English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) Explore the wonders of Kerala's backwaters in under 14 minutes. Venture through the serene Vembanad Lake, witness the vibrant life along the Meenachil River, and uncover the vast network of lagoons that stretch across the Malabar coast. With over 900 kilometers of navigable waterways and an ecosystem unique to the world, this journey showcases the harmony of nature and daily life in southern India. From the diverse fauna to the ever-changing dance of water and sand, every moment promises a new revelation. Let the enchanting landscapes of Kerala captivate you, seamlessly captured in a video that speaks of nature's splendor.
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip India • South India 2018 • Tamil Nadu and Kerala (EN)
A click on this icon above displays the list of chapters of this film about Kerala • state in southwest India in India. A click on a dot goes directly to a chapter.
Reading the text below will help you better understand the natural context of the images in this video.
Chapters:
00:29 • On Lake Vembanad
03:41 • Life on the Meenachil River
Kerala Backwaters
The backwaters of the Malabar coast in the state of Kerala in southern India form a network of lagoons and brackish lakes parallel to the coast. The whole represents approximately 900 kilometers of navigable waterways. This network includes 5 lakes connected by canals, sometimes artificial, which are fed by some forty rivers. It stretches almost half the length of the Kerala coast.
These backwaters are the result of wave action and coastal currents which have created small sandy islands along the coast.
The water in these backwaters is brackish, a mixture of fresh water and sea water. There is a very diverse fauna, made up of amphibians, crabs and numerous aquatic birds.
Sailing on the Meenachil river
The Meenachil River empties into Lake Vembanad after winding 78 kilometers from the Western Ghats. Life by the river is intense. We see women doing their laundry and their dishes in the waters of the river, a river polluted by urban and domestic waste along the entire length of the river.
There are also men busy collecting sand from the bottom of the river in a sometimes legal and often illegal way. The river sand trade is quite flourishing in the region. Brick factories are also looking for clay to make their bricks.
If navigation on these backwaters is extremely pleasant, the overexploitation of resources and the lack of wastewater treatment plants strongly weaken this ecosystem, practically unique in the world.
Spoken comments in the film:
The brackish lakes of South India have become one of the hotspots in South India. Here are some images of Vembanad Lake and the banks of the Meenachi River.
Near the town of Kottayam, whose name means: "inside a fort" lies the Vembanad Lake and a network of waterways named Backwaters. It is in fact complex sets of lagoons, lakes fed by rivers or rivers, a mixture of fresh water and sea water which sometimes mix. These natural waterways have been modified by man who has developed ditues and waterways for the transport of goods.
What's the weather like in Kottayam ?
Music:
- YouTube video library - Butterflies in Love
- YouTube video library - Central Park
- YouTube video library - Court and Page
- YouTube video library - Evil March, (© Evil March by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100727
Artist: http://incompetech.com/)
- YouTube video library - Flowers in the Rain
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of indian traditional music in "Kottayam • Kerala Backwaters • Kerala, India ", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
