Talk:Kerala Backwaters

Would this be a better name? I've thought about Backwaters (Kerala), but in the sources I have "backwaters" isn't considered a proper name (= uncapitalized). (WT-en) DhDh 03:22, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)

Why is it called "Ashtamudi", which is Indic? Kerala is a Dravidian region. -(WT-en) phma 05:51, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)


 * I have no idea. These sites mention it as such, but don't explain much: and . (WT-en) DhDh 06:27, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)

Uh..
I'm a little lost as to why this is an article. --(WT-en) Evan 09:39, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)


 * Having done part of the backwaters, I do think it deserves its own article here. You can't link the Kerala backwaters to one particular city or town. They are an intricate network of rivers, canals and lakes that runs parallel to the coast and reaches quite far inland. It really makes one whole and I'd apply the region template here. Other opinions? (WT-en) DhDh 12:47, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)

OK. I guess I'm wondering if it's a region, or an itinerary, or a travel topic, or... uh. Once again challenging the geographical hierarchy and Evan's poor little brain. B-) --(WT-en) Evan 14:14, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)


 * Now that you mention it, it could very well be an itinerary. I'm not that sure about how to see it as a travel topic though. (WT-en) DhDh 22:32, 21 Dec 2003 (PST)

Wondering what to do about this
I think I've figured out what's to be done about this. Though this is a body of watet, this certainly meets the "Can you sleep there" test for an independent article about a destination. People can and routinely do spend entire days in Ketuvalloms. You need to get in, you need to get around, there are sights to be seen there are things to do and there is also stuff to buy. In fact, this tells me that there are 10 distinct backwater destinations to get into independently, and I can vouch for that. Practically every district of Kerala has a backwater and all of them are linked to one another, but most travellers will do only one at a time. (I've done Alapuzha and Cochin at two different times). So the thing to do is to have an article for each of them (using the small city template, but taking the "large attraction" exception) and make this into a region article. I'll do it next when I have the time. --(WT-en) Ravikiran 08:45, 29 Dec 2005 (EST)

Kettuvallam - meaning
Many sites translate Kettuvallam as "tied boat" (kettu = tie). This is not right. All traditional boats in Kerala are made by tying together wood planks with coir, not just Kettu-Vallams. Correct meaning of the word Kettu-vallam is "roofed" boat. (Kettu, as in NaluKettu (നാലു കെട്ട്), Kettidam (കെട്ടിടം)). Traditionally, only Kettu-vallams had roofs in Kerala. Other boats, though made using the same technique (wooden planks tied together) were usually open.