Kerala Tourism: Things to do in Mahe

The unassuming coastal destination, Mahe, was once known for its colonial lineage and economical liquor alone. The small town, which part of Pondicherry but sits on the West Coast locked between Kerala and the western Arabian Sea is now slowly gaining popularity with travellers.

Its proximity from destinations in Kerala and also larger cities like Bangalore is making people come here to discover its rich heritage, relaxing beach scene and cuisine which still reflects its French lineage.

Mahe-beach-boats-in-Kerala

Mahe is largely a walking town. It is small enough to meander leisurely and take in the relaxing atmosphere. There are plenty of things to do in Mahe to fill your days. Here are some of our ideas.

1.The Puthalam Temple 

Believed to have been built 1000s of years ago, this temple has had many esteemed visitors, including Gandhi, whose visit is marked by a marble stone at the entrance. A simplistic temple built for 3 gods it houses a holy grove behind it. This feature, specific and prevalent to all Malabar temples, signifies the respect for nature. The legend goes that during the French and Indian army conflict, the French got an advantageous position behind the temple on top of a hill. The Indians who were attacking from below ran out of water and dug some wells for the soldiers. These open wells are still present and you can peep through the thick foliage to see Mangosteins growing in this area. An annual temple festival is held here in March every year.

2.Sri Krishna Temple 

An interesting temple which was built only 50 years ago is famous for hosting low cost marriages. Drop in for a wedding if you are sauntering around.

3.The Mansion of the Administrative Officer of Mahe

Even though this is an administrative building, it lies in a picturesque spot at the confluence of the Mahe River with the Arabian Sea. Though you need permission to go inside, it is worth your while to get to the back of the building to see the fishermen’s boats coming into the bay and making a beautiful backdrop to the small town.

Administrative Officer of Mahe

4.Tagore Park

Well manicured, the park stands at the edge of the sea and has a tombstone in memory of soldiers, a statue of Marianne and several other statues.

5.Malaya Kalagramam

Even though this is not a part of Mahe and technically falls under Kerala, you can walk across the bridge to this art school, inspired by the eminent painter K.C Panicker. Funded by the AVK trust from Chennai, the building is a serene haven for students of art, sculpturing, music and dance. This is a residential school, so you can see students at work if you go on a week day.

6.Mahe Beach

One of the most serene and truly untouched destinations on the west coast Mahe beach is a good place to relax and watch the local fishermen bring in their catch. Read more about Mahe beach.

Mahe-beach

7.Admire the French architecture

With its French lineage the town of Mahe features plenty of buildings with distinct French architectural features. There is also a French school which remains in the town.

8.St. Theresa’s church

The Saint Theresa Roman Catholic Church is a simple church but is well known in the region and popular with visitors during its annual festival between the 5th and 22 October every year.

Getting to Mahe: 

The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport 85 km from Mahe.There is a railway station in Mahe where a few local and express trains stop and nearest major railway stations, where several long distance trains stop, are Thalassery, Kannur and Badagara.

Kerala Tourism: Things to do in Kollam

Kollam is one of Kerala’s most divine destinations. Every inch of it exudes pristine, natural beauty. We discover eight things to do in Kollam that make it a captivating destination.

1.Follow the Light

Thangasseri is a quiet seaside village which is home to many historically invaluable remnants. Here, one can find the remains of an intriguing Portuguese fort and many churches that were built in the 18 century. Also located in Thangasseri is the Thangasseri Lighthouse. The lighthouse stands at a height of almost 150 feet and offers lovely vistas of the surrounding area.

Follow-the-light-Kollam

2.Divine Landscapes

Less than 30 kilometers from Kollam is the important pilgrim center at Sasthamkotta. The town’s Sastha Temple is an ancient temple, which draws people in large numbers. The other reason people find their way towards this hidden gem is because of the natural beauty surrounding it. Here you will find Kerala’s largest freshwater lake, embraced by hills on three sides. The town is connected to Kollam by frequent buses but a more convenient option is hiring a private taxi which can be easily arranged by hosts.

3.Picnic at the Palaruvi

Approximately 75 kilometers from Kollam are the Palaruvi Falls. The majestic falls cascade from a height of over 300 feet. Splashing around in the river is safe and fun for the entire family. The lush woods, surrounding the waterfalls, are a great place to host a picnic. Taking a homemade picnic freshly prepared at your homestay will be a great idea and the homestay owners would be happy to pack you a feast. Undertaking a trek through the woods is a great way to explore the area and to work up an appetite.

4.Holy Holiday

Mayyanad is the most popular tourist destination around Kollam. Just 10 kilometers from the city, Mayyanad is famous for its nine temples and the Sree Sankaracharya shrine. The Subramanya Temple is the most revered holy destination of Mayyanad.

Mayyanad-holy-holiday

5.Family fun

The hub of recreational activities in Kollam is a charming village in Ashramam. Here, one can enjoy many activities offered by the village like its small adventure park, a quaint boat club and a special children’s park. A lot of locals are seen here enjoying the weekends with their family and spending some down time while the kids are happily distracted by the parks.

6.The laidback Backwaters

Almost one-third of Kollam is covered by Lake Ashtamudi, which is named after its eight channels. The lake is known as the doorway to the backwaters. The 16 kilometer long lake is Kerala’s second largest lake and a great alternative to the more congested Lake Vembanad. Other than enjoying cruises and houseboat stays on the Ashtamundi one can also take a four-hour trip to the Munroe island village through Kollam’s canals.

The-Laidback-Backwaters-Kerala

7.Take the scenic way

The most fascinating and unique experience that Kerala has to offer is a cruise on the backwaters. And from Kollam you can take a rare and luxurious cruise to reach the bigger town of Alleppey. This cruise lasts for about eight hours and is the longest cruise you can take on the backwaters.

Backwaters-take-the-scenic-way

8.Dig in

Kerala is known as God’s own country and perhaps its most divine offering is its food. The dishes are at their best when they are made at home with the love and care of a typical Keralite family. The homestays in Kerala ensure you enjoy a culinary experience that no hotel or restaurant could ever match. The recipes, which your homestay hosts would be happy to share with you, are perhaps the best souvenirs to take home.

Kerala-food

Best places to take a boat trip in India

The oceans, numerous lakes and rivers offer plenty of opportunities to take a boat ride in India. Just watch life go by as you lazily float along or take a raft to enjoy wildlife spotting, snorkelling or even to discover submerged temples. Here are our top five interesting boat trips you can do in India.


1. Shikara on the ‘Dal’ Lake – The Bollywood endorsed ‘Dal’ Lake in Kashmir has been a legendary spot for travellers. The thin Shikaras (boats) traverse through the water carrying tourists, vegetables, supplies and locals. The whole life system on the lake is supported by these unassuming boats, whether it’s supporting full-fledged markets or serving as a school bus for children. The rides on shikaras are extremely fascinating and help understand the local life better.

Boat-Trips-in-Kashmir

2. From the Himalayan foothills, it’s down to the tropical weather of Kerala. Alleppey, also known as the ‘Venice of the East’ is by far one of the best destinations to experience the tranquil backwaters of Kerala. Well equipped houseboats add to the charm of getting to know the vast network of backwater in and around the town. Recently, the house boats had come under the scanner for lack of a proper system to dispose waste from the boats. Now there are mandatory treatment methods without which these boats do not get permissions. Watch the local life pass on the banks of the waters, while you glide past in luxury. Off season rates for fully furnished house boats are quite affordable. Between October and March, it can cost anywhere between Rs 7500 to Rs 20,000/- depending on the number of hours on the boat.

Boat-Trips-in-Alleppey-Kerala

3. There are some very unique experiences with respect to boats in India. The famous rock temples of Mahabalipuram near Chennai have always garnered the interest of travellers. Two of the seven temples are said to be submerged in the sea. Few know that some fishermen take eager visitors out to sea, where one you have a look at the submerged temples. An experience which comes with serious caution, as there are no life jackets on these boats, it’s not for the faint hearted. A mere Rs. 100-200 for an adventure of a life time – try it!

Boat-trips-in-Mahabalipuram-Chennai

4. The Periyar Wildlife sanctuary in the Idduki District of Kerala is one of the most unassuming wildlife destinations of India. Without fanfare but with plenty of exciting experiences in store, there are a number of ways to see the jungle. One unique way, is wildlife watching on a huge bamboo raft, with a forest guide and copious amount of sunscreen. The Periyar Lake is flanked by thick forests and animals often come for a drink of water. The raft ride starts early in the morning and goes on till about 4.00 p.m with breakfast and lunch by the edge of the jungle. This trip needs to be booked in advance. You can also take a more conventional wildlife spotting boat trip here

Boat-Trips-in-Periyar-Lake

5. While Goa has always been on top of the list for many, its Southern neighbour Karwar in Karnataka is fairly unknown. Serene and relatively untouched by tourism, Karwar has several water based activities. One of them includes snorkelling off the quiet coastline. Trips go out on speed boats with trained instructors to help novices.

Boat-Trips-in-Karwar-Karnataka

10 beautiful Lakes in India

India has a large number of beautiful lakes and great rivers spread all over the country from Kashmir to Kerala and from Rajasthan to Assam. Lakes in India can be divide as man made as well as natural, further natural lake again divided as freshwater lake and brackish water lakes. Indira Sagar reservoir the big lake is the biggest reservoir in India and The Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake. Most of the lakes in India are fresh water lakes, Dal Lake in Kashmir and Sasthamkotta Lake in Kerala are the example of freshwater lakes. These water bodies on the land surface are one of the most beautiful tourist attraction in India. The Cholamu Lake is counted as one of most beautiful lake in the world. The Lonar Crater the world’s oldest and largest crater in India is located in state of Maharashtra’s District Buldhana. There are so may beautiful lakes which are famous for bird watching such as Kolleru Lake, Pulicat Lake and Nal Sarovar Lake. The Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake at Bihar is Asia largest Fresh Water lake, Oxbow lake an oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water.

Wular Lake: 

Wular Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and the largest in India, is located in Jammu and Kashmir. It is measures 24 kms across and surrounded by towering mountains, The green water of the Wular Lake is an important natural habitat for fish, a rich population of birds and wildlife. Thousands of people living on its shores and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley depend on Wular Lake for fishing to earn their livelihood. The Kashmir valley has few more beautiful lakes like Nagin Lake and most popular Dal Lake.

Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir

Loktak Lake: 

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, located in Manipur. It is also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis. This ancient lake plays an important role in the economy of Manipur. It serves as a source of water for hydro power generation, irrigation drinking water supply and wildlife. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai now found only in Manipur.

Loktak lake , Manipur 

Damdama Lake: 

Damdama Lake is one of the biggest natural lakes in Haryana. It is a weekend getaway destination around Delhi. Located near the Aravalli Hills and the best place for Boating, Rock Climbing, Bungee jumping and trekking. Sohna Hills a short drive from Damdama Lake, at top the Aravalli hills. There is another famous lake in Haryana called Sohna Lake. Sohna Lake is situated amidst the Aravalli hills in green city Chandigarh. It is one of the most renowned tourist attractions in Gurgaon.

Damdama Lake, Haryana

Dal Lake: 

The Kashmir valley is blessed with exotic natural beauty of landscape and water bodies, out of them one of the best is Dal Lake. Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of India and is the second largest in the J&K valley. This is one of the most famous lakes in India and an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. Apart from the natural beauty, Dal Lake attractions are The floating gardens, colorful shikaras and houseboats. The east of Dal Lake was the residence of goddess Maa Durga. The Dal lake is situated in the beautiful city of Srinaga,Some of the most famous mosques are also located in Srinagar city to visit.

Shikara in Dal lake - Jammu & Kashmir

Pichola Lake: 

Lake Pichola is an artificial fresh water lake situated in Udaipur city in Rajasthan. Udaipur is a beautiful city, set amidst the Aravalli Ranges of Rajasthan, India. Known for its picturesque lakes, Udaipur also called ‘the city of lakes. The Lake Pichola, Udai Sagar Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake, Rajsamand Lake and Jaisamand Lake are the five prominent lakes of Udaipur. One of the most famous lake is Pushkar Lake, which is one of the major tourist attractions in the Royal State Rajasthan.

Pichola Lake

Gurudongmar Lake: 

Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world. This fresh-water lake is located northeast of the Kangchenjunga range in Sikkim. Sikkim is considered to have the most beautiful natural lakes in the world some of them are sacred by locals and therefore are places of worship as well as tourism. There are a series of beautiful lakes in Sikkim,the Gurudongmar Lake is the biggest and most beautiful lake among them. Other lakes are Tsomgo Lake also known as the frozen lake of India and Khecheopalri Lake also known as the wishing lake.

Gurudongmar Lake

Chilka Lake: 

Chilka Lake is the brackish water lake and is the largest coastal lake in India. The Chilka Lake in situated in Orissa and is Asia’s largest inland salt-water lagoon. Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. Chilika Lake, popularly known as Chilka, is the queen of natural scenery in the tribal state Orissa, also known as the Swiss-lake in the continent. Attraction of chilika lake are fishing boats, migratory birds and an entertaining baba. The beautiful chilka lake is paradise for the migratory birds.

Chilka lake

Vembanad Lake: 

Vembanad Lake is India’s longest lake and is the largest lakes in the beautiful state land of God, Kerala. The Vembanad Lake is the largest brackish lagoon in Kerala.The houseboats and snake race are the major attraction on Vembanad Lake. Vallam Kali,The Snake Boat Race held every year in august is a major attraction of Vembanad Lake. There are so many lakes in the state one of them is Sasthamkotta lake, Sasthamkotta known as the ‘queen of lakes’ is the largest and biggest freshwater lake in Kerala. The lake also host the longest railway bridge of India, named as Vembanad Rail Bridge.

Vembanad Lake

Bhimtal Lake: 

The pride of Bhimtal is a beautiful lake which offers magnificent vistas for tourists. The lake is larger than Nainital lake,The island at the center of the lake. Uttaranchal is famous for its valley of flowers, green meadows and spectacular lakes. One of the best natural freshwater bodies is Nainital Lake, situated amidst the township surrounded by the mountains. Naini Lake is one of the most famous lakes of Uttarakhand and most visited attraction in India, the Lakes of Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand are world famous for its beauty.

Bhimtal Lake

Upper lake: 

Upper lake is the largest artificial lake in Asia, situated in “City of Lakes” called Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Upper lake locally known as Bada Talab is the oldest man-made lake in India and one of the major sources of drinkable water for the city. City of lakes, Bhopal has 17 lakes another lake is known as chota talab. These lake are an important destination for canoeing and other water activities. The Takia island in Upper Lake and marine drive are the major attraction of lakes. Bhopal is also considered as one of the green city in India.

Upper lake

Kerala Backwater Tours

Kerala, a state in southern India, is well-renowned for its backwater system – a network of interconnected canals, lagoons, rivers, lakes and inlets that run inland from the coast and which is spread over an extensive 900 km. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. Traditionally, the backwaters are used by local people for transport, fishing, and agriculture. Annual snake boat races, held along the backwaters, also provide a great source of entertainment for the locals and tourists alike. The lagoons and lakes is a lasting source of livelihood for the indigenous people and a popular tourist attraction for the state.

Boat-Backwater-Kerala

The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. Fed by the rivers, the backwaters are almost free of salty seawater. In certain areas, such as the Vembanad Kayal, artificial barrage has been built to prevent salt water from the sea from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact.

Passing thru stream

Many unique species of aquatic life thrive in these water including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape.

Beautiful View of Boats on River

Houseboats called kettuvallams are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. More than 2000 kettuvallams ply the backwaters. The kettuvallams were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. At some point in time the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. 

Chalet on River

Converted to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Some ketuvallams are motorised but generally proceed at a slow speed for smooth travel.

Boat on Jalkumbi

Boat Riding Thru

Boat Rush

Boat Taking Rest

Chalet on a Boat

Cottage by the River

Looking around

Quite River

Things to do in Kumarakom

Located in the Kottayam district of Kerala is Kumarakom, the heart of God’s own country. This small, sleepy town is actually a cluster of islands set around the Vembanad Lake. And here are six things to do in Kumarakom, a place you won’t want to leave.

1.The blessed Backwaters

No trip to Kumarakom is complete without a cruise on Lake Vembanad. Kettuvallams or houseboats can be seen languidly passing by on the lake and are easily available for hire. Some homestays have their own fleet of houseboats, which they rent out to guests. The benefit of renting a kettuvallam from a homestay is that you don’t have to worry about organising anything and that it usually comes with delicious home cooked meals. Depending on time-constraints, you can opt for an hour-long tour or overnight stays on the houseboats. Most homestays can organise day tours that will take you to a local village for a hearty, local lunch and to observe how coir products are made by the villagers. For cruising through the canals, one can try vallams or canoes. Practically every home has a personal vallam and one can easily borrow it for a few hours if living in a homestay. As you float along the canals, you can simply feel the concept of time float away as well.

Backwaters in Kottayam

2.Bird watching

On the banks of Lake Vembanad is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The 14-acre area is home to countless indigenous species of birds. And also houses many migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and the Himalayas. Commonly sighted visitors here are the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. The Pathiramanal Island is another great place for bird-watching.

Bird Watching Kerala

3.Snake boat race

The world-famous snake boat race last only a few minutes. But the memory, of the oarsmen rowing furiously and thousands of spectators cheering their hearts out, lasts an eternity. Though races are organised all through July and August, the most impressive is the Nehru Trophy, which is held in Alleppey, on the 2nd Saturday of August. Some homestay owners are closely associated with organizing the event and can get you the best seats in the house, a definite advantage considering that thousands of people attend this event.

Snake boat race

4.Rare recitals

The Kathakali and Mohinattam are amongst Kerala’s most well known dance forms. Their recitals can be seen in many folk centres but homestay owners also organize personal recitals for their guests. Another ancient Indian art-form that’s recently gained popularity is the Kalaripayattu. This martial art is enormously hard to perfect and requires years of strenuous training, which usually begins for a child at the age of six or seven. Kalaripayattu performances for commercial purpose are infrequent. But with the aid of a local, you can experience its rare and humbling performance.

Rare Recitals Kerala

5.Feast and toddy

To enjoy the regional cuisine in a local ambience, head to a village. The dishes served here are brilliantly flavourful and the seafood they prepare cannot be replicated anywhere else. The perfect accompaniment to the rich meal is a freshly made glass of Toddy. This is a locally made alcohol and in its purest form is very potent. Another advantage of staying in a homestay is that they make a great place to experience local delicacies. They’ll serve you unforgettable and divine dishes, which big, branded hotels don’t even seem to know exist. Most families will be happy to share their secret recipes with you.

Food with Toddy in Kerala

6.Ayurvedic Treats

The best complement to a cruise on the backwaters, also affectionately known as the “laidback waters,” is a relaxing Ayurvedic massage. Massage centres promising stress-relief and more have mushroomed all over Kerala in the last few years. But if you are residing in a homestay, your hosts will be invaluable assets in directing you towards genuine and reputed centres with truly skilled therapists.

Ayurveda healing massage