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- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Kerala
- The Backwaters of Kerala
The Backwaters of Kerala
One of the most memorable experiences for many travellers in
Kerala is a boat journey on the state's famous backwaters. The
best-known of these areas is Kuttanad, situated between the hills
in the west and the Arabian Sea, and stretching for 50 miles south
of Kochi (formerly Cochin). This extraordinary maze of rivers,
lakes, canals and estuaries is lined with dense tropical greenery,
and reveals a Keralan lifestyle that is totally hidden from the
road. Boats are the only way to explore this area, billed as
Kaleidoscope Kerala, where views change around every bend: narrow
tree-covered canals open onto dazzling vistas of paddy fields, and
through the trees can be glimpsed churches, mosques and temples,
and small farms and villages which remain almost untouched by the
modern world. Buffaloes are used for ploughing the fields and women
bathe and wash their clothes in the rivers. Roads do cross this
area, but are almost entirely linked by manually-operated ferries
rather than bridges. Kingfishers, cormorants and fish eagles
compete with fisherman in rowing boats for the dwindling fish
population. Providing visitors with the chance to just sit back and
allow life to unfold around them at its own, slow pace, a trip on
the Keralan backwaters is the ideal tonic for travel fatigue -
especially if your experience of cities like Mumbai, Delhi and
Kolkata has got you feeling a bit strung out.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.