| Anyone heard about the Great Barrier Reef of | | | | resting there for half an hour, we sat towards |
| Australia ? Most of us would ask – who has | | | | Krishnapuram. Here I was dropped down by the |
| not. Just like the Australia is known by the Great | | | | Boat Driver for sometime. My bearer took me to |
| Barrier Reef, so is Kerala known by its | | | | the most beautiful Palace of the town – |
| backwaters. The Kettuvalloms – the Kayas | | | | Krishnapuram Palace. Around 30 minutes drive |
| (canals) – Kerala – Backwaters all are | | | | from the shore, the Palace is the reminder of |
| synonymous to each other. There is no other | | | | Local king. Museum having the old swords and the |
| better identity of Kerala. | | | | kings dress, scriptures, artifacts from the |
| Small canals – kayas drawing into the sea | | | | Harrappan Civilization. There in the Palace is also |
| make the backwater. The water turns salty with | | | | the Mural – Gajendramoksham – the |
| the water of the sea and this makes place for | | | | largest single Mural in Kerala. With the eyes on the |
| both – the fish and the rice. Both, the raw | | | | wall paintings, we stepped back towards the boat. |
| forms of food add beauty to the surrounding | | | | Another 30 minutes...... |
| lands and thus the swampy marsh waters | | | | Back on the boat I found much relief from the |
| convert into the famous and beautiful Backwaters | | | | sun. With the cool waves and the light |
| of Kerala. Having heard a lot, I moved on to the | | | | atmosphere, there was no signs of light summer |
| lands of Kettuvalloms – Alappuza. | | | | heat. Sitting in the Garden Chair,sipping the |
| Alappuza District is the USP of Kerala – selling | | | | somewhat cool coconut water added to the |
| like hot cakes. The backwaters and the owner of | | | | comfort. As the Boat driver told me, we were on |
| the Kettuvalloms – both being flexible make it | | | | the Kayamkulam Lake and it would take another |
| more popular. Its the thine and the dine which | | | | half an hour to reach the shores. The shores led |
| works here. Flexible days, appropriate timings, | | | | to the small town called Kanjipadam. Kanjipadam is |
| good food from the Chefs dine and the air of the | | | | the place where i would be spending my night in |
| backwater makes a ride in the Keralas | | | | the warmth of the Green Palace Health Resort. |
| Kettuvalloms the best way spending a holiday. | | | | The Dinner was served here. |
| And so here I was for a Keralan Holiday in a | | | | Next morning after the breakfast was served, I |
| Keralite way. | | | | was back on Kettuvallom. Before being back on |
| Fiddling through the pages of the various | | | | the boat – I took a package of the Ayurveda |
| houseboats, I ticked on particular Houseboat – | | | | – something for which Kerala is so known. |
| Cocoon as it was called, made a good way for | | | | The tea on Board ( I prepared it ) and the Kerala |
| the one traveller – that was me. Packing a 12 | | | | Chips were refreshing. Again I could see the Boat |
| hr ride for Rs 1200/-, I sat my foot on Cocoon. | | | | moving slowly, through the waters. After three |
| With a crew of a Chef, a bearer and the Boat | | | | hours of cool swaying on the backwaters, we |
| Driver we sat afoot on our ride on waters. The | | | | reached Champakulam. Here I was to see the |
| comfortable amiable Kettuvalloms with one | | | | Champakulams St. Mary Church. About 500 years |
| kitchen, one room and a drawing room en – | | | | old, this building is a charm in itself. |
| suite bathrooms was the best thing I had. And | | | | As afternoon was drawing in, the Chef laid down |
| was there anything better I was asking for. | | | | some of the exquisite delicacies of South India. |
| Setting off in the morning hour of 11 o clock, we | | | | With a spread of four chutneys ( Indian Sauces) |
| sat towards Trikkunapuzha. Around 31 kms from | | | | and the dishes like Sambar Chawal, Idli Dosa, I |
| Alappuza, it takes 4 hours by boat. Waving to | | | | had my fill. The lunch ended with a nicely brewed |
| other tourists moving in other directions, shouting | | | | Filter Coffee. |
| in reply to the boys running on the shores and | | | | It was time to lay down. Sitting near the edge of |
| watching the chef trying to catch the freshwater | | | | the houseboat, trying to touch the water, I was |
| fish, I went on the water. Lying down watching | | | | there watching the waters flow by, the sun |
| the clear blue sky and sipping some real coffee | | | | slowly going down and the children running by the |
| straight from the plantations got me the catch of | | | | shore. I knew it was time to go..... |
| the four hours. After reaching Trikkunapuzha and | | | | |