March 27, 2005

Ashtamudi lake

Backwaters are unique to Kerala. It is a network of lakes, canals, and estuaries opening into the sea. The backwaters are a self supporting eco-system teeming with aquatic life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. There are almost a dozen of such backwaters in Kerala of which Ashtamudi is the second largest.

Ashtamudi means, 'eight-armed', after the eight arms of the lake The Ashtamudi Lake is the gateway to the backwaters. Located in Kollam district, Ashtamudi is famed for its panoramic for its magnificent views. There are coconut groves and palm trees all along the banks of the lake and the monotony is broken by the quiet town of Kollam. The Kollam Boat Club provides boats to cruise on the lake. You can also go on a backwater cruise starting at Kollam and ending the journey at Alappuzha. Beside the coconut palms, all along the waterline one can see the famous Chinese fishing nets.Kollam was once the port of international spice trade. 30% of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest backwater cruise in Kerala.

Getting there :

Nearest Railway Station: Kollam about 3 km

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International and Domestic Airport 76 km away from the city