vacation on water!
How does that sound? Something you should try out soon enough, don’t you think?
If you are thinking of taking a break, then visit some of the wonderful waterfront destinations in India.
The best way to enjoy the waters is to go on a houseboat tour. It is the perfect platform to gaze into eternity where there is ceaseless panoramic vistas of the magnificent horizon, seemingly near, yet so far.
Enjoy a ride while the birds render a perfect orchestra, and the water shimmers in all its glory, the winds and trees play their own melody while you move along in a perfect rhythm with nature as the bandmaster. A perfect way to gather your thoughts and ready yourself for the challenges of life.
We have made a short list of some of the backwater houseboat destinations that you must visit:
- Kerala Backwaters
Going through the backwaters in Kerala is an ethereal experience, where you get introduced to the sublimity of Nature, giving you the impression of going through a mystical wonderland. This is because Kerala is full of brackish lagoons, a plethora of canals and lakes, all networked together to deliver a breathtaking experience to its admirers.
Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Bekal and Kollam are the favored backwater cruise destinations for visitors. Apart from the stunning views of the backwaters, you can enjoy the indigenous flora and fauna of the waters and on the land as you dock at each points. The uniqueness of Kerala houseboats is that each of these houseboats are built in traditional style and are known for their typical Kerala style, sumptuous feasts.
- Kashmir
Image by Saurabh Chatterjee via Flickr
Many people say that Kashmir is paradise on earth and imagine how it would be when you go on a backwater tour of this popular summer destination in India.
You can go for special cruises in wooden houseboats on the Dal Lake, enjoy picturesque views of the serene lake, the mesmerising sunsets and the beauty of mountains in the backdrop. It is said that going on a houseboat tour of Kashmir is the best way to experience the old world charm of the place.
- Assam
Image by Suraj Kumar Das via Wikimedia
The best way to savor some of the true delights of Assam would be to go on a backwater cruise of its remote areas. Enjoy the beauty of the mighty Brahmaputra River, its scenic pristine beauty, a totally different view from Kashmir, but equally enhancing.
The beauty of Brahmaputra and Ganges River cruises is that they are usually arranged according to the convenience of the tourists. You can choose the number of days you want to tour, and even plan weekend trips. For a seven-day trip, you can cover Guwahati, Tezpur, Kaziranga National Park, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Majuli and Dibrugarh.
- Maharashtra
Image by Vinay Bavdekar via Flickr
The most noted backwater tour in Maharashtra is in Sindhudurg district. It has grown to be the perfect getaway for tourists. You can reach there by rail or road from Mumbai or Pune.
A number of houseboats do ply from this region, but you will probably have to book ahead during the season. While travelling on a houseboat on a clear night, you can enjoy the unpolluted sky of Maharashtra, in all its glory and in all its starry pride.
- Goa
Image by Abhisek Sarda via Flickr
Goan backwaters remain unchanged, and stunning for centuries and still remain an enigma for visitors. The day cruises are mainly of two types – from Mandovi to Aldona and from Mandovi to Zuri bay and from Panaji Jetty.
The cruises along the Goan backwaters are a thing of delight because you can spot a number of birds along the way. It is fun spotting them and trying to identify them according to their habitat and nature. A visit to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is a must. And it is also fun watching the fisherman earning their livelihood still using the age-old techniques.
Different kinds of cruise options are offered at Goa; luxury cruises where you get wholesome entertainment and recreational activities, complete with a vacation to the high seas, therapy massages and herbal cures. And worth mentioning is the Dolphin Fantasy Cruise where you will be touring the backwaters on a lovely starry night and watching the dolphins. Can it get more romantic than this?
- Puducherry
Image by Raj via Flickr
“A couple of hours in Paradise”, that’s how people term Puducherry backwater tours. Chunnambar backwaters, located 8 kilometres south of Puducherry takes you through the scenic backwaters of Chunnambar with lush greenery in the backdrop. There are many beaches in Puducherry, but Chunnambar backwaters is a local secret visitors have started relishing now.
Paradise Beach is the most famous one in Puducherry,and the sunset is the most mesmerising of them all. Enjoying all this in a single cruise will definitely make your vacation memorable; something like a once in a lifetime affair.
Conclusion
India has plenty of places that offer the best experiences for a vacation. Backwaters offer the perfect rendition of a perfect vacation, and these are some of the best places, so do visit them!
Author Bio:
Sunu Phililp is the Inbound Marketing and Creative Head for Paradise Holidays, Cochin – a Kerala based tour operator. She loves reading, exploring new places and trying out different cuisines!
