Kerala Backwater Cruise

Anyone heard about the Great Barrier Reef of Australia ? Most of us would ask – who has not. Just like the Australia is known by the Great Barrier Reef, so is Kerala known by its backwaters. The Kettuvalloms – the Kayas (canals) – Kerala – Backwaters all are synonymous to each other. There is no other better identity of Kerala. Small canals – kayas drawing into the sea make the backwater. The water turns salty with the water of the sea and this makes place for both – the fish and the rice. Both, the raw forms of food add beauty to the surrounding lands and thus the swampy marsh waters convert into the famous and beautiful Backwaters of Kerala. Having heard a lot, I moved on to the lands of Kettuvalloms – Alappuza.

Alappuza District is the USP of Kerala – selling like hot cakes. The backwaters and the owner of the Kettuvalloms – both being flexible make it more popular. Its the thine and the dine which works here. Flexible days, appropriate timings, good food from the Chefs dine and the air of the backwater makes a ride in the Keralas Kettuvalloms the best way spending a holiday. And so here I was for a Keralan Holiday in a Keralite way. Fiddling through the pages of the various houseboats, I ticked on particular Houseboat – Cocoon as it was called, made a good way for the one traveller – that was me. Packing a 12 hr ride for Rs 1200/-, I sat my foot on Cocoon. With a crew of a Chef, a bearer and the Boat Driver we sat afoot on our ride on waters. The comfortable amiable Kettuvalloms with one kitchen, one room and a drawing room en – suite bathrooms was the best thing I had. And was there anything better I was asking for.