Kerala Backwaters

Kerala Backwaters

Kerala is known for its panoramic backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches. The major backwater stretch is in Kottayam district, where a network of rivers and canals empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake. Located at Kumarakom 16 km from Kottayam town, the Vembanad Lake, an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination, provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating.

Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake. The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets.

The entire state of Kerala is blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala play a main role in the eonomy of the state, links remote villages and islands with the main land. The water ways provide a cheap and economical mode of transport. It is incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in the country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala Villages.The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breathptaking greens and deep blues.

The backwaters of Kerala have a unique ecosystem-freshwater from the rives meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea in the backwaters in Kerala. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters in Kerala. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the Kerala backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. You can see the amazing flora and fauna of the backwaters in Kerala, while on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

Cochin Backwaters

The backwaters of Kerala have a unique ecosystem-freshwater from the rives meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea in the backwaters in Kerala. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters in Kerala. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the Kerala backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. You can see the amazing flora and fauna of the backwaters in Kerala, while on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

Kumarakom Backwaters

Kerala is known for its Panoramic backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches. The major backwater stretch is in Kottayam district, where a network of rivers and canals empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad lake. Located at Kumarakom 16 km from Kottayam town, the Vembanad lake, an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination, provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The Kumarakom Tourist Village offers houseboat cruises and holiday packages

Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad. The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets.

Alleppey Backwaters

Alleppey one of the best-known ports along the cost of Malabar, is often reffered to as the ‘Venice of the East’. Alleppey or Alappuzha has the peculiar geographical feature of having the water in level with the land. This gives the advantage of getting a closer look at the village life on shore while on a backwater ride. Sailing along in a houseboat ‘Kettuvallam’ through the enchanting backwaters of Aleppey is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either sides of the canals are sights one can never forget .One can glimpse Chinese fishing nets, flocks of ducks swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky. It is as close as one can get to feel the vibrant life in the countryside of God’s own country.The most intresting area in the backwaters is the Kuttanad region.

Kuttanad is called the rice bowl of Kerala, because of her wealth of paddy crops is at the very heart of the backwaters. Yams and cassava which accompany the rice bowl as “side dishes”. This is the one of the places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways that flowabove the land level is an amazing feature of this land. Kuttanad is the heart of the backwaters of Kerala. This beautiful countryside with its waterways also has a rich crop of banana, Cassava and Yam. Alleppey has a large network of canals and is the centre for backwater cruises in Kerala. Alleppey (Alappuzha ) is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Alleppey remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerala as one of the major centers for backwater boat trips.

Kollam Backwaters

Kollam previously known as Quilon in Kerala, is an ancient port located on the edge of the Ashthamudi Lake. Traders visited Kollam in ancient times from lands as far away as Phoenicia, Arabia, Greece, Rome and China. In more recent times the Portuguese established a trading post at Kollam, after which the Dutch and British set up their factories to export spices, sandalwood, ivory and coir. Kollam is also a beautiful destination and a gateway to the Kerala backwaters. You can see the tourist attractions of Kollam on Kerala tours with Kerala backwater. Kollam is an important center of the cashew nut processing and trading industry. There are also some important historical buildings and temples that tourists can see on tours of Kollam with Kerala backwater. The most noticeable feature in Kollam is the Ashthamudi Lake, which covers around 30% of Kollam town. The Backwaters around Kollam, which extend from the Ashthamudi Lake, are exceedingly beautiful.

The historic Thangasseri Fort is near Kollam. The ruins of a Portuguese Fort and churches that were constructed in the 18T century, Thangasseri is a remnant of the historic Portuguese presence in Kerala. The 144 feet high light house at Thangasseri is open to visitors and provides fabulous views of the sea and the cost of Kollam in Kerala. See the attractions of Kollam on tours of Kollam while on Kerala tours with Kerala backwater.

Kerala Tourist Destinations

Cochin

KOCHI (COCHIN) – ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’

Cochin is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian Peninsula, in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, dubbed ‘God’s own Country’. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and the Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide. Kochi (Cochin), situated on the west coast of India in the beautiful state of Kerala. It is flanked by the Arabian Sea on the western side and the Western Ghats on the eastern side.

Cochin is one of the finest harbours of Kerala and is quiet famous as the commercial hub. Discovery the beauty of Cochin city as you enter and explore the many faceted of the city. The city host a number of attractions that will surely entice you.

Sightseeing places in cochin

Mattancherry Palace

It is also known as Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi in the 1555 A.D. It acquired the present name after 1663 when the Dutch carried out extensions and repairs in the palace. Its interiors are decorated with murals from the Ramayana and there are some lively displays of the royal costumes and palanquins.

Jewish Synagogue

Situated in Mattancherry the Synagogue was built in 1568 A.D. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of the privilege made by the Kochi rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiled are of interest.

ST. Francis Church

Located at Fort Kochi this Protestant church was originally built by the Portuguese in 1510 A.D. and is believed to be the oldest church built by the Europeans in India. It is here the remains of the inveterate traveller, Vascoda Gama were initially buried and 14 years later his mortal remains were taken to Portugal.

Bolgatty Palace
Bolgatty palace is situated in Bolgatty Island a narrow palm-fringed Island easily accessible from the mainland. The palace was built by the Dutch in 1744. Later it became the seat of the British Resident and today this has been converted into a hotel run by KTDC.

Hill Palace Museum Tripunithura

Hill Palace Museum is situated 12km away from Eranakulam on the Eranakulam Chottanikkara route. Different type of sculptures, collection of rare coins, old weapons, manuscripts in ancient scripts and collection from Kochi Royal Family are exhibited here. Tourist may also visit the Deer Park situated there. Horse