ON TO KUMARAKOM !
We left Periyar at 9 am on the next leg of our trip, which would take us to Kumarakom. It would take about 3 hours and the drive was once again to be downhill. Kumarakom is an internationally famous tourist destination for its backwaters fringed with coconut palms.
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala. They consist of a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system of over 500 km of waterways. There are many resorts around the backwaters and one can also stay in houseboats, which can be as luxurious as one wants.
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Map of Kerala Backwaters
(Wikipedia) |
We had planned to stay at a houseboat which would take us for trips all over the Vembanad lake, which is one of the largest lakes on the backwaters, covering more than 200 square kilometres. We passed through the bustling town of Kottayam and soon found ourselves at the landing stage where our houseboat was anchored.
Over the next 24 hours, we stayed in the houseboat and went on an extended tour of the lovely backwaters, including the Vembanad lake.
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| Our Houseboat "Shivam" |
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| Living Room |
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| Setting Out on the Cruise |
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| Lovely Patterns of Nature |
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| A Large Houseboat on the Vambanad Lake |
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| Serenity |
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| A Tourist Resort on the Backwaters |
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| Moored Houseboat - Early Morning Scene |
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| A Cruising Houseboat |
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God's Own Country
After cruising the backwaters the whole day, we returned to the anchorage in the evening. After spending a comfortable night in the houseboat, we went out again for an early morning cruise and returned at about 9 am.
It was time to go, We thanked the staff of the houseboat and got into the car for the final leg of our trip.
To be continued .....
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