The
backwaters that meander through Kerala, around
Allepey (Alappuzha) and
Cochin (Kochi) are a network of rivers, canals and lagoons.
They nourish rice paddies and coconut groves, while sleek houseboats
cruise the water highways.
Far inland the mountainous Ghats are
covered in vast plantations of spices and tea. Exotic wildlife also
thrives in these hills. Good examples are
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Munnar.
Adventurers and traders have visited Kerala for ages.
Fort Cochin pays homage to its colonial
past, each building whispering a tale of Chinese visitors,
Portuguese traders, Jewish settlers, Syrian Christians and Muslim
merchants.
Kumily - Periyar NP - Munnar
Periyar is a protected area, and a
Project Tiger nature reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala,
set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats
at the border to Tamil Nadu. Also
Munnar has a National Park, which was highly recommend to me,
but sadly it was closed. The whole Periyar (Kumily)-Munnar
area has beautiful forests and lakes, great mountain views and many
tea –and spice plantations. It has also a very pleasant temperature
due the altitude and fresh clean air. After the polluted noisy and
dirty Indian cities a great relief.
Alappuzha (Allepey)
is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons.
It was described as the Venice of the East by Lord Curzon. Making a
trip through the canals by (house) boat
is a very relaxing experience. It has also a
very peculiar beach as I have never seen before on all my
Asia travels with an amazing sea view park and picnic spot.
(Forbidden to vedeography).
Ernakulam on one side and
Fort Cochin on the other side of a
large harbor have been a pleasant surprise after a lot of
disappointments. It looks like the foreign influence for so long,
has created a more open and creative atmosphere then elsewhere on my
India journey. Suddenly all the things I missed so much as a nice
park, a boulevard, benches to sit on and to have a cup of tea (items
I found everywhere in all the Asian countries I visited).
Fort Cochin was again a journey back in
time. I loved strolling through the old streets and seeing all the
fishing activities around the harbor.
