Backwaters & Biodiversity

Glide through Kerala’s backwaters, where every ripple shelters life and every step shapes its future

Kerala’s backwaters form a spellbinding mosaic of still lagoons, winding canals, and shimmering lakes—where the landscape seems to breathe with the pulse of water. Fed by rivers flowing from the Western Ghats and touched by the tides of the Arabian Sea, these brackish waters cradle one of India’s most unique and fragile ecosystems.

This living, liquid world is a haven for biodiversity. Dense mangrove forests, floating vegetation, and waterlogged marshes create essential habitats for countless species—rare fish like the Karimeen (Pearl Spot), prawns, mollusks, and crabs that thrive in the nutrient-rich waters. Along the reed-lined banks, kingfishers, herons, and migratory birds such as the Eurasian Spoonbill find refuge and nesting grounds. Below the surface, aquatic plants and algae sustain the delicate food web, while lotus blooms and water hyacinths add vivid strokes of color to the watery canvas.

Each element of this ecosystem plays a role in regulating water cycles, controlling floods, and maintaining ecological balance. But the backwaters are vulnerable—threatened by pollution, land encroachment, overfishing, and the pressures of unregulated tourism. The intricate harmony that has evolved over centuries can easily be disrupted without careful stewardship.

At Ekathra, our backwater experiences are grounded in a deep respect for these ecological corridors. Through guided nature explorations, quiet canoe rides, birdwatching trails, and interpretive sessions with naturalists and conservation practitioners, travelers are invited to see the backwaters not just as beautiful scenery—but as living systems in need of attention and care.

Sustainable tourism here becomes an act of conservation. By treading lightly, learning deeply, and engaging consciously, visitors become allies in preserving this delicate habitat. Each experience contributes to awareness, ecological sensitivity, and support for local conservation efforts—from mangrove restoration to wetland protection.

In the stillness of the backwaters, nature reveals her quiet resilience—and her growing fragility. This Ekathra experience invites you to listen, to observe, and to reflect on our shared responsibility in protecting one of Kerala’s most vital natural treasures.