The backwaters of Kerala are
what have given it the sobriquet
"God's Own Country". As you meander
through these on a houseboat you
drift into a timeless land replete
with picture-postcard towns and
ancient trading posts. The huge
coconut trees provide an apt
backdrop and perhaps you can even
eavesdrop on the strains of an
oarsman's song.
A network of lakes, rivers and
canals fringe the coast of Kerala.
These backwaters, while a great
inland thoroughfare on water ,
offer an alternative lifestyle. The
criss-crossed, palm-fringed lakes
traversed with Chinese fishing nets
are very popular cruises, especially
between Kollam and Allappuzha. The
backwaters have become important
attractions though they are
threatened by population growth and
industrial development. Of the 29
major lakes on the backwaters, seven
drain into the sea. Stretched over a
total expanse of 1500 kms, the
backwaters have a network of 44
rivers, lagoons and lakes from north
to south.
The lake Vembanad is largest strech
of Backwaters in Kerala measuring 83
kilometers length, and crosses three
zones before reaching the sea with the
port of Kochi. The lake Ashtamudi, significance,
having eight arm, are the larger second
strech and are the passage to the backwaters.
These lagoons and the lake Kayamkulam
were formed in 1866 A.D, when the large
flood envasé to the top of the old ports.
These backwaters in the keralahave become
roads between the interior ground and
the sea.
The best manner of testing the beauty
of the backwaters in Kerala is to lead
to normal speed along in a rented boat,
a canoe or in Houseboats which are specifically
for the additional ordinary houseboats
of tourists. The, or Kettuvalloms while
they are called the made-to-order of
the natives, are the giant boats measuring
80 feet length around. They are built
by attaching the boards out of wooden
as well as cords made in thimble coir
(coconut) without employing a simple
nail. To supply with the industry of
tourism, these Kettuvallams were made
more luxurious with one or two rooms
to be slept with the bath joint, an
opened living room, a platform and a
crew of three being composed of a cook,
a oarsman and a guide. The services
of Dormitary are also available for
tourists.
In the monsoon months, the backwaters
reverberate with the sound of the traditional
snake boat races, featuring the 130-feet-long chundan boats. Up to 16 of them, with
over a hundred rowers each, compete
for the honors during the races. The
mo st important of these races is the
Nehru Trophy Boat Race held on the second
Saturday of August. The Aranmula Boat
Festival of the Parthasarathy temple
of Aranmula on the banks of the holy
river Pamba is the more traditional
race. The boat carnival starts on the
day of Thiruonam, the most auspicious
day of the Kerala festival, Onam. |
