It is a calm day for a boat ride, the breeze is a gentle caress. Conditions are ideal on the almost-winter-like day. The waters of the Periyar around Kadamakkudy are still, glass-like. At a distance one can see poles that make up Chinese fishing nets as they mark the outline of the river. The silence is refreshing, it is hard to believe that this is just a few kilometres away from the noise of the heart of the city. 

While boat rides on the Periyar, in the backwaters around Kadamakkudy’s 14 islands are common, this ride is unusual. The din and smoke, the default accompaniments of such a ride, are absent. The 12-seater twin engine electric cruiser silently glides over the water leaving behind not as much as a trace on the water. Usually, apart from the carbon emission and noise pollution, the motor-powered boats also leave behind a trail of oil on the water. 

The view from the Legend of Ousu | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

With this cruiser, called the Legend of Ousu, Kochi-based company Tropiq Getaways is attempting to offer a different, sustainable experience to tourists. Founder Vishal Koshy says “We are trying to showcase sustainable, responsible tourism with zero impact on the environment. The people living on these islands are self-reliant and self-sustained, it is a wonderful experience interacting with them.” To that end, it seems like his endeavour, the tours, a part of the aptly named The Living Islands of Kadamakkudy project, is working. The Legend of Ousu officially took to the waters in September this year.

The boat weaves in and out on the river, under tiny bridges connecting tinier islands, coasting past the islands, watching life as it happens on these islands. The experience is very different from the one across the backwaters in Alappuzha. Over hot, delicious chukku kaapi (dry ginger infused coffee), which the guide or storyteller Hrithik Peter pours out of a thermos flask into glasses, and kuzhalappam, banana chips and bite-size Kerala samosas, Vishal and Hrithik share the story of the islands, the people and the backwaters. 

On the electric boat | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Paper cups and plates, plastic water bottles would have been the easier options, but not on the Legend. Since there are refreshments (depending on the duration of the cruise) and plenty of water on board, guests do not have to get anything on to the boat. This is also an effective way of discouraging pollution of the waters.  

The backwaters widen so that you can see the sky meet the waters. As the boat passes through the islands, Hrithik points to landmarks on the ones that we pass. We are on an hour-long cruise, which passes by Cheriya Kadamakkudy, goes around Pizhala, Murikkal, Valiya Kadamakkudy, Paliyam Thuruth, Chaliyam Thuruth and back to opposite Nihara Spa and Resorts, Kadamakkudy, where the trip starts. 

Harvested pokkali farms, thick mangroves, unpeopled islands and even an island populated by one man, and fish farms dot the route we take. Hrithik points to one of the islands with just one ‘house’. “Joseph chettan used to live here with his family. It can get rather lonely on these islands especially if you are the sole inhabitants and life is not easy. His family left, but he refuses to leave his beloved island,” says Vishal. 

Hrithik points to a giant water tank on one of the other islands and says, “during the 2018 floods, the waters rose up to the upper portion of the tank. That was the only part that could be seen in these parts; everything else was submerged,” he says. A grim reminder of the days when the waters of the Periyar rose, frighteningly so.   

Tropiq Getaways has curated these ‘cruises’ in such a way that there is a diversity in terms of the offerings. There is history, ornithology, farming (apart from pokkali, fish and mud crabs), food tasting (customised menu with starring role for pokkali rice), all without compromising on the sustainability aspect. If interested, guests can opt for walking tours of these islands, and there are specialised boat rides for those doing research on one or any of these. 

A view of the backwaters at Kadamakkudy | Photo Credit: Shilpa Nair Anand

“These are not ‘staged’ - the farms and the farmers, the people who share their stories are real people who have lived here for generations,” says Vishal. We pass by a group of fishermen diving for fish. “They are so silent that even the fish don’t realise when these men get to them. Did you know there are around seven ways of fishing in these waters!” chips in Hrithik.

The boat itself is interesting — Vishal got the boat custom-made. “The intention was sustainable, responsible tourism and I could not do that with a diesel boat.” Finding a fabricator to work to his specifications, making the e-powered boat was not easy. But eventually, he found a local boat maker. “Risk assessment spanning a 100 hours was done, we did route tracking for three months before we were ready to sail.” For those worried about the boat stalling, since there are two engines, if one fails the other starts working.  

It was christened The Legend of Ousu is a nod to 99-year-old Ousu chettan who, locals consider, the ‘bridge of Kadamakkudy’, a boatman who had been ferrying passengers across the crisscrossing backwaters for more than 50 years. “Local legend has it that he does not leave a single person behind.” The boat has a drawing, by a local artist, of a motley crew of people waiting for Ousu chettan as he picks up each person.  

The mangroves at Kadamakkudy | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

As Vishal explains the environmental benefits of electricity-powered boats on these backwaters, we see a traditional jhankaar (ferry) — two country boats tethered to each other with a platform joining both — transporting an autorickshaw. 

The smoke and the noise is a stark contrast to the ride on the Legend. With several years of experience in the tourism industry, he sought to develop tourism by promoting and developing less frequented destinations. Tropiq Getaways offers other sustainable activities such as kayaking and e-bike tours too. 

Although, for now there is just the Legend, Vishal hopes to expand the fleet adding more e-boats. 

For details, tropiqgetaways.com or call 7778067267. Tariffs are ₹3,000 for an hour-long cruise for four and ₹3,500 for a group of five-10 people; ₹7,000 for two hours for four and ₹8,000 for a group of five-10 people.