Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is a vast network
of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. These backwaters are both
the basis of a distinct lifestyle and a fascinating thoroughfare.
Travelling by boat along the backwaters is one of the highlights
of a visit to Kerala. The boats cross shallow, palm-fringed lakes
studded with cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, and travel along
narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre), copra(dried
coconut meat) and cashews are loaded onto boats.
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Along
the way are small settlements where people live on narrow spits
of reclaimed land only a few metres wide. Although practically
surrounded by water, they still manage to keep cows,pigs,chickens
and ducks and cultivate small vegetable gardens. Prawns and fish,
including the prized karimeen, are also farmed, and dredged by hand
to be later burnt with coal dust to produce lime. O the more open
stretches of canal, traditional boats with huge sails and prominent
prows drift by. The sight of three or four of these sailing towards
you in the late afternoon sun is unforgettable.
Backwater Village Tours
An
increasingly popular way to explore the backwaters is on a village
tour. Usually this involves small groups of less than 10 people,
a knowledgeable guide and an open work boat or covered kettuvallam.
The tours last from 2 1/2 to six hours. You are taken to villages
to watch coir making, boat building, toddy tapping and fish farming,
and on the longer trips a traditional Kerala lunch is provided.
These tours are more rewarding to the tourist and the villagers,
and they are very accessible-some of the best village tours operate
out of Kochi.
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