Kerala - Of Incredible Backwaters and Sunsets

Green, blue and orange; these three shades colour my imagination every time I think of Kerala. Undulating palms, white sandy beaches, placid backwaters, light breeze whistling on your ears, birds flying all around, and sunsets so beautiful they can reinstate you faith in god, Kerela makes for an excellent rendezvous with nature. From the Nilgiri Mountains to the backwaters of Alappuzha, from the beach of Kovalam to the Guruvayoor Temple, and from the village of Thenmala to the Palaces at Sree Padmanabhapuram, I’ve seen a lot on my trips to Kerala. Here’s a lowdown on what you must experience on your trip.

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Nature

Kovalam Beach is the signature beach here. Cozy coves, a perfect palm-fringed coastline, and lovely surf-washed shores, Kovalam is a beach delight you wouldn’t want to miss for the world. It spans three areas, the Lighthouse Beach, Samudra Beach and the Hawah Beach. Very similar but more secluded and fresh is the Marari Beach featuring miles of sandy shores, swaying palms, and a chance to experience local life in Kerala. My hot favourite is the Muzhappilangad Beach. Why? I drove my friend's 4-wheel drive on this beach. It is the only drive-in beach in the country. It’s a rush to open throttle on this sandy expanse, witness the surf splash your windscreen, and see the sun colour the skies orange.

Backwaters are everywhere in Kerala. However, the one in Vembanad (spread out in Alappuzha and Kottayam) is the most beautiful of them all. If you look closer and concentrate, you can actually feel time come to a stop watching your boat ambling through the backwaters, and revealing a kind of beauty you wouldn’t come across anywhere else in the world. Talking of boats, I was just reminded of the incredible Vallam Kalis…

Vallam Kalis (boat races) happen in Kerala all the time. Long wooden canoes oared by close to a 100 rowers at a time, these boat races are a spectacle you shouldn’t miss. The best ones in the state include the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, one of the most-watched Vallam Kali, held in August as a tribute to the former Indian Prime Minister; and the Aranmula Boat Race, which is held on the Pampa River for Onam celebrations at the Aranamula Parthasarthy Temple.

Another good way to cruise the expansive backwaters of Kerala is by renting a houseboat. While the cost of accommodation might vary from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 8,000 per night, just the natural surroundings are enough to assure you your money’s worth. The water, the tranquility, and the evening sunsets coupled with some great Keralan sea food will conjure up an atmosphere you wouldn’t want to part with, ever.

Leisure

Nowadays, catamarans in Kerala come with motors so you wouldn’t have to row. Well, I guess, it's too much of a price to pay for spoiling your peace amid beautiful backwaters. So I recommend you pick one without a motor and row on as far as you can. You can find catamarans rides in Kovalam and Allepey.

Don’t leave Kerala without spending an hour of pure vanity in an Ayurvedic Spa. This is one thing all of Kerala is famous for. Little Ayurvedic treatment centres have sprouted everywhere. Most of these are what we can call ‘pleasure spas’ as the treatments here will help you to relax, and at the most, stretch your body a bit.  My favourite is the Lake Village Backwater Resort in Kottayam. It offers some great Ayurvedic packages for both relaxation and real ailments like spinal disorders, rheumatism, migraines, tissue disorders, cervical lumbar spondylosis, and others.

Until recently, Kerala was oblivious to eco-tourism. Local lifestyles are now open for explorations at the Thenmala Village. This is one of the first eco-tourism spots in Indian and showcases rare trees, picturesque nature trails, a butterfly garden and a deer park, a lotus garden, and lots more. Live here like the locals do and enjoy adventure activities like trekking, boating and fishing. There are two more I have heard of that offer a similar kind of experience. They are Akkalum Tourist Village and the Kumbalangi Model Village. You can try visiting them as well.

For a showdown with Kerala’s tigers, I suggest you book a safari at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. You’ll require permission to enter and will be accompanied by a Forest Officer, who will guide you through the wild and also help you communicate with local tribesmen. This safari, for me, is one of those things unforgettable experiences are made of…

…but there’s more to Kerala than just nature and beauty, like its culture, religions, dances, music, city life and shopping. I’ll get back to with all that very soon. Until then, dream of Kerala or if you can't wait, book a holiday here!

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