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Kerala Backwaters

The backwaters of God’s own country are a perfect holiday destination for anybody looking for peace and tranquility. 900 km of interconnected waterways, rivers, lakes and inlets make up the Kerala backwaters. Amidst the beautiful intricate landscapes you will find towns and cities tucked away neatly. These places are the starting and end points of Kerala backwater cruises. You can see the traditional lifestyle of the backwaters in Kerala on tours to Kerala with Kerala Backwater. While on a tour of Kerala backwaters you will come across the amazing flora and fauna.

Backwaters can be enjoyed from a traditional houseboat where you can put up with your family or companion and see the time drift away at its ease. The fusion of modern and historic towns can be enjoyed from the comforts of your houseboats. Such is the beauty and appeal of this place that tourists from all over the world come here to just relax and leave behind the fast paced world for a while.

Some of the hot Kerala backwater destinations are:

Cochin

Cochin is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It is a cluster of islands on the Vembanad Lake where Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam out of many make up the small cluster. The Vembanad Lake forms a natural harbor and also provided an advantage to Cochi making it a culturally rich island. Cochin is a famous backwater destination in Kerala. Infact, it is the commencement point for most of the backwater cruises. The best time to visit Cochin is between Octobers to April.

Places to visit

Bolghatty Island

The island is names after the Bolghatty palace which was built by the Dutch in 1744. After the British Rule the palace has been converted into a hotel by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).

Willington Island

Situated in the backwaters, it was named after the British Viceroy of India, Lor Willington. It is also the headquarters of the naval command, port trust, trading centers.

Alappuzha: Known as the ‘Venice of East’ Alappuzha is a start point for backwater trips to Kochi, Kollam, Kottayam and Changanacherry. Alappuzha is also known for boat races, beaches, marine life and products, houseboat holidays and coir industry. Alapuzzha is spectacular in the months of August to March but if you travel here during August-September, make it a point to visit the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada.

Places to visit

Kuttanad

Popular as the rice bowl of Kerala, Kuttanad is named so because of its paddy crops. Situated in the heart of Alapuzzha, it boasts of a wealthy produce of bananas, yams and cassava.

Kuttanad is one among the handful places on earth where farming is done below sea level. The internal channel of water flowing above land level is a unique feature of this place.

Pathiramanal

The legend that weaves around this place is that a Brahmin was performing his evening ablutions at the banks of Vemabanad Lake and the land beneath the lake rose and became what today we know as the island of Pathiramanal. Pathirmanal on the backwaters is a favorite haunt for the migratory birds. This island stuck between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom is easily reached only by boat. The best time to visit it is between August and March.

Kasargod: Kasargod lies in the extreme north of Kerala near the sea coast with Western Ghats on the east. Kasargod is also known for its Valiyaparamba, an incredibly beautiful green corridor along the backwaters.

Places to Visit

Chandragiri which is situated 4 km southeast of Kasargod is popular for its backwater cruises. All the cruises here start at Chandragiri Bridge. Valiyaparamba another town near Kasargod is another backwater stretch that is home to local birds.

Kasargod has knot boats in which you can travel through the backwaters. The knot boats are called so because they don’t use even a single nail in the construction of boat. The best time visit Kasargod is between August and March.

Kottayam: Known as the ‘land of lakes, latex and letters’, Kottayam is also famous for its rubber plantations. Possessing a labyrinth of canals and lakes, Kottayam can boast of being the most literate town in the most literate state of India.

St. Mary’s Church and St Joseph’s monastery are some of the sight seeing places here. Kottayam also has temples like Ettumanoor Shiva Temple and Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple much to the tourists delight. Best time to visit this place is between October and March.

Kozhikode: Originally known as Calicut, Kozhikode is an important port. Just 16 km away from here at a place called Kappad beach had Vasco Da Gama set his foot for the first time. Besides having histories significance it also is a great tourist destination.

Places to visit

Kozhikode Beach: Known for its beauty and sunset it has two piers and a lighthouse that provide with some awe aspiring views of the Arabian Sea.

Pazhassirajah Museum: This museum is 5 km from Kozhikode and it has a collection of coins, bronze sculptures, paintings, murals and temple models.

Kappad Beach: Situated 16 km from Kozhikode, this beach has a monument that commemorates the date when Vasco Da Gama first landed on this beach on 27th May 1498.

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary: This Bird Sanctuary is 25 km away from Kozhikode and is an abode for birds. The ideal time to be here is in the winter and spring months from November to April.

Thiruvananthapuram: Otherwise known as Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala is covered with vegetation on three sides. The backwaters are spread across the 200 km of the serene lagoons of Trivandrum. Veli, Thiruvallam and Aakkulam boat club make up the backwater areas of Thiruvananthapuram. Houseboat ride are available here where you can book and enjoy the beauty of the backwaters. The best time to visit is between Augusts to May.

Places to visit

The Padmanabha Swamy temple, Shanghumukhuam beach, the Zoological Park and the Kuthriramalika Palace Museum are some of the must visits in this region of Kerala. The famous Parashuram Temple belongs to the Thiruvallam backwaters. Water ports are also carried out here.

Wildlife Sanctuary: Located 30 km east of Thiruvanathapuram, The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the place for nature lovers. Founded in 1958, this sanctuary is home to rare species of birds. On your way to the sanctuary you can also visit Crockodile and Deer Farm and Lion Safari Park. This sanctuary even has provisions for treks along Agasthyakoodam Peak. The best time to visit the sanctuary will be between October and March.

About the Author

THRILLOPHILIA deals with adventure-related activities on a pan-India level. Be its Rafting in the Tons or in the Kali River at Dandeli, Camel Safari in Ladakh or in the Thar Desert, Trekking around Bangalore or Ladakh, Scuba Diving in Lakshadweep or Andaman, we cater it all. We also have some fabulous Biking trips, Caving, Wildlife, Paragliding and many more adrenaline pumping adventure sports. India, having varied landscapes happens to be one of the finest destinations in the world for adventure.

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