The Backwaters of Kerala
The Backwaters of Kerala is unique and is found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting eco-system teeming with life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable.Kumarakom and Alleppey (new name Alappuzha) are the prominant Backwater tourist attractions in Kerala.
Kuttanadu is the one rare places in the world where farming is done below sea level (1.5 -2 meters below sea level). Inland waterways that flow above the land level is an amazing feature of this land. Kuttanad lies in heart of the backwaters of Kerala. This beautiful countryside with its waterways also is rich in crops like rice, banana, Cassava and yam.
The most exciting aspect of Kuttanadu is the Kettuvallam (traditional Houseboat) which has become the most popular tourism product in India today. In a land as water bound as Kerala it wouldn’t be an unusual sight, but for a visitor to God’s Own Country a houseboat gliding along the vast green expanse of the backwaters is the most amazing spectacle in the world. Even more enchanting is a holiday in the houseboats of Kerala.
A cruise along the palm-fringed waterways of Kerala in a luxury houseboat is the most enchanting holiday experience in India today. In a world gifted with beauty, you will skim past ancient Chinese fishing nets, water lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples and coconut groves. A guided tour down the backwaters would provide you with a complete and most enchanting experience on the back waters of Kerala and will also reveal to you some interesting facts about the life of local village people. There is a Kerala that lives along these backwaters throbbing with its own unique culture. For you, as a visitor to Kerala it can be incredibly different and unusual experience just floating in the backwaters in a country craft.
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Experience the backwaters without a boat
If you want an alternative backwaters experience try Friday’s Place near Kovalem. There are five cottages, all crafted by the owners and local craftsman from sustainable hardwood, and the Tsunami House, a sort of Noah’s Ark sitting a top a tower with beautiful view of the forest canopy.
Friday’s Place can only be reached by boat, and if you blinked you would miss it, so well do the buildings blend into the surrounding coconut palm gardens. The atmosphere is more house party than hotel, and the owner Mark is a fascinating host, leading a small, friendly team who are delighted that you have come to stay. All the delicious, vegetarian, meals and drinks (other than alcoholic beverages) are included. You have no worries to disturb your languishing in a hammock, with one eye open to spot the kingfishers.
The eco-credentials are really impressive. Friday’s Place is completely solar-powered. Drinking water is taken from the surrounding canals and filtered by reverse osmosis, so it is completely safe to drink. Water for washing is also taken from the canals and filtered, so occasionally brackish. Sewage is treated on site, and goes to feed the fish! So don’t forget to take bio-degradeable shower gel.
This secluded sanctuary started as an experiment on the part of Mark and his wife, Sujeewa, and Mark is refreshingly candid about the challenges of running a sustainable tourism business in this part of the world. It seems, perhaps to many guests to be gliding effortlessly along, but as with the swan, there is a lot of effort expended below the surface.
www.fridaysplace.biz
How green is your houseboat?
The Kerala Department of Tourism operates a classification scheme for houseboats, including a Green Palm Certification scheme for houseboats with environmentally friendly operations. The scheme was introduced in 2000 as the popularity of backwater cruising grew rapidly in the late 1990s and there were complaints about the maintenance and upkeep of some of the boats. The scheme allows for annual inspection of the houseboats to assess whether there are arrangements for solid waste disposal and sewage; use of alternative energy; recycling and responsible disposal of biodegradable rubbish; minimizing use of plastic bags; use of recycled stationary; use of local labour and materials; and regular checks of outboard motors.
You can find a list of operators with Green Palm Certification at:
www.keralatourism.org/houseboat/classifiedhsboats.htm.
This list only represents a small fraction of the boats we saw cruising around Allappuzha (Allepey). We spotted a couple of houseboats with solar panels, but generally there was little visibility of the Green Palm Certificate. Perhaps in future there will be GPC 2009 flags flying from the stern of the recipients of the certificate.