Backwater Cruise To Have Unforgettable Sights

By Author: Vijay Joshi
Total Articles: 60
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Kerala, fondly called God’s own country, is a region located on the Malabar Coast of south-west India. Kerala is a narrow strip of coastal territory that slopes down the Western Ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation and reaches to the Arabian Sea. Blessed with pristine beaches, mist shrouded hill stations, supine backwaters, clement weather and vibrant and varied culture, Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.

Backwaters is the single most attraction Kerala offers apart from beaches, hill stations, wild life sanctuaries and varied art and culture. Backwaters is the backbone of tourism economy of Kerala by attracting scores of tourists to Kerala. It is an exclusive Kerala phenomenon. Backwaters is a complex network of natural and manmade canals and inlets, estuaries of over forty rivers and five lakes. It was the means of transportation before ferries, bridges and roads came into being. From ancient times local people depended on Backwaters for agriculture and fishing. Backwaters supported the struggle for sustenance of local people.

Shores of backwaters is blessed with breathtaking ...
... landscape including houses, emerald flora and lush green paddy fields, swaying coconut trees, fishing nets and various activities of life. Tourists long to savor these assortments cruising through the Backwaters.

Houseboats in Backwater is the prominent way of this dream cruise, relishing the visual delight that is Backwaters of Kerala and its shores.

Houseboats are the modern day luxurious versions of yesteryear “Kettuvallams”. “Kettuvallams” were the media of transport through Backwaters for local people. It has a thatched roof over wooden hull which offered protection from the elements of nature. Now even when the shape remains the same, modern day houseboats are two to three storied affairs with one to five bedrooms included. With generators attached, Houseboat cruise is a cozy business with air- conditioning available. A crew including a cook accompanies guests. Various menus, especially traditional Kerala variety is available but the wish of guest prevails in the end. Houseboats have a sleeping space, dining space and a sit out open on all sides, from where one can gobble up all the landscape. The average length of Houseboats varies from ninety five to one hundred and fifteen meters and width from thirteen to fifteen meters. The hull is carved out of wood of ‘Anjili” (Wild Jack) and other accessories that go into making are purely local and eco friendly.

A night spent in Houseboat docked in Backwaters is a heavenly affair, especially if the night is moonlit. Guests have the choice of switching off electricity and spending time in light of lanterns to get a rural feel. If one is lucky, one would get to see the sight of fireflies illuminating the branches of tree in faraway shores, blinking eternally.

Kumarakom is an apt place to conduct Houseboat cruise. Kumarakom Houseboats ply near Kumarakom Bird sanctuary where migratory birds visit. One can conduct the cruise listening to the chirping of birds. Kumarakom is a tiny village thirteen kilometers away from Kottayam. It is an assortment of small islands in the shores of Vemband Lake. The shores are blessed with verdant landscape and one could see water Lillies in the Backwaters. Cruise in Kumarakom Houseboats will be an unforgettable episode with the specimen of what Kerala Backwaters has to offer available.

Houseboat cruises can be had in Kochi, Alleppey and Kollam also.
Vijay Joshi is an eminent travel analyst and writer giving information about Houseboats in Backwater.