The backwaters of Kerala, India are impressive and beautiful.
One of the absolute best ways to experience the backwaters of Kerala State is by traveling on the government boats, instead of in or on the expensive floating boathouses which go virtually no where.
One of the absolute best ways to experience the backwaters of Kerala State is by traveling on the government boats, instead of in or on the expensive floating boathouses which go virtually no where.
Since Kerala is blessed with rivers, canals and lakes, it can be a wonderland if you are traveling along these waterways. The state of Kerala has its own fleet of boats plying the water ways beginning in Kochi and going south to Kollam and even to Trivandrum.
This is a very extensive network of waterways and has many starting and stopping jetties (piers) along, around and through all interconnecting rivers, lakes and canals and it is very easy to jetty hop but the best trip in the back waters is the government boat running from Alleppey (Alappuzha) to the city of Kollam or the reverse. Click here for waterway map, then click on the map to expand.
This run is accomplished by purchasing a ticket at the main jetty in Alleppey for the tourist boat which departs in the morning at 10:30 and arrives in Kollam around sunset and possibly around dark.
If your are going north and departing from Kollam you need to go to the KSWTC boat jetty which is not too far from the railway station to purchase the ticket to Alleppey and this boat has the same approximate departure time and arrival time as the Alleppey to Kollam boat.
The State Water Transportation Department of Kerala State has their own web site which can be accessed by clicking this link and once on their web page select the option for boat services from Alappuzha which is option number 1 as it is currently listed on the web site. On that page you will see the boats and their schedules but for the tourist boat refer to item number 17.
You can also see the many other boat routes and schedules but it is helpful to open Google Maps for the area and see the jetties as marked on the map for a better reference of these many jetty stops.
This boat ride may be included in the Lonely Planet or other guide books but the information in this post is current as of its writing 2016. The current cost is 300 Rupees for the one way ticket. This is a 100% increase from the fare cost in 2011, therefore, costs could again increase depending on when you go.
In February 2017, the boat was out of service for repairs but these should be completed by now, November 2017, however, it always helps to confirm the informtion before deciding to take this boat.
Click on the images included in this post for a larger view.
Also, it is possible to book the ticket a day in advance which I highly recommend but this can only be done at the departing jetty ticket office, there is no online booking and I am not sure if any travel agencies can book the ticket unless you are in either Kollam or Alleppey.
The boat consist of two decks with the upper deck being the prime location. It has metal chairs so I also recommend that you purchase a seat cushion or have something soft to sit on. Also get to the boat early to select your seat and remember one side is going to be hot in the afternoon depending if you are going north or south.
The boat make 2-3 stops, one for lunch and another for what they call a "tea" stop which is usually near shops so you can purchase beverages or snacks. The lunch is a Thali and nothing special, so I also suggest that you bring water and other beverages along with packaged food for the journey.
Another recommendation is if your are going south from Alleppey to Kollam, do yourself a favor and book a hotel in Kollam for one nights rest unless you are going to a beach location very close to Kollam.
In rare cases I will make recommendations for what I consider are very high quality accommodations and for me to do this means that these locations are truly worth the time and expense. In Alleppey, I am going to recommend one such place know as Punnamada Resort. It is an exquisite property which is located on the lake to the north of the city. This property is truly unique, constructed of both Teak or other hard woods and is done in true Keralan style architecture. The tranquility of the Punnamunda Resort is without a doubt one of its charms. With their swimming pool, fabulous restaurant menu choices and views of the lake make the Punnamunda Resort a treasure to be enjoyed and discovered. From their location you can watch as the parade of houseboats pass by both in the morning and evenings.
The images below are taken at the Punnamunda Resort in Alleppey.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy
This run is accomplished by purchasing a ticket at the main jetty in Alleppey for the tourist boat which departs in the morning at 10:30 and arrives in Kollam around sunset and possibly around dark.
If your are going north and departing from Kollam you need to go to the KSWTC boat jetty which is not too far from the railway station to purchase the ticket to Alleppey and this boat has the same approximate departure time and arrival time as the Alleppey to Kollam boat.
The State Water Transportation Department of Kerala State has their own web site which can be accessed by clicking this link and once on their web page select the option for boat services from Alappuzha which is option number 1 as it is currently listed on the web site. On that page you will see the boats and their schedules but for the tourist boat refer to item number 17.
You can also see the many other boat routes and schedules but it is helpful to open Google Maps for the area and see the jetties as marked on the map for a better reference of these many jetty stops.
This boat ride may be included in the Lonely Planet or other guide books but the information in this post is current as of its writing 2016. The current cost is 300 Rupees for the one way ticket. This is a 100% increase from the fare cost in 2011, therefore, costs could again increase depending on when you go.
In February 2017, the boat was out of service for repairs but these should be completed by now, November 2017, however, it always helps to confirm the informtion before deciding to take this boat.
Click on the images included in this post for a larger view.
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| Boat Exterior |
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| Upper Deck Seating |
The boat consist of two decks with the upper deck being the prime location. It has metal chairs so I also recommend that you purchase a seat cushion or have something soft to sit on. Also get to the boat early to select your seat and remember one side is going to be hot in the afternoon depending if you are going north or south.
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| Lower Deck Seating |
Another recommendation is if your are going south from Alleppey to Kollam, do yourself a favor and book a hotel in Kollam for one nights rest unless you are going to a beach location very close to Kollam.
In rare cases I will make recommendations for what I consider are very high quality accommodations and for me to do this means that these locations are truly worth the time and expense. In Alleppey, I am going to recommend one such place know as Punnamada Resort. It is an exquisite property which is located on the lake to the north of the city. This property is truly unique, constructed of both Teak or other hard woods and is done in true Keralan style architecture. The tranquility of the Punnamunda Resort is without a doubt one of its charms. With their swimming pool, fabulous restaurant menu choices and views of the lake make the Punnamunda Resort a treasure to be enjoyed and discovered. From their location you can watch as the parade of houseboats pass by both in the morning and evenings.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy