Kerala, India
By Marni Granston
Venturing down to the southern state of Kerala you’ll find peace, tranquillity and true beauty. Starkly different from the deserts of Rajasthan, Kerala is a lush oasis filled with enchanting waterways, swaying palm trees and terraced rice paddies.
The backwaters of Kerala are a collection of lakes linked by interconnecting canals, lined with brightly colored villages and forming what feels like the Venice of India. Cruising through the canals you are witness to daily life centered around the water with women doing laundry in the canals, kids bathing and swimming, men and women making their way around town on local ferries and religious ceremonies.
The backwaters are best seen aboard the traditional Kettuvallam or Indian houseboats. Once used as barges to carry rice through the waterways, these traditional boats are now converted offering guests the luxury of air-conditioning, master suites with full baths, lounges, sunbeds and dining areas. The food aboard is all local cuisine unique to the Kerala region prepared by your personal chef.
At TRIBU we recommend a one or two-night stay aboard the houseboat, combined with a night in Cochin and a stay at one of the lakeside resorts of Kerala including the luxurious Vivanta by Taj Bekal in northern Kerala or the traditional Kumarakom Lake Resort.
Contact a TRIBU Travel Expert today to start planning your trip to India info@tributravel.com.