Top 12 Houseboat and Backwaters Destinations of Kerala
Kerala state is known as God’s own country and most popular tourist destinations in India, also listed among the top 50 destinations of a lifetime by National Geographic Traveler.
The Kerala Backwaters are the unique ecosystem and prominent tourist attractions in Kerala with houseboats. Kettuvallam is the name of house boat mainly used for promoting tourism in Kerala, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Ashtamudi Lake have also become a major tourist attractions of the state.
Alleppey Backwaters
Alleppey Backwaters or Alappuzha Backwaters is the most famous backwater destinations in Kerala and favourite place for boating and cruising. Vembanad lake is known as Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha and the venue of the popular Vallam Kali or Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race.
Kochi Backwaters
Backwaters of Kochi are chain of brackish lagoons of Vembanad Lake and the serene backwaters are popularly known as Veeranpuzha. Vembanad Lake is the heart of the Backwater tourism in Kerala and home to hundreds of Kettuvallams houseboats.
Kozhikode Backwaters
Kozhikode known as City of Spices, is the most scenic places in Kerala and favourite destination for boating and cruising. Calicut or Kozhikode is also a popular water sport destination.
Kollam Backwaters
Kollam is one of the starting point of the Kerala backwater waterways. Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam is the second largest lake in Kerala and is the most visited backwater region in the state.
Ashtamudi Backwaters
Munroe Island at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake is located 25 km from Kollam and a must visit tourism destination in Kerala. Mundrothuruthu on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake host one of the famous boat races in Kerala, Kallada Boat Race.
Kuttanad Backwaters
Kuttanad in Alappuzha and Kottayam district of Kerala has the lowest altitude in India and famous for its vast paddy fields, known as rice bowl of Kerala and boat race in the Punnamada Backwaters.
Kasargod Backwaters
Kasargod backwater of Kerala is one of the lesser known backwater destination, famous for Valiyaparamba coastal island. Valiyaparamba island in Valiyaparamba Backwaters is main spot for agriculture and fishing in Kerala.
Kumarakom Backwaters
Kumarakom on the banks of Vembanad Lake is a popular tourism destination of Kottayam, famous for its backwater tourism. Kumarakom has a wide variety of houseboats around the backwaters of the Vembanad Lake and home to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
Thiruvallam Backwaters
Thiruvallam backwaters are known for its canoe rides, facilities for water sports and Vellayani Lake, located just 6 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Tourism in Thiruvananthapuram also include medical tourism,Ayurveda,hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries.
Paravur Backwaters
Estuaries of Paravur is one of the most visited place in Kollam district, known for its temples, natural beauties, backwater location and white sand beaches. Paravur Lake is part of the Kerala Backwaters and one of the emerging tourist destinations in Kerala.
Kavvayi Backwaters
Kavvayi Backwaters is surrounded by small islands, located near Payyannur. Valiyaparamba Backwaters along with Kavvayi Backwaters two lesser known tourist destination in Kerala.
Backwater Islands of Kollam
Islands of Kollam in Ashtamudi Lake are important tourism spots in the state for backwater tourism and known as gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. There are more than 15 islands in Ashtamudi Lake, Munroe Island and Chavara Thekkumbhagom are the most important and extremely famous for House Boat and Backwater Resorts.
