Backwaters of Kochi
Kochi allures the tourists with its antiquity –the quaint ambience and monuments of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry -- with its modernity – the bustling MG Road, Broadway and Marine Drive -- and finally with its nature’s bounty – the stretch of backwaters.
A ride on a country boat through the backwaters offer you a great picture of the land, with many islands scattered here and there and lush greenery along the banks. Another characteristic feature of Kochi visible while on a backwater cruise is the sight of Chinese fishing nets.
You can also watch the cargo ships, passenger ships or boats passing by while you are on boat ride in the Kochi backwaters. Kettuvalloms or houseboats too are seen plying through the backwaters of Kochi.
If you are taking a ride near the Marine Drive, it will be the skyscrapers that capture your attention first. But as the boat moves, you can feel the change in ambience . The traditional tile-roofed houses with a quaint charm appears when you near West Kochi, the arresting building of Cochin Port Trust interests you when you near the Willington Islands and thus the tour offers you various pictures at various locations.
The State- Government owned Kerala Tourism Development Corporation conducts boat rides around the city as well as village tours in country boats. The trips are of different duration and starts at different timings, but all trips begin at the Sea Lord Jetty in Marine Drive. A village-backwater-canal tour is conducted through the canals that link the city with the village.
