Tour Description: In this tour, we drive 1.5hrs to a farm in the Kuttanad region backwaters. The farm is set on an island, and we will reach this island by country boat, going through the backwaters and seeing village life on the route.
Once you reach the farm, your hosts will provide a tour to introduce you to the traditional way of farming in this region. The island on which the farm is located has been reclaimed from the lake. Like other farms typical of the Kuttanad region, it is 2 meters below the lake level. The retaining dyke around the perimeter of the island keeps the lake water from entering the farm. Being below the lake level, all the rain water is pumped out especially during the monsoon season by using an electric motor and pump. This is critical to the existence of the farm.
The farm is made up of ridges and canals, with all the planting done on the ridges. The canals are used for natural fish culture. Karimeen (Pearl spot) and fresh water jumbo prawns (scampi) are grown naturally in some of the canals. The major crops on the farm are coconut, toddy tapping, nutmeg, cocoa, banana, pepper and many other fruits, vegetables and spices. The farm also has cows, geese, ducks and hens.
At the farm, we join our hosts in an interactive cooking session and lunch. The cuisine is predominantly Syrian Christian with a strong backwater influence. Most of the dishes served are centred around fish, farm vegetables/fruits, duck, chicken and occasionally other meats, supplemented with rice and rice-based local breads like appam, string hoppers etc. Some of the specialities are karimeen (pearlspot fish) fry, fish molee, prawn and scampi preparations, duck roast and curry, and red hot Kerala fish curry to name a few. The adventurous can try drinking toddy, the fermented sap of the palm tree, a kind of country liquor. Desserts are usually puddings, fresh fruits and some local treats.
After a relaxed lunch, you will leave the island by boat to the nearest jetty, where your car will be waiting to bring you back to Cochin.
Cost: The pricing depends on the number of people sharing the tour and the date of the tour. Please write to us to enquire. The price usually includes air-conditioned transport from/to an hotel in Ernakulam/Fort Kochi, English-speaking driver with cell phone, illustrated handouts, cooking demonstration and lunch, bottled water, and all taxes. We can also pick up/drop from/to other nearby locations.