Meander Down the Kerala Backwaters

The coastal area of the Indian state of Kerala is honeycombed with a network of over 930 miles of canals, navigable streams and rivers, ponds, and lakes that make up one of the world's most extensive backwaters and are unique within India herself. They extend from one end of this southwestern Indian state to the other, and make for an inviting, relaxing, and thoroughly peaceful trip. Visitors rent a boat and head out either on a day trip, for one or more nights aboard a houseboat, or make their way to one of the numerous isolated resorts nestled within the green of the backwaters.

Getting There
The best place to start is near the most accessible backwater area, near the Keralan capital of Kochin. Most visitors will arrive here either by train or by flying into Kochin International Airport.

Boating Trips
Most tourists will enter the backwater area on a day trip, while some will spend two or three nights visiting the sites that are deeper inside the backwaters. More than likely both will make their journey on one of the houseboats that are so characteristic of Keralan tourism. These boats are often still made out of wood, although some are now fiberglass, and sheathed in a roof of bound reeds.Touring the backwaters is a leisurely, quiet experience of birds, sunshine, river and sea breezes, old Christian churches, quaint villages, and lots of green.

Retreat
Along even a backwater day trip, one is likely to see a secluded resort along the banks of a canal, river, or lake. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, there are actually quite a few of these resorts offering luxury and a real sense of getting away from it all. Yoga classes and ayurvedic spa treatments are common features, as are either in-house or excursions to performances of Kerala's traditional dance form, kathakali.

Staying in a backwater retreat really takes two forms. One is the true backwater resort, located inland and in an isolated location. This is the ideal choice for those who want a spa holiday, or really are just looking to get away from it all with a good book and a minimum of hassles. A little more lively is to stay on one of the islands that sit just outside the backwater access waterways. These strictly speaking are not part of the backwaters, but they are nearby and have good views of them. Furthermore, they have very limited access by only boat or boat and narrow causeways, and combine some of the virtues of staying in the backwaters with a little beach fun.

Sources: Personal experience.