A chance to bask in backwater beauty

With schools closed for summer vacation, the Kollam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has introduced some budget backwater packages for tourists.

Cruising through the idyllic waterways around Karunagapally, the houseboats from the Kannetti terminal will take the passengers on a trip through some pretty stretches across Vattakayal and Aalinkadavu. A day tour complete with traditional Kerala food, featuring special seafood delicacies, it starts from the Sree Narayana Guru pavilion, which hosts the famous Sree Narayana Trophy Boat Race. The houseboat trips clocking five hours include a handful of destinations, including the Pallikkal river, Kayamkulam harbour, and Azheekkal beach.

“Amritapuri and Vallikkavu are also part of our itinerary,” says Arshaj S., a DTPC official. Another route through Chambakkadavu and Kallukadavu is more of a birding hotspot where the travellers can come across several flocks of migratory birds. Apart from being a real treat for birdwatchers, the route is quite scenic with beautiful villages on both sides. “This route is totally unexplored with no other boat services. We usually recommend this to people who are in a hurry and can’t opt for the long trip,” he says.

The DTPC operates two houseboats and one safari boat from Kannetti and the houseboat trips start at 11 a.m., coming back to the terminal by 4 p.m. Each boat can accommodate ten passengers and the cost for the five-hour trip, including food, is ₹850 per head.

Speedboat rides

“For those who can’t spend the entire day, there are other options. A team of five can hire a speedboat for just ₹250 and go on a small round. Since the speed is high they can cover a lot of area in one hour and there are many takers for the speedboat trip through Vattakayal,” he adds.

The DTPC is also offering another package to explore the beauty of Munroe Thuruth. The trip starting from the DTPC boat jetty will first take the travellers across Ashtamudi to Sambranikodi. After a short break at Theeram Resort, the trip will resume reaching the original destination shortly.

The highlight of this trip is the journey in traditional ‘vallams’ through small canals on the island for enjoying all the typical sights and sounds of the region. After coming back to Kollam, there is also an option to visit the Adventure Park, Children’s Park and beach as part of the package.

For details and reservations, call: 83019 26625.