Alappuzha
Backwaters
With
the Arabian sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh
water rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural
beauty.
Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from
across the world, this backwater country is also home ot diverse animal and
bird life.
By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has
always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala.
Today,
Alappauzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting
several thousands of foreign tourists each year.
Alappuzha is also
famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and
coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called
Kuttanad.
Kuttanad: Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl
of Kerala because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the
backwater. The scenic countryside here is a rich crop of bananas, yams and
cassava.
This
one of the places in the world where
farming is done below sea level.
Inland waterways which flow above land level is an amazing feature of this
unique land.
Pathiramanal (1 ½ hours by motor
boat/30 min. by speed boat from alappuzha): According to mythology a young
Brahmin dived into the Vemabanad Lake to perform his evening ablutions and
the water made way for land to rise from below, thus creating the enchanting
island of Pathiramanal (sands of midnight).
This little island on
the backwater is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from
different part of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and
Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat.
