Have you ever felt the feeling of staying in a fantasizing houseboat in the middle of a lake in some full-moon nights, surrounding by all the beautiful tall coconut trees? Have you ever dreamt of an untouched honeymoon in the middle of some sweetest brackish lagoons, floating in a romantic boat and kissing your partner as much intensely as you can?

Well, yes all I am talking about is not any midnight dream, it’s a daydream which can be fulfilled in one and only “God’s Own Country-Kerala”. Don’t misunderstand my writing terms. Well for your kind information “Kerala” is not a country itself, but an incredible jwelllery of “Incredible India”. It’s worth more than a platinum necklace to “Mother India”. From ages, “Kerala” took the main attraction of foreign tourists who ever comes to “India”. “Kerala” regionally referred to as “Keralam”, is a state in the south-west region of “India” on the “Malabar coast”. “Kerala” was placed among the `50 destinations of a lifetime’ by “National Geographic Traveler” in a special collectors’ issue released just before the turn of the millennium. Besides all the unique landscapes, cultures and foods, “Kerala” resembles itself through the untouched and exotic “Backwaters”. While hill resorts and beaches can be found in other parts of “India”, the “Backwaters” are unique to “Kerala”.

“Backwaters” in “Kerala” is a network of 1500 km of brackish lagoons and lakes both manmade and natural extending from one end of Kerala to the other and lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast). The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of “Kerala” state. “The backwaters” were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the “Western Ghats” range. This is a natural phenomenon, as major rivers and streams that flows within “Kerala” drain themselves into backwaters regions, resulting in creation of several small land strips, lagoons, islands etc, which opens to sea at few areas. Thus “backwaters” are one of the largest fresh-water sources and rich in marine habitat as well as adds to natural beauty. Kollam, Alappuzha, Kuttanad, Kottayam- Kumarakom, Paravur(Kollam), Munroe island, Kasargod, Thiruvallam, Kozhikode are the regions of “Backwaters”.

When you know about the “Backwaters”, then you must know about the real way of enjoyment in these regions.“The Kettuvallams (Kerala houseboats)” in the backwaters are one of the prominent ways of real pleasure being in “Kerala”.Imagine you are located in center of a 200 sq km expanse of water, equipped with no gadgets, cut-off from other parts of world and without any daily pleasures? That’s exactly happens when you are in a house-boat.“Honeymoon” is very special to celebrate in these traditional houseboats. More than 2000 “Kettuvallams” ply the backwaters,120 of them in “Alappuzha”. “Kerala government” has classified the tourist houseboats as Platinum, Gold and silver.The houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Most tourists spend the night on a house boat. Food is cooked on board by the accompanying staff – mostly having a flavour of Kerala. The houseboats are of various patterns and can be hired as per the size of the family or visiting group. The living-dining room is usually open on at least three sides providing a grand view of the surroundings, including other boats, throughout the day when it is on the move.

“Chundan vallams” or “Snake boat” is another thing to enjoy in these beautiful backwater regions. “Chundan vallams” are narrow boats over 100 feet long, with a raised prow that stands 10 feet above water and resembles the hood of a snake. Traditionally these were used by local rulers to transport soldiers during waterfront wars. In modern times, it has spawned a new sport – the “Vallam Kali (boat race)”. Each “chundan vallam” accommodates about a hundred muscular oarsmen.When “Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Free India” visited “Kerala” in 1952, four traditional “chundan valloms” went to receive him. A snake boat race was organised for him. He was so impressed that when he went back to “Delhi”, he sent back a gleaming silver trophy for a boat race. Even today, the 1.5 km “Nehru Trophy Boat Race” is the most prestigious.

Well, “Kerala” is accessible from any part of “India”, by flight or by train. You can get best and cheapest “Kerala Backwater Packages” in different Indian travel agencies. It’s a very famous and extra-ordinary international tourist spot. Hence, UK, USA or some country’s travel agencies often sell best and reasonable “Kerala Backwater Packages” or “Kerala Houseboat Packages”. I hope you all will travel someday in this “God’s Own Country” and feel yourself as an innocent child of “Dear God”.