Backwaters in Kerala

The land of the green and the serene Kerala offers an amazing array of the backwaters in Kerala. The breathtakingly beautiful destinations are the true storehouses of the nature at its best. The splendid sunsets, the waxing moonlights, the shoals of ducks, the pulsating palms and the wonderful waves make the backwater destinations the most sought after in kaleidoscopic Kerala.

Alappuzha Backwater
The alluring Alappuzha with its lovely lakes, lagoons and the fresh water rivers will not fail to sweep you off your feet. The stunningly gorgeous ‘Venice of the East’ has more than the boat races, houseboats, beaches, marine products and the coir industry; Alappuzha is home to the diverse animal and bird life. The rich crop of bananas, yams and cassava will surely catch your eye. Kuttanad in the heart of the backwaters of Alappuzha owing to its richness of the paddy crops is referred to as the rice bowl of Kerala. The half an hour journey by speedboat to the nearby island of Pathiramanal will reveal the range of rare migratory birds that fly from various parts of the world.

Cochin Backwater
Then there is the captivating Cochin (Kochi) with the charming combination of the picture perfect islands like Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. The reminisces of the Chinese, Arabian, Portuguese and the Dutch travelers and traders are omnipresent in Cochin. The variant village cruises to the coconut plantations and the coir villages should not be missed. The peace and the warmth make the vivacious destination come true to its title of being the queen of the Arabian Sea. The sweet memories of the rustic life and the gorgeous greens of Cochin will carry on to refresh you time and again much after the end of the holiday too.

Thiruvananthapuram Backwater
The capital city of the kaleidoscopic Kerala Thiruvananthapuram is a terrific tourist destination. Thiruvananthapuram is a major center for tourists, politics and industries. The soothing shoreline, beautiful beaches and the backwater stretches make Thiruvananthapuram few of the most frequently visit backwater holiday destination for the tourists to Kerala. The sacred city of the snake is scintillating for the tourists especially during the festivities of the harvest season of Onam. You must pray at the various temples. The architectural planning, the greens and the moderate temperatures of the city throughout the year make the tour even more enchanting.

Thiruvallam Backwater
The stunningly beautiful and serene stretch of the Thiruvallam backwaters is temptingly close to Thiruvanthapuram. The backwater destination of Thiruvallam.

Makes a great one-day tour. The renowned canoe rides make Thiruvallam popular with the tourists. You may even enjoy the water sports in the lagoon and the move to the beach from the village using the floating bridge in the waterfront park. The short village cruises using the country boats are the perfect ways to enjoy the backwaters of Thiruvallam.

Kumarakom Backwater
Kumarakom on Lake Vembanad with its unparalleled boating, fishing and sightseeing opportunities makes a picturesque holiday spot in the backwaters of Kerala. The rich greens and the rural life are clubbed with the beautiful Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. You may take a cruise along the lake to catch glimpses of the birds. What a way to spend summers with the ducks, cuckoos, Siberian stork etc. The ideally located Kumarakom is picture perfect village.

Kottayam Backwater
Close by are the backwaters of Kottayam. Amidst the paddy fields, rubber plantations and the highlands is the charming Kottayam. Kottayam is popularly known as the land of lakes and latex. The entire population of Kottayam is literate that makes it the land of letters too. The cultivation of the cash crops makes Kottayam.

Kollam Backwater
The splendid town of Kollam on the Ashtamudi Lake is renowned for being the gateway to the beautiful backwaters of Kerala. You may opt for an of the backwater tour and cruise that commence from Kollam. The backwater tour from Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest cruise in Kerala. Do not forget to catch on the cashews on your tour to Kollam.

Kasaragod Backwater
On the seacoast the backwater destination of Kasaragod offers mesmerizing trips to the enchanting Chandagiri and the vivacious valiyaparamba. Situated on the Chandragiri river the former is renowned for the chain of forts. The latter provides the best breathtaking views of the backwaters. The boat cruises to and from Kasaragod will never fail to enchant you. On your backwater tour you must check out the well-preserved Bekal Fort. The Pallikere and the Kappil beach at Kasaragod are excellent spots for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Kerala Backwaters Tour

Day 1 Cochin
You are picked up from the airport / railway station or from any location in Cochin by the representative of Capital City Travels & Tours for your journey in Kerala. Like a bashful bride, she blushes when you call here the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. She offers an enchanting vista of old Kerala, along with mementos of her European guests.

Day for sightseeing in Cochin Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Old spice market, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and Chinese fishing net. Later in the evening enjoy Kathakali dance presentation. Overnight at the hotel in Kochi.

Day 2 Cochin/Munnar
Get ready after breakfast for your morning drive to Munnar, where sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make it a unique experience. Check in to your resort and get ready for the special trip to Pothamedu for an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The breath taking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks. Return to your resort in the evening.

Day 3 Munnar
Munnar gets its name from the Malayalam and Tamil phrases for ‘three rivers’ as the town is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, at a height of 5,250 ft above sea level. This morning after breakfast, visit Mattupetty famous for its highly specialized dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Proceed to Mattupetty lake and dam, which is a very beautiful picnic spot. You could enjoy boating in the lake and view mountains and landscapes from afar. Onwards proceed to Echo point famous for the natural echo phenomenon and then to Top Station offering marvelous views of Munnar valley below. Return to the resort and enjoy the facilities at your resort.

Day 4 Munnar/Periyar
Get ready after breakfast for your morning drive to Periyar nestled in spice and rubber plantations. Known to be Kerala’s pride and testimony to nature’s splendor, Periyar has a lot to offer in terms of wildlife. Periyar is famous for its rare habitat of birds and animals and is one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers. Check in to your resort and get ready for your trip to cardamom hills where you could have a closer look at the spice plantations.

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the places where the chances are pretty high that you will spot an elephant in the wild at close quarters and from the safe confines of a boat. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 5 Periyar
After breakfast, we enter the Periyar wild life sanctuary. Lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world’s most fascinating nature wildlife reserves. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charms of the park. The greatest attractions of Periyar, however, are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

The day is free for you to explore the sanctuary and surrounding area to your heart’s content. Overnight stay at Periyar.

Day 6 Periyar/Kumarakom
After breakfast check out and drive to Kumarakom.Kumarakom is a sleepy little village tucked away from the din and bustle of city life. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an Ornithologist's paradise and a favorite haunt of migrating birds like Siberian stork,darter,heron and teal to name a few. Overnight at Kumarakom.

Day 7 Houseboat Cruise
Check into the houseboat at 12 noon for 1 Night / 2 Days riding in the backwaters & small canals.
A glide in a houseboat through the enchanting backwaters is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expense of panoramic sight one can never forgetting less than 15 minutes, the low hum of the motor and the dazzling afternoon light have tuned out the noises in your head, the deadlines, the telephone, the unfinished chapters. Watch the white tire-tread clouds turn into wisps of animal fur and then disappear. The isolation on a luxury houseboat is total. Overnight stay in a houseboat.

Day 8 Alappuzha
Breakfast on board. Disembark at Alappuzha.70 Kms from Cochin), this unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered as gateway to the backwater of Kuttanad, the granary of Kerala.Overnight stay at Alappuzha.

Day 9 Alappuzha / Kovalam
Drive to Kovalam through green coastal belt and cashew plantations. Despite the fact that virtually the entire 550 Km length of the Kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms,Kovalam is one of the only place where swimming in the sea is not considered eccentric by locals. Check into the hotel. Overnight stay at KovalamFull day leisure at Kovalam.Night stay in Kovalam.

Day 10 Kovalam
Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourist especially Europeans,since the 1930s.A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful Bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathinf.The day is free for leisure at resort,Ayurveda treatment,message,yoga classes,swimming,beach volleyball,indoor games and Learn to cook with spices,sunbathing,special cultural programs,Catamaran cruising etc. .Overnight at Kovalam.

Day 11 Kovalam / Kanyakumari
Early morning drive to Kanyakurari.Watching the sun rise and sun set from here is the big attraction,especially on the full moon day in April,when it's possible to see both the setting sun and rising moon on the same horizon.Other attractions are Kumari Amman Temple,Gandhi Mandapam and Vivekananda Memorial.Overnight stay at Kanyakumari.

Day 12 Kanyakumari / Trivandrum
After breakfast drive to Thirivanathapuram.On the way to Thiruvanathapurm visit Padmanabhapuram Palace.Kerala’s capital, the coastal city of Thirivanathapuram, is set on seven low hills, 87km from the southern tip of India. The oldest most interesting part of town is the fort area in the south; around the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple and Puttan Malika Palace. Overnight stay at Thiruvanathapuram.

Day 13 Trivandrum / Airport
After breakfast transfer to Trivandrum airport/railway station.

Kerala Travel Guide
Backwaters in Kerala	Festivals of Kerala	Kerala Wildlife
Kerala Beaches	Ayurveda and Meditation	Kerala Tour