Kerala Backwaters

Attractions in the Backwaters
There are many attractions along the 900 km of tranquility offered by the backwaters of Kerala. Cochin port city with a very safe harbour and several historically important islands with monuments, offers the greatest attraction. Nicknamed 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Cochin (Kochi) has a lot of attractions for all tastes......More...

Boat Race in the Backwaters
Boat races in Kerala have become very popular in recent times. The genesis of the boat races can be traced back to the era when boats were used for war between local kings in the medieval period. In modern times, there were no wars in the backwaters of Kerala due to historical reasons, and the old war-boats of the native rulers commonly called "snake - boats" long enough to accommodate more than a hundred warriors, became unnecessary. Under the "Pax Britannica" prevailing in India for about two centuries, the backwaters of southern Kerala became peaceful, and these traditional war-boats were maintained primarily for ritual purposes like procession.... More...

Kuttanad Backwater
Nick-named as the Netherlands or Holland of Kerala, the Kuttanad area in the main backwaters region, is also described as the ‘rice-bowl’ of southern Kerala, on account of the extensive paddy (rice) fields surrounded by water. There are two distinctive areas here-viz. Lower and Upper Kuttanad-based on altitude or height above sea-level or depth below sea-level. It is the Lower Kuttanadu region that is called the ‘nether-lands’, because the cultivated lands are below sea level. As in Holland, dykes or bunds around the rice fields keep out water when needed, thereby enabling cultivation....More...

Vembanadu Lake Backwater
Vembanadu Lake is the largest water body in Kerala’s lowlands, stretching 60 km long and 16 km across at the widest areas. The famous, labyrinthine backwaters display their grandeur here. Along its shore, poets and painters have drawn inspiration from ancient times. Resorts and hotels followed in their wake as tourism increased..... More...