INDIA KERALA-THE GREAT BACKWATERS(PART 6)

DELIGHTFUL STOPOVERS

The best season to visit is from December to the end of January, when the weather is cool and dry, but it’s possible to hire a houseboat all year round. Some find the monsoon season appealing for clubbing house boating and Ayurveda. March to May gets very hot and humid, so if you hire a houseboat during this time, an air conditioned one is definitely recommended.

1.       KUMARAKOM BIRD SANCTUARY

It is the first scientifically formed and preserved bird sanctuaries in India, with about 180 species of bird. These include more than 90 species of migratory birds. The profuse bird life owes much to the location and the climatic peculiarities of the region. June to August is the best time of the year for bird watching. Migratory birds in huge numbers visit the sanctuary from November to February.

2.       KUTTANAD

The rice bowl of Kerala, Kuttanad boasts of paddy fields, which below sea level and are surrounded by earthen embankments. The crops are grown on the low lying ground and irrigated with freshwater from canals and waterways connected to the Vembanad Lake. The area is similar to the dikes of the Netherlands where land has been reclaimed from the sea and crops are grown.

Kuttanad probably got its name from Karimadi Kuttan, a black statue of Buddha worshipped by locals, as the area was under sway of Buddhism eons ago.

3.       ALUMKADAVU

Alumkadavu , located north of Kollam district, is where the first houseboats in India were built. It is today a major centre for the construction of Kettuvalloms, which are later modified into houseboats for travellers.

4.       ALAPPUZHA

Referred to as Venice of the East, Alappuzha with its vast network of lakes, lagoon and freshwaters rivers are immensely beautiful. The venue for world renowned snake boat races, Alappuzha is also famous for its marine products and coir industry.

5.       KOCHI

One of the finest natural harbours in the world, Kochi is more popularly known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Kochi is a place with deep roots in history and its streets exude an old world charm; a place with beautiful monuments and a variety of the linguistic and ethnic communities like the Jews.