Kerala or more famously known as “God’s Own Country” is a tropical state on the southern edge of India. Nevertheless, the most attracting tourist site in Kerala is backwaters which fascinate the tourists. These channels of overlapping lakes, canals and rivers cover a distance of more than 900km; and if you are to tour around the places, there is beautiful scenery of this interconnection of land and water.
Having a cruise ride in Keralan houseboats, you get to see gently undulating shorelines of swaying palm groves, colourful rice plains, and village homesteads. Thus, not only the beauty of the state but also the life of numerous people engaged in agriculture, fishing, or water transportation, depends on the backwaters. Starting from the Alleppey backwaters, famous for their beauty, to the slightly quieter Kumarakom backwaters, every place has something different to offer.
Here I’ll try to enumerate brief instructions on selecting a houseboat and planning your route, highlights of the tour, and the way to feel the atmosphere of Kerala and be closer to its people. Whether you are on honeymoon and want a romantic holiday, a family having children seeking some adventures, or a young man or woman searching for some peace, Kerala Backwaters are something that will not leave you disappointed as you are about to travel through one of the most beautiful terrains of India.
Exploring the Alleppey Backwaters
1. The city that has earned the tag name Venice of the East
Alleppey also spelled as Alappuzha, is famous for a number of canal and lagoon bridges which has earned it the name the “Venice of the East”. Of all the backwaters, Alleppey backwaters are the most famous and most attractive to tourists as they combine aspects of the natural and cultural forms of the country.
2. Houseboats in Alleppey
When visiting Alleppey it is advisable to live on the houseboat or kettuvallam for at least two to three days, which is a larger boat with many rooms to let ranging from one to more than five or six depending on the size. The houseboats in Alleppey offer food, nice and comfortable accommodations, and scenic views of the backwaters which are probably among the best houseboats in Kerala.
3. Alleppey Hotels and Resorts
For travellers who can afford to stay on the land, there are many options for lodging in Alleppey. From multi-star hotels and FIVE-star award Hotels and resorts for the luxurious travellers to the Guesthouses of the economical non-flashy type of travelers. Accommodation in Alleppey is also easy to get, and many hotels and resorts are situated right on the shore, which makes the travellers take boat trips and beautiful scenes from the beach.
4. Alleppey Couple Stay
Couples prefer Alleppey because of the marvelous services that they can get while exploring natural beauty. Most of the resorts and houseboats have special honeymoon offers which can include candlelight dinners, spa facilities, and private boat rides, so this place can be recommended for honeymooners or for couple lovers.
Discovering the Kumarakom Backwaters
1. A Birdwatcher's Paradise
Kumarakom situated on the Vembanad Lake is another gem in the crown of Kerala’s backwater tourism. Deemed to have immense natural beauty, with a green cover and rich bird life, Kumarakom backwaters are slightly more laid back than Alleppey.
2. Houseboats in Kumarakom
Just like Alleppey, Kumarakom also has a houseboat stay that provides you with a cruise experience for the area. The houseboats at Kumarakom are themselves not so crowded mainly and hence offer a closer look at the backwaters. Most of the tours include accommodation in Kumarakom with a visit to the Bird Sanctuary.
3. Kumarakom Lake Resort
For wine and dine lovers, the resort offering exquisite luxury is the Kumarakom Lake Resort. Kumarakom Resorts is very famous and has all the modern facilities and at the same time, it follows the architectural method of Kerala. It will suit the Ayurvedic spa, infinity pool, and superb quality dining that is needed when returning after a day on the water.
Some of the exciting things you will come across while on a tour of the backwaters of Kerala:
For the real-life experience of the lives and culture of the backwater region, a village tour is advisable. Most of the operators provide an opportunity to have a village tour where customers are also allowed to interact with the local people, visit some of their traditional homes, and learn how some of the local products are made. A village tour, for instance, in Kumarakom would help in the discovery of the lifestyles in the region due to the backwaters.
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Nature Tours and Birdwatching
Therefore, backwaters are a perfect natural habitat for a large number of plants and animals. Tourist activities mostly encompass visits to protected areas such as bird watching of rare bird species, butterflying, and sighting otters. The best time for bird watching can be in the mornings or in the late afternoon, especially using the boat.
Most of the resorts and houseboats provide Ayurveda massage services; hence you can be treated and relax in the middle of the backwaters of Kerala. These treatments employ natural herbs and oils and are done according to the individual’s problem.
Knowing the Kerala backwater tours’ highlights will help you to plan your tour effectively.
1. Best Time to Visit
The most appropriate time of the year to embark on backwater tours in Kerala is from the beginning of the tourist season, which is October, to the end of the tourist season, March. But if you do not mind getting wet at times, the monsoon season from June to September can provide a different kind of green.
2. Picking the Right Package Tour
Before embarking on your Kerala backwater tour it is therefore important to choose a competent tour company. tourwings. com gives some of the best tour packages in Kerala with some of the most reliable prices possible. Their packages offer many choices of the backwaters cruise, from the luxurious houseboats to the cheaper day cruiser.
With tourwings.com The choices are available with the website of com, and you will be able to select the kind of backwater vacation that you desire depending on whether you are looking for a romantic vacation, a family vacation, or even a lone adventure. Mineral & nature tourism makes certain that you get to see the best of what the Kerala backwaters have to offer and, at the same time, enjoy good accommodation and eating out.
3. What to Pack
During the backwater trip, one should wear loose and preferably cotton clothing, a cap, sunglasses, any form of fashionable neck protection from the sun, aerosols – to guard against the bites, and a quality camera for the photographs. If you intend on visiting temples/religious places, it would be advisable to pack clothes that would cover the shoulders and the knees.