Kerala Backwaters is among the best places included in Kerala Tour Packages. It is a favourite haunt for tourists from all across the world. Kerala is widely known for this exquisite stretch of emerald backwaters! Kerala backwaters are an unending, enchanting maze that is bordered by lush green acres of paddy fields, lines of endless swaying coconut trees and green tropical forests.
This intriguing topographical formation along with its picturesque landscapes attract tourist from far and wide and they feel happy to get lost in the maze of green canals. Let us take a look at some of the amusing facts that you need to know about Kerala backwaters.
Three distinct Backwater regions of Kerala
Kerala has three distinct backwater districts. This unending chain of Brackish lagoons and lakes run almost parallel along the western coast of Kerala and forms a major tourist attraction of ‘God’s own country’.
The most enchanting water body of the state is the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam district. Ashtamudi lake is a picturesque and expansive water body and is identified as one of India's largest freshwater lakes. It possesses rich and astonishing biodiversity, that includes endangered marine species. Ashtamudi Lake is situated in the Kollam District of this famous Indian state of Kerala and is the most visited backwater lake in this southern state alluring nature lovers from various corners of the country.
Ashtamudi lake has a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body. Amusing, the shape resembles the shape of an octopus. Ashtamudi ecosystem is second in size only to the other famous backwater ecosystem of Vembanad estuary located in the state.
The picturesque Vembanad lake covers Alleppey. The most interesting fact that adds to the aura of the lake is that its width is 14 kilometers and length is an amazing 96 kilometers. The entire gamut of the succulent rivers and canals of Kottayam empty themselves into the picturesque Vembanad Lake, which makes it the longest lake in India and the largest water reservoir in Kerala.
Located inthe heart of Kerala backwaters, this bowl of sapphire and emerald turns starry and glittering with the fiasco of the stunning Snake Boat Races, at the time of Onam. The happiness of festivities spread the joy of commingling as the deft oarsmen, in large numbers, dictate the rhythm of the water they row with the perfect coordination of movement.
The cheer, the excitement of the race and the zeal of the participants get the atmosphere charged and onlookers get transported to a new world altogether. There are innumerable boating, fishing and sightseeing options available in and around the Lake area.Tourists and travelers in large numbers visit the Kerala backwaters to be a part of the festivities and enjoy a boat ride. It is easy to get lost in the scenic beauty of the backwaters.
Ernakulam and Kottayam along with Kannur-Valiyaparambu are the backwaters of the third district that falls in the Kannur and Kasargod districts. Ernakulam apart from its scintillating backwater beauty is also an upcoming district and considered a dynamic location bestowed with luxurious shopping malls, fine, glitzy restaurants and glittering skyscrapers. It has the metropolis of Kochi located at its center. Ernakulam is the new-gen urban face of God’s Own Country.
It can be easily identified as the cultural, political, commercial and industrial hub of Kerala. Similarly, Kottayam is famous for its panoramic stretches of calm backwaters, lush paddy fields lacing the backwaters, pretty highlands, hills and hillocks, and well-maintained extensive rubber plantations. It is also referred to as Akshara Nagari or Land of Letters because of being the center of literature and is another idyllic place to visit in Kerala. Thus, the combination of the natural and the social facts has made Kottayam the ‘land of letters, legends, latex, and lakes’.
The Fiesta of the Aranmula Snake Boat Race
Aranmula snake boat races held in the Kerala backwaters are famous across the world. The usually calm and serene backwaters of Kerala spring to life during the festival times.
Thousands of revelers gather to cheer their favorite Chundan Vallams or Snake Boat participants to win the title of the fastest. The Boat Race assumes a greater significance than being a mere sports event. This grand carnival beckons the interested tourists, both international as well as domestic, to add to the camaraderie and gala celebrations.
Experience the Solitude and Peace of Kerala Backwaters
The life at Vembanad Lake is extremely slow-paced usually. The tranquillity remains undisturbed as the peaceful tourist’s transverse the length and breadth of huge Vembanad Lake in Canoes and Houseboats. They enjoy the serenity and peace of the environment along with the forests, wildlife, fresh air and the composed beauty of nature. The Houseboat rides in Vembanad Lake take tourist past the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and the small islands inhabited by the local people.
You can watch the rustic and humble life of the simple villagers amidst paddy plantation, the ripe smell of bananas, mangoes and jackfruits, water hyacinths, traditional style of fishing, the carving of houseboats. You can watch the breeding grounds of fishes in the numerous fish ponds that leave the tourists fascinated. The milieu of the variety of colorful birds that thrive in this region is favorite subjects for nature photographers. The lake is a melting pot of a way of life and upholds the most pristine forms of nature.
Traversing the Kerala Backwaters from the Comfort of Your House
Traverse the mystic backwaters without leaving your abode. Float past and rejoice in the beauty of backwaters in a traditional Kettuvallam or the unique Kerala houseboats, extremely popular among all kinds of tourists. Explore this unique and perfect way to explore Kerala backwaters.
This astonishing 900 kilometers of an interconnected network of waterways, estuaries, lakes, inlets and natural canals will enthrall with scenic landscapes and picture-perfect opportunity to savor the exquisite cuisine during Kerala Tourism. These houseboats form cozy nests for romancing by honeymoon couples.
