Coracle Boating In Kerala

I take great pride in saying that I am from Kerala (also known as God's own country). The lush green hill stations, the monsoon, the wildlife reserves, the tranquil beaches, the never ending emerald backwaters and the mouth-watering food that is a real treat for your taste buds makes you think that it is truly a trailer of heaven. Situated on the western coast of the Arabian sea and making it to the national geographic "best destinations list", she has taken her rightful place to be one of the top tourist spots in Asia for many years. Although I can keep going on and on about this place, this time around I would like to share one of the most relaxing experiences I had this year. 

Source TripAdvisor: photo submitted by Siddharth B  

Part of my maternal family is settled in a place called Konni, in the district of Pathanamthitta. Known for its forest reserves, elephant camps and eco-tourism. Coracle boat rides is one of the newer additions to the adavi eco-tourism project. 

There is so much family history in this area, so this year when I was told that we would be taking a trip there I was naturally excited. Little did I know that it would be a memorable experience. The drive there is as peaceful and pleasant as the boat ride. The quieter winding roads of Kerala, that are tunnelled by trees takes you to a whole other world. It would be advisable to drive there, as it is deep in the forest. Also, a 4x4 would be most suitable due to the roads. If you are lucky enough there is a chance that you may even encounter wild elephants, deer’s or other animals.

One thing I loved was that this area was not overly developed, I really commend the brains behind this as they left it in its natural essence. Nothing too fancy, no electrical mumbo jumbo, no 5* restaurant for miles, barely any phone reception... which is almost like time travel as it takes you back to the days where things were all about sitting together and really experiencing the moment. It was not until I came here that I realised how much I missed those times. 

There is a little hut - where you can take your tickets and a small shack for food, which was actually packed in comparison to many of the restaurants I have seen in central London. I think it is safe to say that the chef there knows exactly what he is doing. He was cooking in an open kitchen where you get to see him work his magic. I can still remember the smell of the fresh fish fry that scented the air during the lunch hours, that is guaranteed to create a river in your mouth. 

When you walk a bit further down, there is small wooden bridge that takes you to the other side which is where the boat rides are. Although it is not very popular, there is a decent sized queue. We had to wait for few minutes but it was definitely worth it. We had one of the sweetest person take us around his name was Varghese, he told us about the area and other activities around there. We were also informed about the adventure boat ride, that takes you through the rocky areas with high water currents that was due to start soon. So, if you are an adrenaline junkie then this place is for you too. 

First Impression: This should be one of the things that should be on everyone "things to do before I die list". 

Price: Rs 100.00 per person (Rs 400) for the boat. 

If you are ever in Kerala or if you currently live in Kerala but have never been here, you have to check this place out. It will leave you mesmerized. 

For more information, you can visit: Konni Eco Tourism

For more about Kerala tourism      : Kerala Tourism