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Fringing the Kerala coast and meandering far inland is a enormous network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. These backwaters are the arteries of village life flourishing on its shores. The Arabian Sea, which has intruded inland in the shape of watery fingers in their thousands, and have created estuaries which have joined fresh water rivers and lagoons to create the geologically unique backwaters. The canals form a 1,185-mile (1,920-kilometer) network of which 555 miles (900 kilometers) are navigable. 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. Today, these waterways link remote villages and islands to the mainland and nerve centers of the coastal area.
The most interesting area in the backwaters is the Kuttanad region, called the rice bowl of Kerala. The area is probably the only place in the continent where farming is done below sea level, using a system of dykes and bunds. The largest backwater stretch is the Vembanad Lake, which unlock out into the sea at the Kochi port and flows through the districts-Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kochi. The Ashtamudi Lake has eight 'arms' covering a major portion of Kollam district in the south, and is the second largest lake in the state.
The main backwater districts are Alleppey, Kollam, Kumarakom, Kochi, and Alamkadavu
Travelling by crude houseboats along the backwaters is one of the highlights of a visit to this region. You will glide past ancient Chinese fishing nets, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples, churches and coconut groves Along the way are small settlements where people live on narrow spits of reclaimed land only a few meters wide. Our tours will begin from either the finishing point in Alleppey or from homestay close to the backwater.
The houseboat will anchor near the homestay to take you on a cruise through the canals. This guided tour down the backwaters would provide you with a complete experience on the backwaters, lakes, and the rivers.
You would spend the day observing the inhabitants and their every day life who live on the fringes of the backwater. You will hear from them their daily activities like fish farming, duck rearing and coir making which is very common in Alleppey area. They will also tell you some interesting details about the life in the backwater. An opportunity to listen to their stories of simple life
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Backwater trails
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