One of the activities offered during the yoga retreat in India, is our captivating visit to the bucolic Keralan backwaters of Alleppey or Alappuzha, which is also called the Venice of the East.
After our morning class and a delicious vegetarian brunch at the villas, the group will jump in the coach and drive towards the city’s canals. A motorised wooden boat, brightly and colourfully decorated in the local Keralan style will be waiting for us. From the boat we will discover the beautiful and unique landscapes of the Kerala Backwaters.
The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. Alleppey is one of those vibrant cities, ready to welcome tourists from all around the world. Travelling on the backwaters is also very popular with local Keralan families, groups of friends, wedding parties and school trips etc. Tourists and locals alike love waving at each other from boat to boat.
The backwaters have a unique ecosystem. Flora and fauna are abundant and it is not uncommon to see kingfishers, terns and cormorants and the occasional glimpse of an otter or turtle. Between the many rows of colourful low houses, we can see palm and banana trees, Pandanus shrubs and various leafy tropical plants and bushes, making the banks of the canals and lakes green and luscious. Most villagers living on the backwaters work in the rice fields stretching from their back gardens. Some also cater for visitors and tourists and there are many small restaurants offering typical Keralan treats such as grilled fish and fresh coconut water. After 2-3 hours of this relaxing and exciting trip around this unique location, the boat takes us back to Alleppey where the bus is waiting to take us back to the villas for a refreshing swim in the sea or in the pool.
Join us in our next yoga retreat in Kerala, India. Click here for information
