Kuttanad Diaries : Candid Shots From Champakulam, Alappuzha

In an older post I gave you wonderful people a tour of Champakulam in Alappuzha. It's interior Kuttanad that was once only remotely accessible and solely by water. But, today, the place has made significant progress and is well connected to nearby towns, especially Alappuzha, by bus and water.

In this post today, I take you on a tour of the 'other side' of the village.

This part of Champakulam is easily accessed by bus from either Alappuzha bus depot or nearby Changanacherry bus-stand. It has extensive rice cultivation and a famous college run by CMI fathers. Much networked by criss-crossing channels, big and small this cosy place is where one can still enjoy the raw flavor of erstwhile Kuttanad. The people are simple and most of them still prefer to lead an agrarian life. This should not be confused with illiterate farmer community as most of the youngsters here are either engineers, teachers or into software development. The women folk are educated too, if not beyond, at least up to graduate/college level. Yet, they prefer to blend into their simple ways and are adept at all household chores and farming practices including milking cattle and preparing the best Kuttannad delicacies especially seafood. They catch their own lunch from the canals! You can be sure to smell some heavenly aroma of seafood cooking while you pass a house in this locality.

Here, I have some candid shots of green and watery Champakulam for you !