Kerala Backwaters, South India
April 30, 2014
The Kerala backwaters have become a top destination for those who visit south India. The backwaters are a massive network of water canals and lakes which connect services and people among the area. Life is very simple here and villagers lead humble lives. The waterways were once a very popular way to transport goods and people but have declined in recent years with the building of new roads. They still act as a transportation route but tourism in the form of boating along the canals is now a popular activity and a big economic bonus to the area. We traveled by bus to a small town called Allappey/Alappuzha located on the west coast to begin our trip along the backwaters.
Our Accommodation - Palmy Residency Homestay
We stayed the night near the canal in Allappey at a place called Palmy Residency Homestay. It was located down a quiet lane and very central to the canal, ferries and all services in town.
Exploring the Backwaters
The main activity in the area is boating and tourism is a big business here.
There are 4 main ways to explore the backwaters: 1) by motorboat 2) by canoe 3) by public ferry 4) by houseboat. The most unique option is to travel by houseboat which are floating bamboo structured homes complete with full bedrooms, kitchen, lounge areas and decks and a full staff to cook all your meals. It would definately be a fun way to see the area!
Photo's of Allappey/Alappuzha
We met a very nice couple from Paris who offered to drive us to the local Allappey beach and we enjoyed a few nice hours together strolling the beach. It's worth noting that female Indians never wear bathing suits when swimming in the ocean or pools. They go into the water fully dressed and its quite offensive to them to see tourists half naked in bikini's!
Public Ferry from Allappey to Kottayam
We opted to explore the backwaters by taking the public ferry from Allappey 3 hours through the backwaters to another town called Kottayam. We found it to be quite tranquil and was a relaxing way to cruise the area and experience a glimpse of local life along the water banks. We really enjoyed our trip!
Video of our trip along the backwaters
Photo's of the backwaters