Kerala backwaters for Independence day weekend trip

Plan a trip in the Criss-Crossing Maze of Kerala backwaters for Independence Day Weekend

Take a trip to Kerala backwaters and you will know how beautiful our planet earth is and how lucky we are in a position to enjoy it. It has so many attractions that are unique to the area. Kerala backwaters Independence Day Weekend is the best to enjoy nature at its best.

Kerala backwaters tour is one of the most popular tourist attractions of India. International tourists as well as Indian citizens flock the backwater regions of Kerala to be with the pristine nature at least for a short while. Even for a local living in Kerala cannot ignore these backwater regions and think of it as just an ordinary thing. The backwater trip taken anywhere in Kerala will be a mesmerizing one with soul touching beautiful views, rippling water, soothing sounds of nature, the velvety lush greenery all around and so on and on. It is the apt decision to go for Kerala Backwaters Independence day weekend tour.

Kerala is a strip of small land piece lying in between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats mountain ranges. Almost parallel to the west coast Arabia Sea, numerous lakes and brackish lagoons adorn the state crisscrossing with a vast maze like network covering almost 900 kms. This water network is well connected with canals, inlets and lakes spread all over the state.

Not all of them are natural but most of them are so except some man-made canals. The transportation used is ‘Kettuvellam’, the traditional boats and the modern houseboats. These backwaters trips can be taken from Thiruvallam in the southern end to Kasargod, northern end. 

You have eight popular backwater regions in Kerala to enjoy your Kerala Backwaters Independence Day Weekend tour. You can plan any one suitable trip that suits you.

Let us list them from the southernmost end of Kerala. Six kms from the capital of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram you have Thiruvallam backwaters.

Then you have Kollam backwaters where you can enjoy the various inlets of Ashtamudi lake and Sasthamcotta Kayal.

You have the most famous Allapuzha backwaters. This region has very zigzag waterways and is also known as the ‘Venice of East’

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Kuttanad backwaters is also the part of Allapuzha region is famous for its rice cultivation. It is the rice bowl of Kerala.

Kumarokom backwaters is very much heavenly with their numerous island groups situated in Vembanad kayal. This is in Kottayam district

Then the Vembanad Lake in Cochin provides Kochi backwaters where you have lots of assorted lagoons.

All the above said backwaters are very famous and tourists naturally visit these all the year. In case you want to visit unexplored parts of KeralaBackwaters during Independence Day Weekend, then you can go for Kozhikode backwaters. Some are Elathur canal and Kallayi river.

Finally in the northern end of Kerala, you have Kasargod backwaters where you can visit Valiyaparampara and Chandragiri backwaters.   

Kerala honeymoon

Kerala is known as gods own country for all right reasons. The mesmerising natural beauty of Kerala makes it a perfect destination for honeymoon trip. Kerala honeymoon travel for newly-weds will definitely be rewarding and exciting. There is a lot to explore and discover in Kerala honeymoon tour.

Surrounded by coconut trees, backwaters, beaches, rich flora and fauna, Kerala honeymoon will help you learn about the hidden gems Kerala possesses. You will discover the reasons behind why Kerala is called gods own country

Places to visit in Kerala honeymoon

Kerala has myriad places of attraction that will make your honeymoon tour interesting and memorable. Each of these places comprise of so many attractions and sightseeing locales that your Kerala honeymoon plan will be absolutely rewarding and loaded with lasting memories.

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Munnar is a popular honeymoon destination in Kerala and it has attracted travellers from different parts of the globe since time immemorial. From picturesque views of the valley, vast spread of tea plantations to adventure activities, Indo Swiss live-stock project and more- all make this naturally romantic destination a place worth visiting in Kerala honeymoon.

Wayanad has emerged as a green destination ideal for those seeking an eco-tour destination. Wayanad has proven to be a land of hidden beauty that’s being discovered and recognised gradually all over the world as one of the best destinations to be visited in Kerala honeymoon. Surrounded by undisturbed and natural beauty, Wayanad has a large spread of natural beauty that will instantly rejuvenate your mind body and soul. From resorts built without disturbing the natural ambience to treehouse stay options- everything to do and enjoy in Wayanad is a unique experience.

Kumarakom is a sleepy town and it earned a lot of fame for housing the Ayemenem village that hit spotlight in Arundhati Roy’s best seller “God of small things”. IT might be a serene and silent place but it is a perfect honeymoon destination in Kerala. The natural quietude this place offers is something newlyweds will need after the hustle and bustle of marriage preparations. The Kumarakom sanctuary is known for housing the migratory birds that make for an interesting watch for bird watchers and nature lovers.

Alleppey and KUmarakom are two dominant places that offer you a beautiful and serene backwater cruise experience. Both the places carry a façade that’s clean, undisturbed and true to nature. The lagoons, coconut grooves and swaying palms of the towering trees make the backwaters look mind blowing. Alleppey and Kumarakom have been two prime regions attracting tourists from different parts of the globe to experience honeymoon in Kerala.

Thekkakdy is an ideal place for honeymooners to experience both adventure and wildlife. Well known for the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary, Thekkady offers you the sight of wild gems like the elephants, Tigers, Sambars, Gaurs Leopards and more.

Things to do in Kerala honeymoon

The things you can do in Kerala honeymoon trip are plenty. You can head out for shopping, plan some adventure trek, enjoy backwater cruises, try canoeing or rowing so n and so forth.

Top ten honeymoon destinations in Kerala

A popular tourist destination Kerala continues to be a favorite holiday zone for different kinds of travelers.There is so much to do and explore that you will want to return to this beautiful paradise over and again. Kerala has been declared as an all-rounder place by many frequent travelers. However it has been voted as the best romantic honeymoon destination for newlyweds or second time honeymooners.

Top ten honeymoon places to visit

 Munnar has been the prime honeymoon hill station in Kerala attracting many newlyweds for time immemorial now. Despite maddening tourism and inflow of people from across the globe, Munnar might have become an old place with extremely old facade but there is still a lot of magnificence remaining about the place that continues to attract mainly newlyweds to its misty evenings and chill mornings.

Alleppey or Alappuzha is a prime tourist destination in Kerala. Alleppey tourism development cooperative society was the first to start a society as such in Kerala. Home to the gigantic snake boat races Alleppey is known mainly for its lagoons that resemble a mirror. The palm fringed canals, the hide and seek of the sun rays through the swaying palms, the rural life on the banks of the lake and more make Alleppey a desirable place to tour. For honeymooners the houseboat cruises on the tranquil backwater of Vembanad Lake simply sums up the reason why Alleppey is one of the best honeymoon destination in Kerala.

The back water cruises only get more romantic as you head to an extended cruise of the houseboat to Kumarakom. Besides its famous wildlife sanctuary and the Ayemenem village described in Arundhati Roy’s best seller “God of Small things”- Kumarakom’s natural appeal is another reason why it lures honeymooners and leisure travelers form different parts of the world.

A houseboat cruise between Kollam and Alleppey is the longest stretch but also the most beautiful and romantic one.

Wayanad hills have lured honeymooners not just to witness its tranquil surroundings but its untainted image. The land of Wayanad remains true to its original form and tourism activities take place keeping the natural form of the land in mind hence you get to visit a virgin land with all things beautiful even if you come back for your second moon.

The shallow beaches of Kovalam have been a favorite with honeymooners for a long time. Holding each other hands, taking a long walk into the sea without the fear of high tides is what has made it a favorite with leisure and honeymoon travelers in Kerala

A leisure cruise From Alleppey covering Kottayam, Thottapally, Kolam and Kumarkom will simply add toppings to the dessert. The long honeymoon cruise route through Kottayam & Thottapally make for another interesting destination in Kerala.

For adventure honeymoon the wildlife sanctuary of Thekkady will offer you all the excitement and exhilaration you seek from your tour.

The romantic Marari beach is another romantic destination in Kerala for honeymooners

Vagamon hills male for another splendid honeymoon destination in Kerala

Kumarakom - Best Backwater resort in India

The state of Kerala is endowed with such tremendous natural beauty that tourists are constantly attracted to it. There are so many towns and interesting tourist destinations that tourists are spoilt for options. One such destination is Kumarakom. It is a famous tourism destination not far from the city of Kotayam which is just 16 km away. Kumarakom is well known for its backwater tourism. All this backwater tourism is set up in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the country and the largest in Kerala. Kumarakom village basically consists of a group of small islands on the Vembanad Lake. It is part of the Kuttanad region. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is the favourite haunt of migratory birds. Ornithologists will just love to spend time in the bird sanctuary. It is spread across 14 acres and is home to a number of avian species such as Egrets, darters, herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian Stork. These birds flock the sanctuary during season and tourists are especially fascinated to watch these birds.

Kumarakom is also home to a diverse species of flora and fauna. Apart from the bird sanctuary, there are other places of interest too. The Vembanad Lake is home to many marine and freshwater fish species. It is teeming with life and species such as Pearlspot, known as Karimeen locally, and shrimp are found here in abundance. The bird sanctuary and the Vembanad lake make Kumarakom a very beautiful place and a major tourist destination. The climate in Kumarakom is balanced and tropical. Both the south west and the north east monsoons bring rains to the region. The weather is conducive for tourists throughout the year, although some might not prefer the rainy months.

The mainstay of the local economy is fishing, agriculture and tourism. The balanced climate of Kumarakom is conducive to cultivation. The place has abundance of mangrove forests, coconut groves and paddy fields. Fruits like Banana, Mango, Tamarind, Jackfruit, Ambazhanga, Chaambenga, Peraycka, Aathaycka and Pineapple grow here in abundance. Coffee and cocoa plantations too are found here. Yam and colocasia are cultivated too. The canals of Meenachi River and the interspersed waterways are tapped for irrigation. The construction of the Thanneermukkam bund has ensured that connection between the backwaters and the sea is cut off. So the tidal movement of the water in the canals has stopped and it is not as salty as it used to be in the olden days when the water in canal moved in and out with the sea water. Since the waters are pretty much stagnant these days, it has caused the growth of water hyacinths forming a beautiful green carpet studded with lilac flowers.

Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the religions practiced in Kumarakom. There a number of churches, temples and also a Jumma masjid in the town. Fish is a staple food in Kumarakom as in most parts of Kerala. Small boats called vallam and gill nets are used for fishing. The most sought after varieties of fish in the region are the black clam, Pearl spot and shrimps. Tourists can even get a boat ride on these fishing boats. Especially honeymoon couples will love these boating trips.

Kumarakom is world famous for its boat races and houseboats. There are a wide variety of houseboats and the place is renowned the world over for the top notch house boat experience on offer. Most of the houseboats are used for tourists these days but special boats known as Kettuvallam is used by the locals to go fishing or to transport goods. Most of the tourism in Kumarakom mainly revolves around the backwaters of the Vembanad Lake. There are several luxury and budget resorts lined up on the shores of the lake. These resorts provide tourists with facilities for boating, yachting and fishing. Such trips offer tourists with panoramic views of the lake. The Bird Sanctuary can also be approached by water by use of canoes. These trips are carried out by local fishermen at the entrance of the sanctuary. Dawn and dusk are the best time to visit the sanctuary. Even though the bird sanctuary timings are between 6 AM and 6 PM, its best to avoid the afternoon sun.

The annual Kumarakom boat race attracts millions of tourists from across the country and around the world. The boat race happens around Onam festivities. Over one thousand oarsmen in boats of all sizes and shapes participate in the event. The most sought after race is the Iruttukuthi in which 50 oarsmen row each boat during a race. The races are conducted in the canal near the central market place. All these races are contested in order to win the Sree Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy. The Taj Garden Retreat, the biggest and most modern tourist resort in Kumarakom is set up in a Victorian two storied bungalow which was built by Alfred George Baker in the year 1881. It is built on huge pieces of Teak rafters. The bungalow was the house of the Baker family for four generations spanning over a 100 years. The bungalow along with the bird sanctuary and the lake are places of interest for tourists from all over the world. The Bungalow still has a grand, imposing presence and is a silent reminder of an age gone by. Its design and architecture are simply spellbinding. Kumarakom has recently been declared as a special tourism zone (STZ). Tourists will just love spending a few days in Kumarakom. An enchanting backwater destination that Kumarakom is, it offers tourists many other leisure options. Apart from the premises of the lake, boating and fishing facilities are also available at the Taj Garden Retreat. Then there is also Waterscapes, a backwater resort developed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). Waterscapes has independent cottages built on stilts and it is set amidst coconut groves and offers panoramic views of the backwaters.  Holiday packages involving houseboats and traditional Kettuvalloms (rice barges) offer great experiences and tourists, especially honeymoon couples should make use of such packages.

Kumarakom is accessible by road from Kottayyam which is 16 km away. The nearest airport is the Cochin International airport which is 94 km away. Kottayyam is also the nearest rail head which is just 13 km away. There is also a waterway leading to Kumarakom from Alappuzha. Intercity bus services are abundant and a ride from Kottayyam to Kumarakom should take about half an hour. Pre paid cabs can be hired from the Cochin Airport. The awesome beauty and tremendous landscape of Kumarakom are just hard to describe in words. Such beauty must be experienced in person. Anybody visiting Kerala should definitely include Kumarakom in their itinerary.