10 places to discover
Ashtamudi Lake is a large estuarine lake in Kollam District, Kerala, known as the gateway to the Kerala backwaters. Covering about 61 sq km, it is the second largest lake in Kerala and a designated Ramsar wetland. The name means eight-armed, referring to its eight channels. Fed by the Kallada River and connected to the Arabian Sea at Neendakara, it is noted for houseboat cruises, mangroves, islands and rich biodiversity.
Dindi Backwaters is a tranquil estuarine backwater system formed where the Godavari River meets the Bay of Bengal in Dindi village, Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh. Known for its palm-fringed canals, coconut groves and calm waters, it is a developing eco-tourism destination. Visitors come for houseboat cruises, kayaking and scenic village landscapes that showcase the fertile Godavari delta region.
Hanuwantiya Water Tourism Complex is a water tourism destination developed by Madhya Pradesh Tourism on Hanuwantiya Tapu, an island in the Indira Sagar Reservoir on the Narmada River in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. Created after the Indira Sagar Dam, it is known for its tent city, houseboats, water sports and the annual Jal Mahotsav festival. The complex offers reservoir views, island landscape and organized tourism facilities in a reservoir setting.
Kumarakom Backwaters is a network of interconnected canals, lagoons and waterways centered on Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom, Kottayam District, Kerala. Part of Kerala's famed backwater system, it is known for traditional kettuvallam houseboats, lush paddy fields, coconut groves and rich birdlife. The area offers scenic cruises, village experiences and proximity to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, making it a major ecotourism and leisure destination in central Kerala.
Kuttanad is a vast low-lying region spread across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala, known as the Rice Bowl of Kerala. It is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level, with paddy fields reclaimed from Vembanad Lake. Characterized by backwaters, canals, rivers and dykes, it offers a distinctive agrarian landscape and backwater ecosystem.
Padanna Backwaters is a scenic estuarine backwater system near Padanna village in Kasaragod District, Kerala, forming part of the larger Kavvayi-Valiyaparamba backwater network. Notable for its calm waterways, mangrove patches, small islands and extensive mussel and oyster farming, it offers tranquil boat cruises and views of traditional coastal aquaculture landscapes in northern Kerala.
Punnamada Lake is a part of Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala, located in Alappuzha district. It is renowned as the venue for the prestigious annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race held during Onam. The lake extends from Alappuzha to Azhikode, covering islands like Pathiramanal, and offers scenic backwater experiences through houseboat cruises and shikara rides.
Q S T and R Block Kayal is a scenic backwater destination in Kuttanad, known as the Rice Bowl of Kerala. Located in Kainakary village in Alappuzha district, this area features reclaimed land situated four to ten feet below sea level, protected by Dutch-style dikes. The kayals are accessible only by boat and represent indigenous agricultural engineering, where paddy cultivation occurs below sea level. This region is part of popular houseboat cruise routes and showcases serene waterways surrounded by lush paddy fields.
Tasik Banding is a large reservoir lake in Hulu Perak District, Perak, Malaysia, forming the southern section of the Temenggor Lake system created by the Temenggor Dam. Located along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway near Banding Island, it serves as the main gateway and jetty point for Royal Belum State Park. The lake is notable for its forested islands, calm waters, houseboat tourism, and as a base for exploring the surrounding Belum-Temengor rainforest complex.
Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom in Kottayam District is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest lake in India, spanning Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts. This vast brackish lagoon and backwater system is part of the Kerala Backwaters and is designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. It is renowned for houseboat cruises, scenic backwaters, and its biodiversity near Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.