 The land of coconut palms offers a wide range of vacation ideas that take visitors to the heart of nature. Pristine lakes are a major part of the tourist itineraries of Kerala.
The state of Kerala has 34 major lakes, all extremely beautiful and doing their bit to preserve Kerala’s culture and heritage. The coconut palms that line the shores, the crystal clear surface of the lake, the relaxing flow of water and the panoramic vistas they provide lend a distinct charm to these lakes. The lakes that form the most prominent tourist destinations include Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Lake, Ashtamudi Lake, Kayamkulam Lake, Sasthamkotta Lake, Akkulam Lake, Pookot Lake, Punnamada Lake and Periyar Lake.
The Vembanadu Lake is the largest lake in Kerala, largely situated in the district of Kottayam, but connecting the districts of Alappuzha and Ernakulam. The Ashtamudi Lake gets its name from its eight channels (“ashta” meaning “eight” and “mudi” meaning “branch”). Situated in Kollam District, it has an important wetland ecosystem, the second largest and deepest in Kerala after the estuary ecosystem of the Vembanadu Lake.
The Punnamada Lake is famous for the Nehru Trophy boat race, held annually during the festival of Onam (August/September). The Pookot Lake in Wayanad District, 13 km from Kalpetta, is surrounded by forests and huge mountains and is a great boating destination. A freshwater aquarium and a handicrafts shopping center are the other attractions. The Sasthamkotta Lake, 19 km from Kollam city, is one of the most unique kinds of fresh water lakes in the state. An ancient temple is situated on its shores.
While lakes that are part of backwaters are the arteries of trade and transport between villages and towns in certain regions of Kerala, they also give vacationers the perfect experience of tranquility. Houseboat tourism packages offer lake and backwater cruises in luxurious houseboats. Water creatures such as cormorants, kingfishers and ducks can be viewed in the lake ecosystems, while some of these water bodies are also angling destinations.
Lake tourism packages are available for vacationers to experience the pristine beauty of the lakes through backwater cruises and by visiting tourist destinations situated on lake shores. |
