Kerala, the small state located on India’s south-western coast, is most famous for its picturesque wetlands – a network of interconnected rivers, canals and lakes known as the Kerala Backwaters. Fresh waters of the rivers mix with the salt water of the Arabian Sea, creating a unique, self-sustaining ecosystem.

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Considered to be the creation of the Hindu God Vishnu, Kerala has played an important part in Indian history and culture since its history began, in 5,000 BC. People have been traveling to this earthly paradise for the last 2,000 years, searching for spices, ivory and sandalwood. Nowadays, Kerala is also a prime tourist destination, thanks to its semi-flooded area that stretches from Cochin to Trivandrum. This amazing water web consists of lakes, canals, estuaries and the deltas of 44 rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea.

The Kerala Backwaters are unique to India, with no other place in the world even coming close in beauty and complexity. Most of the rich aquatic life is endemic to these wetlands, including several species of crab, frogs, mudskippers as well as numerous birds, turtles and otters. Although man has lived in harmony with wildlife, for centuries, the increasing number of motorized boats is causing concerns regarding the pollution of this fragile ecosystem.

The over 900 km of navigable waters make the Wetlands of Kerala a perfect destination for boat cruising. Renting a Kettuvallam (traditional house boat) and exploring the marvelous Kerala marshlands is the main tourist activity in the area. It’s a great way of discovering life in the many interconnected villages and cities of Kerala, including Cochin, India’s famous “Venice of the East”, with its extensive networks of man-made canals.

Kettuvallams are special boats, constructed without using a single nail. The master house-boat makers of the Kerala Backwaters use only wooden planks, fastened with rope made from coconut palm trees and covered with black tar boiled from the shells of cashew nuts. They have adapted to modern demands, so most of them have electricity, bedrooms, kitchenettes, a lounge, and even bathrooms. Measuring up to 80 feet in length, Kettuvallams really are true floating houses.

For a more rural experience, the electricity on the house boats is often cut and replaced with lamps and torches. You can sit back and carefully observe the palms on the banks of the canals, as they bend over the water giving it a green hue, or you can venture off into the friendly villages and experience their lifestyle up close, while enjoying some refreshing coconut water.

However you choose to discover Kerala, you won’t regret traveling to God’s Own Country and its picturesque backwaters.

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