Swimming in backwaters / beaches around Cochi?

Xima

hi there,

woooaw, I am quite amazed by the quantity of information available on Kerala and the backwaters...!
haven't gone through all of it yet to plan my family trip to the South at X-mas. however, at a 1st glance, it seems that ONE information important to me has not been posted yet (and please, correct me if I'm wrong):

can one actually swim in the backwaters? I mean, I know that one can swim anywhere. but I am the type that prefers to swim in pristine mountain lake kind of water. e.g. I didn't swim in Dal Lake, too much seaweed and human and industrial waste...

so, what are your views on swimming in the backwaters (around Cochi, Alleppey and that region there)?

I am asking this because for our X-mas holidays my brother insists on spending some time on the beach. thus I was wondering if I could sell him the shores of Vembanad lake or the backwaters as "beach".

thus my 2nd question: what about swimming around Cochi? e.g. Vaypeen/Vypin island? is there some beach where one can leisurely lie around and swim without 50 men staring at you?

we will be coming from the north (Wayanad / Coonoor) and will fly back to Delhi from Cochi, thus we wanted to spend the last part of our Kerala holiday around Cochi/Alleppey to avoid long driving.

thanks for your help! looking forward to your inputs.

Xima

vandy

Hi there,

Can't see any reason at this point why you Couldn't swim in the
Backwaters, many local kids spend considerable time in the water
in the canals,not so much in Verband lake.

For a Quite beach, I reccomend Allepey beach which is not far from backwaters area, Allepey beach is Quiet during the week unless there is a school excursion on, weekends it gets pretty busy.

There is also Cherrai beach on Vypeen Island which I visited but
did not swim, I did notice at Cherai that the depth of the water
fell away quite dramatically at Cherai.Nice resort there called
Cherai Beach resort.

Rgds

vandy

Xima

hi vandy,

thanks for your reply, that sounds quite encouraging. :-) have heard about cherai beach. do you know what other activitites could be possible out there besides the beach? any cycling, canoeing, cultural sightseeing...?
I am just wondering if it is worth spending 1-2 nights out there. not being so much of the beach type I would not want to get bored if there is "only" the beach.

thanks for your advice!

x.

CliveG

Hmm - not sure about swimming in the backwaters. I know the local people do but I suspect they have built up an immunity to water borne bacteria of which there will be many as it is used for all sorts of things including sewage disposal. As a former microbiologist I personally would not take the risk.
Parts odf Cherai beach are usually deserted especially the further along away from the main area that you go and during the week. There is slight current but nothing serious and is usually calm.
Cannot help you about other activities there.

lathish

The backwaters in Kerala are not bad as Dal lake but it is filled with seaweed and human and industrial waste
Try swimming around Kochi-Vypeen and Cherai..seabeaches. though you wont find pristine water but much better.

Wanderer22

Does anyone know if the backwaters houseboats use holding tanks, or do they just dump fecal waste overboard?

I think most/all the villages along the canals use the fields for their ablutions. The fields are below canal water level so there should be minimal waste getting into the water. If tourist boats are dumping waste into the canals it could be a source of contagion mainly hitting the locals who use the water for bathing and drinking.

W22

crvlvr

I think if you stand by the backwater (around Kochi) and see what it smells like, you may change your mind about swimming in it. The sea water at the beaches are much much better/cleaner.