A Holiday Postcard
Kerala is one of the smallest states in India; however, its beaches and backwaters make it one of the most beautiful.
Let me send you a holiday postcard from the backwaters of Kerala. The backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers and lakes. I am lazing on the deck of a small houseboat called ‘Dream water’. We begin our journey through the backwaters at Alappuzha, a small town south of Kochi.
Palm fringed canals flow out in many directions from the inland. As we start moving away from Alappuzha, the canals become narrower. Across one narrow cannal, two coconut palms bend over forming a gateway for us to pass through below. All around I see lush green paddy fields and flocks of birds resting in the water.
At many places we pass long, narrow country boats, used to ferry people from one village to another. At sunset, the houseboat is anchored by the riverside. I choose to sleep under the starlit sky. The silence envelopes me while the sound of the flowing water seems to sing a sweet lullaby. I wake up at dawn to the sound of the houseboat moving through the canals again.
Soon, we reach Kumarakom, our final destination. I am sad to leave the tranquility of the backwaters behind me. I marvel at the beauty of the backwaters. It’s no wonder then, that Kerala has often been called God’s own country!
