There are several factors to admire Kerala as a tourist destination. Its wonderful tropical climate, wildlife, forts, Ayurveda, and most importantly backwaters. Edged by palm trees whose replications create a flawless image on the clear water. These destinations present a mind-blowing sight for all the visitors.
The sweetness of such moments remains for a quite long time. If you haven’t visited the Kerala backwaters before, then you have missed a wonderful experience. This blog will take you through the five most popular backwater destinations in Kerala that you should visit while you stay in Kerala.
# Alleppey BackwatersAlleppey is also called the ‘Venice of the East’ or Alappuzha. It is a spectacular town in Kerala. Alleppey is also regarded as one of the highly prominent tourist centers that are located in the Kerala state due to the vast network of inland canals. As most of the Kerala backwater cruises are seen to begin or culminate at this point, it is also called the center of the coir industry.
Alleppey has served as the demanding trade center in earlier times. Now the canals act as the major source of earning among the villagers. Alleppey offers a scenic view of the interlined beaches, lagoons, and backwaters.
Enjoying a houseboat cruise in this backwater is a pleasurable experience. You will also see a lighthouse that people in the early days used to upload goods into the houseboat. One of the perfect times to visit Alleppey backwaters is at the time when the Aranmula Snake Boat Race takes place. It is an annual affair that is also called a Nehru boat race. This event is seen as a huge success among locals and tourists.
# Kollam BackwatersOne of the best destinations for backwater in Kerala is Kollam. It is a historically renowned place. A stay at this place is going to be very interesting. It has several ancient ruins. It is located at a distance of seventy km from the capital city.
Take a houseboat ride at this place to immerse yourself in its stunning natural beauty. Kollam is also the oldest port located on the Malabar Coast. It is worldwide famous for its Cashew industry. Nearly thirty percent of the total backwaters in this town are pre-occupied with the popular Ashtamudi Lake.
This ride provides mesmerizing scenic views, canals, thriving water lilies, and the lovely sounds of the birds. All this experience fills one with contentment and joy that can’t be put down in the world. Kollam houseboat cruise is regarded as the longest backwater ride throughout Kerala. The total duration from Kollam to Alleppey is around eight hours. The conventionally designed houseboats come with expert cooks, who serve freshly prepared meals to people.
# Kumarakom BackwatersKumarakom is another highly renowned backwaters in Kerala. It is surrounded by Mangrove forests and green paddy fields along with the canals that are bedded by beautiful white lilies. This site draws travelers to this place from all parts of the world.
Kumarakom backwaters are located at around sixteen km from Kottayam sideways to the Vembanad Lake. The incredible view of Kumarakom along with its expansive streams and canals takes visitors across the beautiful villages of Kerala.
The lush greenery, placid lakes, soothing surroundings, grants Kumarakom a spiritually and physically uplifting ambiance. Kumarakom is also known for offering the best therapeutic experiences in Kerala. You can find several experienced Ayurveda doctors here that offer safe and effective treatment to people.
Another important feature of Kumarakom is the famous Bird Sanctuary. It is home to several migratory birds. A few of the interesting and bizarre species of birds leave tourists baffled. Kumarakom is also popular for a variety of handicrafts that are made in a conventional way.
# Kochi BackwatersKochi is one of the most mesmerizing backwater destinations that you can find in Kerala. It is the perfect place to find peace and serenity with yourself. This place is home to several attractions. The prominent among them is the Kochi backwaters. A serene ride on them brings you through several attractions of the place. One of them is several islands dispersed here and there along with the thick greenery along the banks. This is a stretch of an ideal serenity.
On the backwater cruise, you will see amazing sights of Chinese fishing nets that are alluring to the eyes. While rising on the houseboat, you will watch the passenger ships and cargo ships on the way. This makes it an unforgettable experience that delights whoever comes to Kochi backwaters. While you enjoy a houseboat cruise on the backwaters, you will see a pleasant sight that comprises a dozen big and small islands.
# Kuttanad BackwatersOne of the geographical aspects of Kuttanad that pleases people is that it is located below the sea level in the country. This place is famous for the cultivation of Rice. Due to this specialty, Kuttanad is also called “The Rice Bowl of Kerala”. Kuttanad area falls within Alapuzha District, that covers the core of the backwaters. A ride on the Kozhikode Houseboat is the best means to experience the exemplary beauty of the backwater. Kuttanad houseboats have enormous size and move graciously in the water. This makes it appealing to almost every visitor who visits this place.
In addition to the vast paddy fields, Kuttanad also sees an abundant growth of yam, cassava, and banana that makes agriculture the major earning source for the locals. Due to the variety of crops that are cultivated in Kuttanad, amazingly huge blue water bodies, lavish green paddy fields, and a wide range of species of birds make the place incredible for visitors.
Haven’t you experienced Kerala backwaters? There are a variety of Kerala tours and packages that provides a brilliant opportunity for people to experience these awesome backwaters.