COLORS OF TRAVEL: Backwaters boat ride in Kochi

Kochi, a city inWest India, is famous for its backwater alley, where travelers would go for a boat ride in the backwaters to relax and enjoy the nature. It was the only city I had visited in India, where I took a 1 day tour to the backwaters of Kochi called Alleppey backwaters. The backwaters is a network of interconnected lagoons, canals, rivers and lakes.

One of the unique experiences in the backwaters is riding in the traditional boat, called kettuvallams. The kettuvallams are mostly made of bamboo with decorative interior. Our journey began with around 2 hour ride on the road before we reached the pier in Alleppey.

Kettuvallam

A cloudy initial boat ride

Our boatman using bamboo stick to row the boat

Peaceful ride

More and more coconut trees

Lovely greeneries

The journey continues

The boat ride in the backwaters was about 4 hours. We passed by some villages and farmland along the back waters of Kochi, with coconut tress fringing along the banks. There was also a pit stop to in a local village to see how a coconut husk could be turned into a useful biodegrable string. It was a peaceful relaxing boat ride.

Approaching a local village

Turning coconut husk into a string

The process of making a coconut string

The end product

A houseboat

Another tourist kettuvallam

Passing by another local village

Washing at the riverbank

Toward the end of the journey

Bye bye Allepey backwaters

The next day, I spent half day exploring Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. I visited Mattancherry Palace, a historical building and a Jewesh shopping street. I walked along the beach in the hot sunny day and passed by St Francis Church in Port Kochi. It was also a rare opportunity to see ancient Chinese fishing net near the pier, the icon of Port Kochi.