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With
coconut trees lining the pellucid lake waters for kilometers at a
stretch. The backwaters of Cochin proffer one of the most enchanting
sights to tourists. Apart from the numerous ancient monuments, like the
Jewish Synagogue,
Fort Kochi and the
Mattancherry Palace, built during
the pre-British times, the backwaters in Kochi city of Kerala is just
another reason why hundreds of tourists flock to this beautiful port
city the whole year round.
Though the entire state of Kerala is renowned for its backwaters, Cochin
backwaters are amongst the most frequented ones. Infact, numerous
backwater cruises either begin or end in the city. |
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While you
put up at any of the hotels, make sure to take sometime out for a Kochi
backwaters tour. With water birds, wild flowers and lush greenery along
their banks, the backwaters in Kochi present the most breathtaking view.
If you plan out your Kochi tour a little more systematically, you can
also catch the Indira Gandhi Boat Race. It is conducted in the rolling
backwaters of Cochin, during the last week of December. This boat race
substitutes as the finale to the tourism fair held just before it. This
boat race was instituted in the loving memory of former Prime Minister
of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi. Many teams of boat rowers, seated on the
long snake boats with curving prows, take part in this race.
They try their mighty best to wade past each other hurriedly in order to
win the coveted trophy. Meanwhile, hundreds of locals and tourists
throng the edge of the waterways where the race is held. The whole of
Kochi or Cochin wears a carnival look during the boat races. Another
attraction for tourists is Kettuvallam or the houseboats plying in the
Cochin backwaters. Connected by artificial canals, these backwaters
serve as an economical means of transit.
How to
reach
The nearest airport is
Cochin International Airport.
Once you reach Cochin, you can request your hotel staff or any travel
agency to arrange a ferry tour across the Cochin backwaters.
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