Backwaters

The 1.30pm flight from Goa to Kochi via Bangalore with Kingfisher Airlines was excellent. The decision to go by plane was a pricey one (Rs 6,100 or EUR 110,-) however it allowed me to cover some 650km in a few hours only rather than loosing a full day or more on a train. I arrived at Kochi airport in the late afternoon and took a taxi (Rs 650) to Fort Kochi. Here, I found a spacious hotel room (Rs 1,700) in the Ballard Bungalow Hotel, a building which dates back to the Dutch colonial era.

Fort Kochi turned out to be a rather dull place. I spent the evening walking along the beach and took a look at the traditional Chinese fishing nets, the only interesting sight around. The next day, I did a rare thing by joining an organised tour - it was the best and quickest way to explore the Backwaters. The full day tour included a minibus transfer to the village of Vaikom, some 6 hours on a rice boat slowly cruising the Backwaters and a delicious lunch. Best of all, it cost only Rs 650.

Kerala is a land of copious rainfall. Once the earth

Chinese fishing net at sunset
Fort Kochi

is saturated, the overflow runs into canals and streams, the rolling water surging ceaselessly through hills and mountain passes to flow into the forty odd rivers. This labyrinthine network of rivers, canals, streams and lagoons constitutes the famous backwaters of Kerala.
Maps & More - Kerala

The Backwaters are a 900km long network of lagoons, lakes, canals, and estuaries of several rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea. While hill resorts and palm-lined beaches can be found in other parts of India, the Backwaters are unique to Kerala. The canals are both natural and man-made and often the only means of transport.

Cruising the backwaters on a muscle-powered rice boat is probably one of the most relaxing things to do in India. It certainly appealed me and although the surrounding scenery was breathtakingly beautiful everybody on the boat including me fell asleep at one stage during the cruise.

The cruise itself offered an ideal opportunity to see the lifestyle of local people living in the Backwaters whilst enjoying this tranquil way of travelling.

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