Kerala - a long strip of enchanting land tucked away in the west corner of India, The green and serene Kerala offers an amazing array of the backwaters. 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 make the backwater destinations the most sought after in kaleidoscopic Kerala.
The Kerala backwaters are inland waters, Makes it so enchanting is its exquisite network of lakes, lagoons, rivers, canals (both manmade and natural) and estuaries With 41 west-flowing rivers, five large lakes, Stretches to almost 1,900 kilometers extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwater routes date back over the centuries and have been long used for all transportation needs, in particular trade in coconut, rubber, rice and spices. In this National Waterway No-3 from Kollam to Kottapuram, covers a distance of 205 km and runs almost parallel to the coast line of southern Kerala facilitating backwater tourism activities. ‘Kollam(Quilon)’, ‘Alappuzha(Alleppey)’, Kottayam and ‘Kochi(Cochin)’ are the principal backwater towns
The backwaters have a unique ecosystem - freshwater from the rivers meets the saltwater from the Arabian Sea in certain areas, such as the Vembanad Lake where a barrage has been built near Thanneermukkom and the Other one in Kayamkulam Lake near Thrikkunnappuzha, In between salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes
The people who live along the backwaters in Kerala have a unique relationship with the backwaters. It is the source of the local people's livelihood. The fish caught from its waters, the paddy, coconut and other crops harvested along its banks, the boats they build and use to transport them across the labyrinthine backwaters, are all an integral part of their traditional way of backwater village life.
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. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape
Not to be missed, these cruises leave you refreshed and rejuvenated. The banks of these rivers are ideal for picnic spots. While cruising you will skim past backwater villages, Traditional fishing operations, Local ferries, Ancient Chinese fishing nets, Renowned snake boat races in onam season, Lush paddy fields, Coir villages, Rustic homes, Temples and coconut groves etc…
A cruise along these backwaters in a ‘Kettuvallom’ (A traditional houseboat) is the perfect way to have a rendezvous with pristine nature and to come face to face with the lifestyle that thrives on the sea shores. Cruises offered in House boats are – ‘Kollam Rounding’, ‘Alappuzha Rounding’, ‘Kollam to Alappuzha’, ‘Kollam to Kumarakom’ and ‘Kollam to Kochi’.