Famed as the god’s own country, Kerala is one of the most beautiful tropical wonderlands of India. The beauty of the land, language, culture, and art makes Kerala a favourite among tourists across the world. The flavourful cuisine and the history wrapped in spice trade and invasions are other attractions of Kerala. Whether you are preparing for a vacation or a home visit with your little ones who are yet to experience the wonders of their mother land, the first thing that comes up on the internet once you put Kerala on the search bar is the beautiful images of the backwaters. What are they? Here is an introduction to the beautiful waterways of Kerala!

Kerala backwaters

‘A serene waterway surrounded by shores lined with coconut palms'—the picture sounds familiar, and you can imagine it in your head, right? What you are imagining is the backwaters of Kerala. Kerala has 44 major rivers, and 41 of them flow to the west to the Arabian Sea. The waterways of Kerala, known as the backwaters, are a network of rivers, canals, lagoons, and lakes; this vast network of waterways is said to be over 900 kilometres long and they run parallel to the Arabian Sea! The transportation of goods and people through these waterways was essential for trade in ancient times, and it is still essential for the people who live here now. Apart from transportation, locals fish here and use the water from the canals and rivers for irrigation as well as other needs.

A journey through the waterways

Large boats known as “Kettuvallam” were used for the transportation of various goods as well as people in mediaeval times; later, they transformed into their current form, known as the houseboats. If you are planning to visit the Kerala backwaters, you will probably be led to a houseboat cruise that has modern and luxury facilities. The waterways of Kerala are blissfully beautiful, with their clean and clear water reflecting the sky and shores lined with coconut palms. You can witness the locals going on about their daily lives, see stunning locations and islands, immerse yourself in the goodness of nature, and witness some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises on a backwater cruise in Kerala. Staying in a houseboat overnight and enjoying the delicious traditional cuisine while in the middle of a river is also a rare novelty.

If you are visiting Kerala with your little ones who are curious about everything, a houseboat cruise through the waterways of Kerala would be the perfect introduction to their beautiful homeland. Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kasaragod, Kochi, and Kollam are some of the most popular backwater destinations of Kerala; however, there are many offbeat and underrated destinations that are untouched by tourists.

Alleppey: Known as the Venice of the East, Alleppey, or Alappuzha, is home to some of the most stunning backwaters of Kerala. Apart from the stunning locations and experiences of a regular houseboat cruise, if you arrive at the right time, you can also be part of the famous traditional boat races that occur every year here!

Kumarakom: Kumarakom is another stunning backwater location where you can enjoy all the best parts of Kerala. Here, you can soak in the beauty of Vembanad Lake and spend some quality time with your family.

Kollam: The scenic beauty of the waterways here is something everyone should experience once in their life! Kollam is a southern district in Kerala, so you can also take off to Trivandrum and visit famous beach destinations like Varkala and Kovalam as well.

Kochi: Kochi is a hot pot of culture, history, art, and natural beauty. Apart from the picturesque waterways, you can also visit historic landmarks and beaches and enjoy and explore the culinary traditions of Kerala here.

Kasaragod: Compared to Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Kochi, the unique waterways of Kasaragod are less touristy and you can enjoy the rustic charms of life in Kerala here.

Fishing, boat cruises, birdwatching, island visits, exploring mangrove forests, experiencing local life, and learning more about the traditional arts and crafts are all activities you can engage in while you visit the backwaters. You can also taste the authentic dishes of Kerala and the centuries-old culinary traditions of this land during your trip. If you are a Keralite who lives abroad, these visits are a way to engage your children in their culture. If you are in pursuit of teaching them Malayalam with the Akshharam online learning program, a vacation to Kerala will give them more exposure to the language too!

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Even if you are far away from the serene waterways and beautiful beaches of Kerala, empower your children with their mother tongue and the gateway it will open for them to their culture! Enroll in Akshharam’s Malayalam language communication class online and make learning Malayalam easy for your children! Connect with us to learn more about our Malayalam classes for children today.