Kerala Backwaters Guide

The land of the green and the serene Kerala offers an amazing array of the backwaters in Kerala. The breathtakingly beautiful destinations are the true storehouses of the nature at its best. The splendid sunsets, the waxing moonlights, the shoals of ducks, the pulsating palms and the wonderful waves, more beautiful than the canals in Thailand, infinitely less crowded than those in Milan, the backwaters of Kerala offer an enchanting experience of fun and relaxation and a chance to see authentic local life. Take your pick for the best backwater tour for family and friends. The cruises and the overnight stays in the houseboats are the best way to an unforgettable holiday.

Alappuzha / Alleppey Backwaters --- Kerala (India)
Area: 1414 sq. km, Altitude: Sea level, Climate Tropical, Altitude Sea Level, Rainfall 229 cm. (Annual), Tourist Season August to March

TRAVEL INFO
Air : The nearest airport at Cochin, 64 km. Thiruvananthapuram Airport is 159 km.
Rail : Connected to Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin.
Road : NH 47 passes via Alappuzha. Alappuzha-Changanassery road links the district to M C road.

With the Arabian Sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and water rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Referred to as the Venice of the east by travellers from across the world, this backwaters country is also home to diverse animal and bird life.The sweeping network of canals, honey-combing the town of Alleppey has earned for the place its sobriquet - "The Venice of the East." Small, low-slung country boats are the taxis of this waterland. It is a heart-warming sight to see them carry a motley assemblage of cycles, goats, fisherwomen with cane baskets, school children, toddy-tappers with their knives and pots, duennas in white with gold earrings.
Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called kuttanad.

Kuttanad
Do not miss out on a ride into Kuttanad (called the rice bowl of kerala) through shimmering, green paddy fields and tail-wagging, head-bobbing groups of ducks. The coir-workers too present an interesting sight as they soak coconut fibre in pools, beat them out and weave the tough brown strands into long ropes on spindles stretched between endless coconut trees. Alleppey becomes the cynosure of the eyes of the world in August - September, every year, as it plays host to the celebrated Snake Boat Races - a water regatta unique to Kerala.

Pathiramanal (14 Kms from Alappuzha)
According to the mythology a young brahmin dived into the Vembanad lake to perform his evening ablutions and water made way for land to rise from below, thus creating the enchanting island of Pathiramanal (sand of midnight). This little island on the backwaters is a favourite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and kumarakom and is accessible by boat.

ABOUT ALAPPUZHA
Alappuzha ( earlier Alleppey), Venice of the East, is spread on the banks of a network of canals, lakes and lagoons. The city is the hub of the fabled backwater cruise. Sandwiched between Arabian Sea and Vembanad Lake, the district has no forest area to its credit and its 82km seashore constitutes 13.9 per cent of the state's seashore. This network of canals and lakes connects this city to other important destinations like Kottayam and Kochi. Kerala rural life at close quarters; toddy-tapping, coir-making, prawn-farming, and scores of other sights.