Shikaras for lake cruise

Circuit links Kadinamkulam, Anchuthengu, Akathumuri lakes

June 25, 2017 07:27 am | Updated 07:30 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

A view of Kadinamkulam Lake from Chilakoor, near Muthalapozhi.

A view of Kadinamkulam Lake from Chilakoor, near Muthalapozhi.

Kerala Tourism is to launch three-hour cruises for tourists from Kadinamkulam to Akathumuri by developing a backwater tourism circuit linking Kadinamkulam, Anchuthengu, and Akathumuri lakes.

Starting from Perumathura, 29 km north of the capital city, the cruise will cover Anchuthengu, Kayikkara, Ponnumthuruthu (Golden Island — a privately owned island in Akathumuri lake), and Panayilkadavu, before winding up at Akathumuri. The iconic shikaras of Dal Lake in Srinagar will mostly be used for the cruises that will take three hours to cover the Kadinamkulam-Akathumuri stretch, Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran said. The boat can accommodate 20 tourists. A boat terminal will be set up at Kadinamkulam and it will be able to accommodate even houseboats. Toilets and a snacks corner will be set up at the terminal. The resting place will be built at Panayil Kadavu. Floating jetties will be set up at Perumathura, Anchuthengu, Kayikkara, Ponnumthuruthu, Panayilkadavu, and Akathumuri. The project will be executed under the Thiruvananthapuram District Tourism Promotion Council, the Minister said. Private investors will be roped in for operating house boat cruises. Strict regulations will be in force to check pollution of the waterbodies and the boats will have bio-toilets. A sewerage treatment plant will also be set up.

Kerala Tourism hopes to attract foreign tourists also to the backwater tourism circuit. The project would be extended up to Kappil later, the Minister said.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.