It is no secret that Kerala is becoming one of India’s premier tourist destinations, especially after having been listed by National Geographic as one of the top ten ’must see’ places on earth.
One of my favourite places in Kerala is Alleppey with its backwaters. This town which is south of Cochin lies on a narrow land spit between the Arabian Sea and the mighty Vembanad Lake. This region boasts an impressive network of canals affectionately known as the backwaters which stretch over 1500 kms interconnecting some 44 rivers as well as lakes and lagoons.
The backwaters provide a lifeline to those good people who live along its banks. First and foremost it provides a means of transportation to otherwise inaccessible areas. The local economy is based on the coconut tree and its various spin offs....coconut oil., coir rope, mats and carpets.
One of the best ways to see this enchanting land is by KETTUVALAM which I can personally endorse as a novel means of transport. A kettuvalam is a large local boat about 67ft long and 13 ft wide, originally used to transport goods and produce. A few resourceful owners have converted their kettuvalams into houseboats for tourist purposes, each boat with at least 2 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. These boats can be hired on a daily basis with its crew of three who do all the navigating , cooking and cleaning between them.
I spent 2 days on such a boat touring the canals and learned a lot about life in rural Kerala. It was fascinating to see people go about their everyday business....children walking to school who would immediately wave and smile as they saw your boat...housewives washing dishes in the river...fishing, toddy tapping, paddy cultivation....a life far removed from the hassles and stress of modern living. The people I saw were so friendly and so full of life. It is an experience I shall never forget.
Another world famous attraction of Alleppey is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which is held annually on the second Saturday of every August. The boats which are used are called CHUNDANVALAMS which translated means ’snake boat’ describing its long and thin build. Each village enters its own snake boat which is manned by over a 100 oarsmen donning the village colours. It certainly is a very colourful and lively affair with the village pride at stake. It is the FORMULA ONE of the backwater....if you like.
With the expansion of tourism in this area it is not surprising that the big luxury hotels have moved in , particularly in Kumarakom along Lake Vembanad. However the developers have been sensitive so as not to upset the charm and tranquility of this special place. The buildings consist of bungalows and are built in the TARAWAD or old kerala style using wood, coir and other natural materials.
No trip to India is complete without visiting Kerala...and no trip to Kerala is complete without experiencing the backwaters...... LET YOURSELF BE AMAZED....