Kerala Backwaters

The Kerala Backwaters (കേരളത്തിന്റെ കായൽനിരകൾ) are a vast network of more than 900 kilometers of lagoons, lakes, rivers, and canals stretching parallel to the Malabar Coast along the Arabian Sea. This unique water landscape is renowned for its traditional Kettuvallam houseboats, lush coconut groves, the below sea level rice fields of Kuttanad, and picturesque villages where daily life revolves around the waterways. Houseboat cruises from Alappuzha (Alleppey) or Kumarakom are among the highlights of any trip to Kerala. Ayurveda resorts, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, and Kerala's distinctive cuisine complete the experience. The Backwaters are the state's best known natural attraction, and Kerala proudly bears the nickname “God's Own Country”.