The Backwaters of Alleppey

I have mentioned the backwaters in another post, but Alleppey, or Alappuzha, deserves its own spotlight. This is the heart of Kerala's backwater region, and it is a place where life moves at the pace of a slow moving boat. I spent my first day just walking along the canal banks in the town. There are small ferries that run regularly, and I took one out to some of the smaller villages. The public ferries are incredibly cheap and give you a real sense of daily life on the backwaters. I saw women doing laundry on the steps, men fishing from small canoes, and kids swimming in the water. For the classic experience, I did book a houseboat for one night. I was a bit worried it would be too touristy, but it ended up being the highlight of my time in Kerala. The boat took us through narrow canals where we could reach out and touch the palm trees. We stopped at a local village where we watched coir being made from coconut husks. The meal on the boat, which included fresh prawns cooked in a coconut sauce, was unforgettable. If you are on a budget, you can also rent a kayak or a small boat and explore on your own. The backwaters are a network of canals, lakes, and rivers, and there is no wrong way to experience them.