All characters, events appearing in this travelogue are fictitious, any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
Hi I am Sunesh, belongs to small and beautiful Island called Valiyaparamba. My land is nestled between Kawayi lake and Arabian sea. This is worth and must visit place in north most part of God's own country. This beautiful Island sparead over 16 Km2 with a population of 10,000. Kawayi lake is fed by four rivers which created so many tiny dotted Islands.
If you fly by air you can land either in Mangalore (Karnataka) or Kozhikode (Kerala) airport. Lots of bus services available from these major stations. Payyannur and Cheruvathur are nearest Railway stations.
Let me take you around my Island -
This is one of the Gateway of Valiyaparamba If you come by Cheruvathur side you have to approach this bridge. Most of the tourist who comes by private vehicles approaching from this side.
This new bridge welcomes you if you coming from Thrikaripur side. Many private and State Transport buses running in this route. Once you entered the village you can just walk through coconut fields, take rest under the shade of the tree or visit the beautiful beach just behind the Island and if you wish to take a bath you can
bath in the Arabian Sea. In my childhood I had spent many evenings with my frinds and family in this Sea shore by taking bath, fighting with the waves and playing with the sand, flying Kites, catching crabs, and
playing Volleyball, Football and sometimes simply staring to the wonderful Sunset, and in fool moon night just sitting alone with my feelings etc. Even in the rainy nights love to hear the roaring music of waves.
Without ferry ride your trip will not complete, let me take you to the Ayitti where State Water Transport Department (SWTD) office is located. From here SWTD runs boat services throughout the backwater, you can confirm the boat service by a tele call to 04672213566.
Nearest route to reach Ayitti from Island is just cross the new bridge and travel towards Trikaripur direction and take left turn again travel 2 to 3 Km on Bund road you will be at Ayitti boat jetty.
As soon as you reach over the Jetty wrecked boat will welcomes you, I would like to tell you one thing, since my childhood I have been seeing this huge boat parked near the office.
This is the cockpit of our boat. who is inside? might be a tourist... yes so many people from India and abroad visiting to our Island, and office going local peoples, school childrens, farmers all are using this boat as their daily transport vehicle.
Theses are our ferry crew members Captain, Lascar (Boat Master), Helpers etc, these peoples are very friendly and maintaining the boat in healthy condition. Boat also equipped with safety features like fire extinguishers, life jackets etc.
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Apart from fishing Mussel farming also famous in Valiyaparamba, locally it's called as Kallumakaya, it's my favourite, just the smell enough to mouth watering. you can also taste this. From here onward you can see many numbers of such a small Mussel farms are built on both the side of the backwater.
Now the Sun start to come up, look at the water how it start to shine, and how the things start to reflect in the crystal clear water. Never forget to bring your Camera.
As soon as you reach over the Jetty wrecked boat will welcomes you, I would like to tell you one thing, since my childhood I have been seeing this huge boat parked near the office.
Now I will take you to Kotti near Payyannur. Wait... don't get on this boat this is not the right boat.. it's going to Padanna opposite side of Kotti, just watch the on window our boat is coming.
Hey..look at there.. our neighbour Khadarikka going to fishing... god I forgot to wish him..how can I face him in the evening?
This is the cockpit of our boat. who is inside? might be a tourist... yes so many people from India and abroad visiting to our Island, and office going local peoples, school childrens, farmers all are using this boat as their daily transport vehicle.
Theses are our ferry crew members Captain, Lascar (Boat Master), Helpers etc, these peoples are very friendly and maintaining the boat in healthy condition. Boat also equipped with safety features like fire extinguishers, life jackets etc.
Look at this bridge we just crossed this to reach over this Jetty, now we are again going to pass this bridge from beneath.
Most of our villagers are fishermen, early morning they are getting into their work in small boats and before noon will reach the market with buckets of fishes. Afternoon they engaged with the coconut field and busy with other routine works. Womens are whole day busy with cooking, housekeeping, look after their small childrens etc etc.
Look at this scene... It's difficult to find a motor car in front of every house, but you can't miss a boat in front of a single house, small rowing boats are blended in our villagers lifestyle. Each and every members of the family knows how to row the boat.
Apart from fishing Mussel farming also famous in Valiyaparamba, locally it's called as Kallumakaya, it's my favourite, just the smell enough to mouth watering. you can also taste this. From here onward you can see many numbers of such a small Mussel farms are built on both the side of the backwater.
This farm belongs to our own Rajeevettan. look at there how he is hanging Mussel seeds to the bamboo structure. Mussel farming is an art, farmers will take tiny seeds and put it into the coir ropes and outer side of seeds are covered with small cotton cloths, now the seeds are sandwiched between coir rope and cotton
cloth, now it will be hanged in the bamboo structure, the whole thing is dipped in the water, after few months it will grow up and ready to harvest. Our Rajeevettan is famous in Mussel cultivation, for his work he got best Mussel farmer award on last year.
Hey stop the boat..Piero and Laura are waiting to aboard the boat... Sorry I forget to introduce.. .. they are from Italy, from last 2 months they are living here to study the lifestyle of our Island, I have seen them participating in many marriage vocations and other auspicious functions in our Island.
Hey who is this? our own Raghavettan owner of this speed boat, look at him how he is cleaning his boat ...today some marriage party might booked his boat for whole day.
Look at there... that is our next stop. Somebody is waiting to the our boat, how well they are dressed they might be going to Kotti.
Did you seen a structure like London bridge in the backdrop of the small boat? That is our famous Madakkal suspension bridge, one of the longest suspension bridge of Kerala, It connects Valiyaparamba Island it to the Mainland.
But sad thing is that it was collapsed on fine Thursday afternoon, barely two months after the inauguration, but gods sake nobody injured on this incident, two villagers who was crossing the bridge miraculously escaped.
Now the Sun start to come up, look at the water how it start to shine, and how the things start to reflect in the crystal clear water. Never forget to bring your Camera.
Hey Look at our Raghavettan.. I told you no.. he is engaged with some marriage party... look, now he is carrying them. His small brother Pappan also ready to take another party to across the river.
This bird (might be some type of pelican) is our guest it comes, to our Island in some season only. it's very sharp,.. look.. how it was sitting like an innocent, if you make noise still it won't change it's position.
Now.. look... it found some thing the water... how it attacked, Yes it's a fish, It's very sharp shooter it will catch the fish from long distance.
Ha.. ha.. look that father and son.. how the father rowing his boat and ultramodern son prepare for fishing. They are a unique companions, you will never seen such a father and son. There was an intrestilng story behind their relationship. Fathers Ambadi is fishing in this backwater from many years, he wished his son
Appukuttan become a Government employee, and provided each and every facilities to his son, but Appukuttan was very poor in study, he don't want to go to school and unable to complete his S.S.L.C. After that he left the village and went Ernakulam and worked 2 years in some Hotel to earn some thing independently, and one fine morning appeared with a ultra modern look and their after his name was also changed as Binu. Ambadi don't like his modern style and new name but he does not have any other choice because he had only one son, and in his old age nobody to look after him. Binu also have no other option because he don't have any qualification or know other job or source of money so both are living together.
This is Govendettan's Hotel, Raafikka is just purchase coconuts from Govindettan and taking it to the market, today he will make at least 500 bucks.
Now we are almost reached near Kotti near Payyannur. Can you see you the buildings near the hill?
That is Naval Academy located in Ezhimala hills. You can see the Indian flag flying between that buildings.
Now It's to time to say bye... bye. Thank you for your visit to my wonderland, Hope you enjoyed a lot, come again in rainy season we will meet again and enjoy the roaring music of sea waves.
Now you just visited a tiny part of Kerala's backwater. And this is just a teaser image of Kerala back water, Actual kerala backwater spreads around 44 rivers, a vast network of lakes, 1500 kms
of labyrinthine canals, snake boat races and over 300 species of birds, floating markets, picturesque bridges, worship centres and much more. To know about more just visit this link http://greatbackwaters.
Note: Ikka, Ettan = Elder brother.
Tourism Poster Curtsy : Kerala Tourism
