Thrown into a world of excitement, I embarked on my long desired Kerala backwater tour with my friend Joseph. Alleppey was the backwater destination in Kerala, we chose for the trip. As I was aware that Alleppey backwaters serve as major centers for backwater cruises, I was quite convinced with my trip.

Alleppey Backwaters

Alleppey Backwaters

This is a little busy tourist centre with many places to stay and take houseboats from. As soon as we entered the land, it seemed like we were transported to haven. With a network of lagoons, lakes and freshwater rivers, backwaters in Alleppey were really mesmerizing. The backwaters were really tranquil that eased us off. Visiting backwaters without a houseboat cruising is almost next to impossible. So, there we were on an exciting houseboat cruising. Passing through rice paddy fields, soothing scenery and natural waterways make you feel really rejuvenating.

We had our food on the houseboat itself. The traditional Kerala food with an aroma of coconut dishes was delicious to have. However, Joseph was happy with seafood. After filling our stomach, we were all set to explore Alleppey. The rustic view of villages of Kerala left us with surprise and we were thinking how hard is to manage a life without luxury! Still the locals were looking contended; actually they were well aware of the art of living happily.

On our tour to Alleppey, we came across the gorgeous site of Punnamada. The spot serves as the venue of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, which is an annual event of Kerala. The next attraction of Kerala, which became a part of our exploration, was the famous Ambalapuzha Temple. Like other temples in India, the temple was also dedicated to Hindu God Krishna. Being among the ancient temples of Kerala, it holds great significance. A unique dish “Paalppayasam” is prepared here every day and is distributed among devotees. The temple was built by the king of Ambalapuzha, Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan.

Ambalappuzha Temple

Ambalappuzha Temple

Joseph was really eager to visit the St. Andrew’s Church. Reason being he wanted to make out the difference between the churches in India and the churches we have. The guide shared his knowledge about the church that it was constructed by the Portuguese missionaries. The construction of the church started in 1864 and it took two years to complete. Originally built for the use of Scottish officers and their families, the church got fame with its distinguishing feature of the quality of music that is played using a pipe organ and a clock tower. The architectural charms hold out attention.

There was another temple The Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, which we could not visit as we were too tired and wanted to relax. To shed our fatigue, we headed towards a famous Ayurveda resort in Kerala, known as Keraleeyam Ayurvedic Resort.

After consulting for some rejuvenating massage, I was ready to undergo an Ayurveda massage. I was asked to be comfortable and was given the massage using lots of oil and herbs. At the end of my massage session, I could feel a revitalizing effect on my body. Enjoying such a blissful experience amidst the land of greenery left me contended.