Alumkadavu, in the town of Karunagapally hardly 20 kilometers north of Kollam, is where kettuvalloms are built. These huge, long and tapering barges were traditionally used to carry tones of goods, with a portion covered with bamboo and coir servicing as a rest room and kitchen for the crew. Gliding down the calm and serene backwaters in a kettuvallom, embraced by green leaves and palm, see a rural Kerala preserved through the ages, completely hidden from the road, and it is not surprising that this is called God’s Own Country.

Famous for its natural harbor, one of the best in the world, Kochi has earned the sobriquet “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. All the islands that make up Kochi are well connected by ferry. The Chinese fishing nets, a method of fishing established in Kochi during the times of Kubla Khan line the waterfront.

Besides these backwaters, other equally beautiful water bodies elsewhere are Veli (in South Kerala), Kadinamkulam, Edava, Anchuthengu, Nadayara, Paravur, Ashtamudi, Kayamkulam, Kodungalur and Chettuva

In the monsoon months, the backwaters reverberate with the sound of the traditional snake boat races, featuring the 130-feet-long chundan boats. Up to 16 of them, with over a hundred rowers each, compete for the honors during the races. The most important of these races is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race held on the second Saturday of August. The Aranmula Boat Festival of the Parthasarathy temple of Aranmula on the banks of the holy river Pamba is the more traditional race. The boat carnival starts on the day of Thiruonam, the most auspicious day of the Kerala festival, Onam.

Whether by Kettuvalloms or by a simple vallom, the experience of gliding through the backwaters is an experience that is undeniably unforgettable.

Not only this, state’s rich cultural heritage is evident in a multitude of religious architectural wonders. Visit magnificent Hindu temples made centuries ago, later Islamic mosques with Malabar gables and colonial Portuguese Baroque churches. You would find the state so unique, so opulent culturally and otherwise that you would wish to come here again and again.

Every place of Kerala has an associated charm, a distinct beauty that is hard to forget for lifetime. Visit Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s capital, which is known for its beach – Kovalam, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple and various museums and splendid palaces. Kerala is also famous for its stretch of backwaters running across the state. For breathtaking view of backwaters go to Valiyaparamba Backwater, Chandragiri Cruises, Alumkadavu, Willingdon Island, Pathiramanal, Thiruvallam and have time of your life. Unexplored, unspoiled, the backwaters of Kerala hold great promises of enchanting holiday options.