The Jewel of Kerala Tourism – Kerala Backwaters
Kerala at a glance
The South Indian state of Kerala is a beautiful place and is often regarded as ‘God’s Own Country’. There is a popular myth in Kerala which states that when God was creating the world, he ran out of land for Kerala and so he presented a piece of heaven to the people residing in that part of the world and that piece of land became the home of the Malayalis, the people of Kerala.
Many tourists from around the world, mainly from US, UK and other European countries, go on Kerala tours every year to enjoy the weather, food, customs, places and the hospitality that the people of Kerala offer. One of the main reasons for the popularity of Kerala travel packages is the presence of backwaters in Kerala.
The Backwaters
It is a fact that very few places in the world have water bodies like sea and river flowing alongside lakes and lagoons, constituting the enthralling and breathtaking backwaters. This backwater network is made of inter-connected rivers, canals, lakes (manmade and natural) and inlets. This network covers almost half the state of Kerala and many major towns and cities are located near such scenic water network.
The best way to enjoy the backwaters is to stay in houseboats, which are present in most cities like Trivandrum, Kumarakom, Alleppey etc. Most packages include accommodation in luxuries houseboats that will help you to enjoy the scenic backwaters during your Kerala tour. The packages in such houseboats include food, accommodation and also nearby sightseeing. However, one should not expect facilities like telephone, TV etc. that one can enjoy in hotels.
These houseboats are for those who want to stay in the midst of nature, away from city life. If you want to enjoy luxury in your Kerala travel, then we recommend that you stay in hotels and then hire a taxi for exploring the backwaters; most packages providers also provide taxi service. Kerala travels are all about nature and you should be ready to enjoy every bit of it. One can also hire special houseboats, in which they can explore the rivers and lake for fishing, during their tour.
Most towns or cities situated near the backwaters are connected by ferry services and so one can easily rent a car and travel across Kerala, while exploring other wonders that Kerala has to offer.
The water bodies also include a lot of tiny islands, which one can explore using motor boats. Prior permission is required for travelling to these islands. Do inquire about the same while buying Kerala packages.
Boat Races
Kerala is famous for its boat races that take place all through the year. These races are conducted in the water bodies that constitute the backwaters. Special boats called Chundan vallam (snake boats) are used in such races. The boat races are very popular with the tourists and most people attend such races during their Kerala travel. These races are mainly held in the region of Kuttanad in Alappuzha.
If you are planning to travel to India, browse our India Tours. You can also read more about Kerala Tours.
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