Intro Kettuvallams |
Boat Races |
Not To Forget |
Look
Beyond |
Travellers Factoid
|
Tours
The
palm fringed backwaters of Kerala stretch over an area of 1900 kms. The
complex network of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers surrounding the coast
of Kerala forms the basis of a unique regional lifestyle, and travelling by
boat along the backwaters. This is one of the highlights of a visit to the
state. The boats travels shallow, palm-fringed lakes studded with Chinese
fishing nets, and along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre),
copra and cashews are loaded onto boats. Stops are made at small settlements
where people live on carefully cultivated narrow spits of land only a few
metres wide, and there's the chance to see traditional boats with huge
sails, and prows carved into the shape of dragons. The most popular
backwater trip is the eight-hour voyage between Kollam and Alappuzha, but
most of your fellow passengers on this route will be Western travellers. If
you want a local experience, or you simply feel like a shorter trip, there
are local boats from Alappuzha to Kottayam and Changanassery.
We asked Peter Joseph , how he found Kerala backwaters.
“ It was an extraordinary experience. It was lovely. As you row
past, you always find the people around you, washing clothes, vessels fish,
rice and babies’ bottoms! They swim in the water, drink it and gargle
into it.” A smile ran across his face. He further said “ What ever
it was we were so near to the villages and yet so far. I recorded the entire
episode of two hours and sumbitted my video to You tube. There is no place
like Kerala backwaters to experience culture and nature together”
To unfold the beauty of Kerala backwaters, you would actually have to sail
on a wooden house boat. The boat is not a ferry, it is what its name suggest
a houseboat. With almost having all the luxuries of a home. A well furnished
boat which is made to comfort travellers on their expedition. They are
powered with an engine. Cruising the backwaters in Kettuvallams is like
dream sequence which one would not like to end.
Peter on Kettuvallam “ Ya... this was big and huge. Well
furnished with sofa and beds. Infact carried all the amenities of a hotel. I
hardly had any problem there. I remember I used to sit in the lobby for hrs.
A beautiful piece of art.”
Boat Races are indispensible part of Kettuvallams. Kerala boat festivals
are held at regular intervals which tends to celeberate the culture of
Kerala. Some of the major boat races are Nehru trophy boat race, Aaranmula
Boat Race,
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, ATDC Boat Race.
- For Ornithologist, Kerala backwaters is a paradise. You would be
able to see cormorants, snakebirds, herons, kingfishers,egrets and more.
- Pick up herbal soaps, beautifully packaged in palm leaf, wooden
carvings or brass miniatures of various Keralite cookings urns and
measures.
Alappuzha : Alappuzha is one of the major centers for backwater boat
trips. The intricate network of canals through this town has earned it the
sobriquet "The Venice of the East". Small but long country boats
are the taxies of the water.
Veli Aakulam Lagoon : A short distance from Thiruvananthapuram is
the Veli Aakulam lagoon. Water sports, a floating restaurant, an amusement
park, speedboats and other facilities make this spot a tourist attraction.
The east end of the lake is flanked by two scenic hillocks.
Kollam : The charming old port city of Kollam on the banks of the
Ashtamudi Lake is known as the center of the cashew industry. It is one of
the oldest ports of the backwaters, with the ferry to Alappuzha taking more
than 8 hours.
Kozhikode : In north Kerala, the cool backwaters of Kozhikode lie
waiting to be explored. This old commercial town attracts travelers for its
history, wonderful backwaters and leisure sports.
Alumkadavu : Alumkadavu, in the town of Karunagapally hardly 20
kilometers north of Kollam, is where kettuvalloms are built. These huge,
long and tapering barges were traditionally used to carry tones of goods,
with a portion covered with bamboo and coir servicing as a rest room and
kitchen for the crew. Gliding down the calm and serene backwaters in a
kettuvallom, embraced by green leaves and palm, see a rural Kerala preserved
through the ages, completely hidden from the road, and it is not surprising
that this is called God's Own Country.
Besides these backwaters, other equally beautiful water bodies elsewhere
are Veli (in South Kerala), Kadinamkulam, Edava, Anjengo, Madayara, Peravur,
Ashtamudi, Kayamkulam, Kodungalur, Chetuva and Valiyaparamba (in North
Kerala).
Firstly you would never want the trip to end but it has to and when it
would you would want to start with another. This is no exaggeration.
Peter “ Truly magnificent! I am stll in love with the
backwaters. I would suggest all those who are planning there trip to Kerala
to try backwaters.”
Coming to Kerala
By Air : Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state, is very well
connected to all major airports in India like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and
Mumbai.
Kochi and Calicut are other two
airports connected from air to other cities in India.
By Rail : With around 200 railway stations, it is another convenient
mode of traveling in Kerela. Railways connect most of the places in the
state to places in the other parts of the country and inside the state.
Long-distance express trains connect to almost all places outside the state
like Mumbai, New Delhi.
By Road : Road traveling in Kerala is much smoother because of the
good condition of he roads. Also state is connected with other parts of
South India by a number of National Highways. Major modes of road transport
are buses, tourist taxis, cars, and local taxis and autos.
Your Stay : Kettuvallams,
Hotels in
Kerala
Related Storie(s)
Kerala - God's Own Country- By
Adarsh S.V
Kerala – Part of the Indian
Peninsula- By tarun Rajpal
The Grassland Doctrine-
By Pankaj Singhal
Best Of Kerala- By
Soumya Roy
Wayanad – A Picture Perfect
Place In Kerala - By Arpit Mehrotra
Tips To Make Your
Honeymoon A Dream One- By Srijita Chatterjee
We are obliged that Peter Joseph a doctor in Australia, took
out time from his busy schedule to give his notes
