Kuttanad, Alleppey – Things to do while you are at Kuttanad, Kerala

Kuttanad is a region that covers a large part of Alappuzha, and even some parts of Kottayam district, which is also the heart of the backwaters of Kerala. Kuttanad is popularly known as the ‘rice bowl of Kerala’, being home to lush green rice fields that’s spread extensively across the whole place. Travelling through this private alcove of nature can give you a taste of the traditional countryside life of Kerala. A special anomaly of this place is its geography. This place has the lowest altitude in the country, almost 2 metres below the main sea level.

Kerala produces a large portion of its rice that’s utilised almost everyday to prepare meals, at Kuttanad, and this is on reclaimed lands that have been split up by many big and small creeks and rivers. These streams are ideal for the tourists to spend time sailing over and soaking in the absolute best views that the region has to offer in either an hour-long cruise on a houseboat, or canoes for shorter trips. These trips offer sceneries and scenes that are worth capturing as well as remembering, this makes them perfect for the shutterbugs, nature-lovers, as well as the odd romantic.

History and Legend of Kuttanad

According to historical facts, Kuttanad had been under the rule of Chera dynasty over South India. The city of Kuttanad is said to have been the seat of administration and power of one of the popular kings of that dynasty – Cheran Chenguttavan. Almost around the same time, this region used to be a famous centre of Buddhism, therefore getting the name Buddhanad, which was later changed into Kuttanad, according to many locals. A mixture of real facts of history and local myth has given birth to a lot of legends about Kuttanad. One of the famous ones is that the dense forests of the Kuttanad region had been destroyed due to a wildfire. Burnt wooden pieces and logs had been unearthed from the paddy fields for a long duration even until a few years ago.

Many places in the Kuttanad region have a weird coincidence, their names end with ‘kari’, which means burnt charcoal – Oorukkari, Putthukari, Oorukkari and many more. For this very reason, Kuttanad built the reputation of being the well-known and ancient Khandava forest that has been mentioned in the Mahabharata, which was visited by the Pandavas on their exile and was later burnt down to ashes, according to the story. Another popular theory being that Kuttanad got its name from the words Kuttan (those who dig soil), as the place had been dug out of the water and later reclaimed for extensive agriculture.

Things To Do in Kuttanad

1. Cruising Through the Backwaters

Kuttanad is very popular for its heavenly looking backwaters that break and later merge into a hundred channels, making tourism and agriculture easy. These backwaters are usually flanked by the greenest patches of agriculture where you can find banana, rice and some more vegetation, which is a paradise for those who prefer serenity over stereotype. The best way to experience the waterways is by hopping on a houseboat, and drifting through the calmness, taking in all the nature surrounding you.

Many hustlers all along the Alappuzha district provide these services, but the most popular route for a full day houseboat trip is definitely between Alappuzha and Kollam. Some of the regular sightings along these boat trips are large groups of ducks that keep quacking their way into the streams, which seems like they’re shepherded by people on small boats; elsewhere the villagers fish using their traditional cane basket called Ottal and large nets, while the youth takes splashing dives into the rivulets in order to collect lime shells.

2. Canoe Rides in the Water Inlets

Other than simply being the greenest patch in Kerala, Kuttanad is also dominated by a few water bodies that criss-cross each other in order to form an attractive labyrinth of waterways to explore. The bigger streams can be accessed by using houseboats, but the comparatively smaller inlets lead into the idyllic and quaintest places which you would have missed otherwise. Though these canoes or little boats cover a smaller distance in a particular time, they take you straight into the authentic rusticity of Kuttanad and allow you to witness the lifestyle of the locals for yourself.

Upon request, these boats will usually take you on village tours, including boat building, coir making, witnessing cultivation and also fishing; along with a traditional Keralite meal to finish it off. The local shacks serve wholesome and delicious meals, and you can ask for toddy which is a very popular native alcoholic drink if you have a habit of experiencing unique delicacies.

3. Champakulam and River Pamba

Although Kuttanad is mainly famous for its backwaters as a tourist attraction, it also has a few other unconventional spots that the explorers or wanderers would love to explore. One amongst them is Champakulam, a small hamlet located in the Kuttanad region. Champakulam is divided by the famous river Pamba, with both banks of the river being covered with Kerala’s trademark coconut trees and paddy fields. River Pamba is given the nickname of Dakshina Ganga and is also considered to be holy, showing its significance in Kerala very clearly by comparing it to the Holy Ganges.

St Mary’s Forane Church is a well-known place to visit in this village. Written records of it can be dated back to 427 AD, making it one of the oldest Christian churches standing in India today. Other than this, it is a peaceful  and quiet place to simply converse with the locals, take in nature, and enjoy a riverside walk.

4. Punnamada Lake

The eastern extension of Lake Vembanad is called Punnamada Lake, which is the second-largest lake in India and along its shore a good part of Kuttanad region is located. The place is engulfed in nature similar to the rest of the area and attracts a large number of travellers each year, specifically those who love nature and appreciate a little distance from the maddening crowd in the more popular tourist spots. The place is host to the Nehru Boat Race which is conducted every year, along with many other festivities.

Best Time To Visit Kuttanad

Kerala is an extremely hot place, with a typically humid tropical climate during the monsoon and summer months. In case you want to avoid that, the best time to visit Kuttanad is from October to March when the weather is calm and pleasant.

If you’re planning a trip to Kuttanad, Alleppey, Kanichukulangara or even Kerala as a whole, you must try visiting the Thumpoly Beach not very far from Kanichukulangara. Also, If you’d like to stay just beside the Kanichukulangara Devi Temple, with reason to participate in some rituals at the temple, or if you have a preference to staying in close proximity to the above-mentioned vacation spots, then you could always choose Devi Royal Residency for your stay. 

Check out Devi Royal Residency’s comfortable, premium, and luxurious accommodations; they are made keeping an entire family’s comfort in mind, and the place is truly devoted to serving tourists and so also the devotees visiting the temple. Rooms with furnishing, ample space, and also a mini kitchen to cook your own food while you are on an extended stay, awaits you on your next visit to Kerala – “Gods Own Country”

We look forward to your visit, feel free to reach us at (0478 2862177) if you have any queries or requests that we can help you with.