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BACKWATERS |
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The backwaters of Kerala, stretching all along its coastline, for over 500 KMs, is a vast expanse of placid waters, almost always still and clear, weaving lakes and lagoons, estuaries and marine inundations, into a fascinating and unique eco-system that makes you fall in love with it at the very first sight. Fringed by lush green vegetation, with the ubiquitous coconut palms, interspersed with Chinese fishing nets, paddy fields, sea-side dwellings, boat jetties, churches, mosques and temples, sailing at a slow pace along the backwaters is an exhilarating, enchanting and unforgettable experience. There are local ferries, boats, speedboats and Kettuvallams, which have been turned into houseboats with all modern amenities for tourists.
The most popular stretch of backwaters tour is from Kollam, adjacent to the Ashtamudi Lake, to Alappuzha on the edge of the Vembanad lake. Children playing on make-shift ‘boats’ of banana trunks tied together, flocks of geese swimming along the waterways in search of food, boatloads of coconut husk being transported, heaps of the same laid to soak in the shallow sides, women beating the coconut husks and spinning the fibers into ropes, toddy tappers climbing on the palm trees to bring down the sap to be sold in toddy shacks along the way with local delicacies of fish and meat, people pulling up Chinese fishing nets laden with fishes, most popular being Karimeen (pearl spot), etc. are common sights along the way. Even the water hyacinths clogging some waterways, a serious problem for the ecology and hindrance to the transportation for the locals, would seem a charming sight to the tourist
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RESERVE NOW |
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