An electric boat that takes the sustainable tourism route in Kochi’s Kadamakkudy islands

Experience a sustainable, serene boat ride through the backwaters of Kadamakkudy on the Legend of Ousu cruiser.

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. 

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. 

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.