 14 acres of wood has a large variety of migratory birds. They come from the Himalayas, and some even from as far as Siberia.
VELI & AKKULAM
Within hailing distance from Thiruvananthapuram (Thiruvananthapuram) are the Veli and Akkulam lagoons, which sports a delightful water park popular among both natives and tourists. Only a narrow sandbar separates the lagoons from the sea. A floating bridge and floating restaurant add to the overall excitement. The eastern end of the lake is flanked by two scenic hillocks coming through as a perfect hiking ground
Access: Thiruvananthapuram is a major entry point of Kerala as well as India. Flights connecting Thiruvananthapuram with Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai operate daily. Rail connections exist to every major city in India. Veli is barely 8 kms from the city.
Other Places:Kovalam is a famous beach resort just 15 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city.
Ponmudi is a hill resort situated at an altitude of 1066 meters, which is 60 kms northeast of Thiruvananthapuram city.
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