Alappuzha backwaters
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A maze of canals, rivers and lakes around Vembanad Lake, lined with coconut palms and paddy fields, best seen from a kettuvallam houseboat.
Natural wonderAlappuzha and Kottayam districtsBest time to visit: September to March
Highlights
- Houseboat cruises on converted kettuvallams (rice barges) on Vembanad Lake
- Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race on Punnamada Lake in August
- Kuttanad, where farmers grow rice on land below sea level
- Village life along the canals: toddy shops, coir making and fishing
Significance
The backwaters are a lifeline for transport, farming and fishing in central Kerala. Kuttanad’s below-sea-level farming system has been recognised by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.