Kerala: The Best Backwater Destinations in India

Think of God’s Own Country, Kerala, and the associations are immediate – coconut trees, lush green cover and the backwaters. If you are into photography, there can’t be a better destination than Kerala’s backwater circuit to get going. The most popular backwater destinations in Kerala include Vembanad, Kollam, Ashtamudi, Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Fort Kochi, among others. Here are some backwater tours you could explore:

Vembanad wonder

This stretch covers the regions of Kottayam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. The Vembanad Lake is located in the heart of the backwaters and thousands of tourists throng this stretch. Explore the backwaters by hiring the traditional boats called kettuvalloms. There are motorboat, speedboat and pontoon boat options. You can feast your eyes on the coconut trees swaying in the wind, and freshwater canals, apart from stretches of paddy fields. Kumarakom, which has now become a prominent place on the tourism map, is on the banks of Vembanad.

Vembanad Lake (Photo Courtesy: http://indiabiodiversity.org)

Kollam calling

The mouth of the backwaters is the Ashtamudi Lake, which covers one-third of Kollam. Kollam or Quilon is a historic city that is situated on the one of the lake’s banks. There are many boat cruises operated from there. Don’t miss the famed cruise from Kollam to Alappuzha, which is fantastic eight-hour tour that takes you through lakes, villages, canals, and gives you an understanding of life in the backwaters. Also, you can spot the cluster of eight islands called the Munroe Island.

Ashtamudi Lake Kollam (Photo Courtesy: http://shopperhub.in)

Colours of Kasargod

This region in Kerala’s northern part is also a great backwaters destination. The region is one of the most scenic in all of Kerala, thanks to the Western Ghats on one side and the sea on the other. You can explore Valiyaparamba, the stretch of backwaters close to Kasargod. There is also the Bekal Fort in the vicinity, adding to the charm of the backwaters. 

Bekal Fort (Photo Courtesy: http://www.kerala.com)

The backwaters experience

• Many houseboats allow you to engage in activities such as fishing.
• If you are a foodie, and a seafood lover at that, try out the Karimeen fry or the Varal roast.
• The backwaters offer an excellent opportunity to understand rural lifestyles, and the livelihoods of communities in the region. Many communities are traditionally into coir making or prawn farming.
• If you are in Kerala around the time of autumn or during Onam, you can enjoy a boat race or two. They are a treat to watch, the snake boats also called Chundan Vallam.
• If you like birding, the backwaters are ideal to spot or watch birds such as kingfishers or darters. 

 

Houseboats in Kerala (Photo Courtesy: http://www.keralatours.com)

Kerala gives a lot of impetus to tourism, and there is never any dearth of accommodation if you are on a visit to the state. It is a great idea to opt for one of the luxury cruises in Kerala, as they give you an opportunity to unwind and detoxify your mind and body. The best time to visit the state is between September and March, so plan your backwater cruise accordingly.

Read More

The Priceless Experience of Onam

One of the major port cities of west India, Kochi, Cochin or Ernakulum is a city that adds to the beauty of God’s own country, Kerala. The most populated city of the state, Kochi also has the highest number of tourists in the country.

While the population in Kochi is a mix of people of many cultures due to the constant migration to the city over centuries, one time of the year that sees the entire city excited and has many tourists flocking to Kochi is during the traditional Kerala festival, Onam. Other festivals like Holi, Christmas, Easter and Eid are also celebrated with gusto. The Jewish community in Kochi is also very prominent, and the synagogues in multiple locations are telling of this culture.

Onam pookkalam (photo courtesy:http:holidays.vgreets.com) 

Sadhya Meal , The Traditional Onam Feast (Photo Courtesy: paahun.blogspot.in)

Onam is generally celebrated between August and September, during the month of Chingam. The festival commemorates Lord Vishnu in Vamana avatar, and celebrates the homecoming of legendary Emperor Mahabali. Onam is celebrated with high spirited enthusiasm, complete with intricate carpets made of flowers (called Pookalam), feasts fit for Kings, snake boat races, and so on. The feasts are nine-course meals with about thirteen different kinds of dishes served on a banana peel. It is a time to play games as well when men play rigorous sports, and the women make the intricately designed flower mats.

The Popular thripunithura athachamayam festival in onam (photo courtesy:goindia.about.com)

The Colorful Folk Art Pulikali Onam (photo courtesy:godsowncountrys.com)

The Great kathakali dance performance (photo courtesy:foodnightlifeblog.buzzintown.com)

Onam is an ancient festival celebrated by Malayalis and Mahabali has been revered by people of Kerala since time immemorial. The legend behind the festival is that during the rule of King Mahabali, Kerala experienced a Golden Age and according to the Brahma-Vaivarta Puranam, Mahabali was put in a position of power by Lord Vishnu to curb the pride of Lord Indra. Lord Vishnu’s plan worked as Mahabali was very popular among the his subjects and almost equalled Lord Indra in stature. After assuring that Lord Indra’s pride had been contained, he went to Mahabali in the guise of a dwarf, Vamana. Vamana requested 3 footsteps space to live in, and Mahabali granted this request. Vamana enlarged himself so much so that he was able to step on all three worlds in two steps, and Mahabali offered Vamana his head to step on as a third step. Vamana stepped on the King’s head, sending him to the netherworld, but had to wait until the next Yuga or era to be Indra. In the meantime, with Vishnu’s blessings, he visited his people once a year. This annual visit and the wisdom of Lord Vishnu as Vamana is what is celebrated as Onam every year.  

The famous snake boat race completes Onam (photo: hazimiai.wordpress.com)

Being one the best festivals to witness, start planning your trip with SpiceJet to Kerala. Simply get on to any of our Kochi Flights and experience one of the top visited destinations of this country in all its glory. 

Read More

36 Hours in Kochi

The city that hosts one of the major ports of south India is Kochi or Cochin. Cochin is home to the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. For centuries, it was the centre of the Indian spice trade. 

Cochin was occupied by the Portuguese in the 1500s and St. Francis church here hosted the grave of Vasco da Gama, until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539. The Dutch then occupied Cochin, after which it was conquered by Hyder Ali in the early 1700s. It was then part of the British-colonized India until India’s independence. Kochi thus holds a lot of historical importance, besides being an important port city.

If you have 36 hours to spare, make sure you see all the sights that Cochin has to offer:

Mattancherry Palace  (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Mattancherry Palace - Built by the Portuguese in 1550, it is also known as the Dutch palace because of the extensive repairs and extensions the Dutch made to it. However, neither occupied it.

Jewish Synagogue  (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Jewish Synagogue - This was built in 1568 AD and is a popular tourist destination.

St. Francis church (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- St. Francis church - Besides being the temporary burial site of Vasco da Gama, it was built in 1510 AD and thought to be the oldest church built by the Europeans in India.  

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica - This is one of the oldest churches in the country, built by the Portuguese.  

Bolghatty palace (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Bolghatty palace - Built by the Dutch in the late 1700s, this is now a hotel. Definitely a must-visit.

Chinese fishing nets (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Chinese fishing nets - Said to have been brought from China to India by the traders of Kubalai Khan’s court, they are used by the Kerala fishermen. It is a beautiful sight to see these nets lining the coast, and makes for great pictures as well.

Fort Kochi Relics (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Fort Kochi - This is a great place to visit to do some shopping or even just sit in a cafe, eat good food and read a book.  Accessible by ferry, it is part of Cochin, but a twenty minute ferry ride away. The fort after which this place is named,  Fort Emmanuel, was destroyed by the Dutch.

Thirumala Devaswom  temple (Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

- Cochin Thirumala Devaswom  temple and  Sree Gopalaswamy Devaswom temple - A must visit for any tourist, religious or not!

There are many museums and art galleries in Cochin as well, that are worth a visit. A must-visit port town, Cochin is well connected by air,  ferry, rail and road. The simplest way to reach Cochin quickly is to take a flight to the Cochin International Airport. You can then hop onto a ferry or take any public transport for a beautiful trip that you will not regret!

Read More