Kerala

Green, riotous green. It’s everywhere you look, towering above the narrow backwater canals, reflecting in the gentle water. And you float down in a houseboat, gently, like a dream.

People usually say Kerala and Backwaters in one breath. The verdant backwaters stretch from Cochin in the north to Quollam in the south, comprising a confusing maze of inland waterways flanked by the famous verdant greenery, yes, but also a lifestyle that remains hidden if you visit only the towns. Here are small villages shielded from view elsewhere and lives are led by the backwaters with people bathing, cleaning, fishing and lounging. Traditional kettu vallam boats glide through, making you see these glorious sights. The backwaters are the lifeblood of God’s own country, its veins that give Kerala its character.

Three backwater destinations that tourists usually cover are Alleppey (Alapuzha), Kumarakom and the neighbouring Kottayam, the nearest ‘big’ town. We have tried to give you a gist about how to navigate your way around these three towns, taking in the beauty of the backwaters.