In the 50 tours recommended by the 2014 National Geographic bucket list is kayaking through Kerala.
Yet the leisure sport remains largely confined to foreign tourists who enjoy the beauty of the backwaters on kayaks. It is gradually catching the fancy of city folk, with many unique initiatives by some individuals and adventure sports companies.
Swiss expat and restoration architect Karl Damschen , who has made Kochi home, is passionate about the sport and laments the fact that locally kayaking has not been tapped to its full potential.
But Karl is not one to let things be. As an architect he has brought failing heritage back to life and in the same spirit wishes to bring kayaking into common consciousness. “Like bicycling,” he says which is on the upswing locally.
As member of The Global Sailing Club, in Panangad, Karl was wondering about ways to bring in more on the adventure menu of the club. He drew out a six week programme to train kayakers, “on weekends”, and then steer them on an adventure trip. The group has just concluded its maiden trip and is already hankering for more.
“The training was about fitness and discipline,” says Karl and ensured that the members “pass the levels of fitness.” He was amazed at the response.
“The training sessions were needed as technique is extremely important before one embarks on a long trip like this one,” says 43-year-old Anuja Asher, one of the two women members of the group.
The team was lucky to have good weather as they sailed with five double and a single kayak to the isles of Chathamma, Perumbalam, Aanjali Thuruthu and an isle near Murinjupuzha, off Chempu. A rescue boat followed them throughout the trip, loaded with medical back up, food, water and other supplies.
The group then toured around the small isles and headed for the Grand Ayur Island Resort, where they parked for the night. “It was a perfect place; after we parked our kayaks the group indulged in a game of water polo and feasted on sumptuous barbeque prepared by Saji Joseph, a friend.” Later, the rowers indulged in a karaoke session hosted by Stanley, a singer and danced to some rock and roll. They visited Soma Island Resort near Vaikom followed by a visit to Poothotta. All along they had organised sumptuous food.
“The last leg was the longest and the toughest,” says Anuja, adding that they maintained consistency and reached the finishing point by early evening, with an exhilarating sense of achievement. Mithun Harikumar, one from the group was charmed by the experience. He says, “Kayaking through the seaweeds, water birds, water snakes and leafy plants was a beautiful, mesmerising adventure.”
So smitten is first time and 40-year-old kayaker Cherian Ninan by the experience that he plans to take his wife along next time.
Karl says, “People have started bicycling around the city but not kayaking. This adventure sport is safe, accident free as it is not on the road and one does not have the hassle of potholes. We also don’t disturb the fishermen’s cast nets”.
His love affair with the sport goes back to the time when as a 10-year-old he would walk with his grandfather along a canal in Switzerland, watching kayaks go past, wishing to be a part of them.
Strangely many years later in Kochi he fulfilled his dream of spearheading a kayaking expedition, in which his 72-year-old wife Annelies happily joined in.
“Kayaking is one of the best ways to see Kerala,” says Karl.
The water route
Kalypso Adventures, headed by Cdr. Sam T. Samuel is another outfit from the city that has successfully taken kayaking groups, “but mainly foreigners” around Alappuzha and Kollam, once for a 12-day jaunt. Earlier this year, in January, city-based dentist and an adventure sports enthusiast Dr. Raj Krishnan, along with 10 others, all of whom met over the Internet undertook a 13 day expedition from Kollam to Kozhikode spreading awareness about water pollution. On an average the group covered 30 kms a day, pitched tents in government schools and took classes on the theme. The National Water Way 3 (NWW3), from Kollam to Kottapuram, 168 kms is totally navigable, says Raj adding that water hyacinths pose a problem after Kottapuram. The Conolly Canal narrows after Kozhikode and is difficult to kayak. Manmade bunds were another problem faced by the kayakers. The group used 13 to 16 ft single kayaks. “Kayaking is very safe and Kerala has many a good network of waterways. In the city, a waterway is more accessible than a traffic ridden road,” says Raj. The group is set to undertake an even more adventurous kayak trip by December 15, of 417 kms on the same route and then venture into the sea from Kozhikode till Kannur.
