Wake up to calm waters and soft light on Ashtamudi Lake — just peace.
Most of them visit Alleppey, but Kollam provides a less busy and faster backwater experience. This guide is a selection to help you choose the right resort to relax in.
Why Kollam Stands Out
1. Wide Open Water, Not Busy Canals
Ashtamudi is wide and open. The spacing of resorts along the shore is not as congested as the canals.
This means:
- Fewer boats near your room
- Open views of sky and water
- A greater sense of space and quiet
2. Real, Everyday Village Life
Kollam’s backwaters are part of daily life.
Children paddle to school. Fishermen cast nets at dawn. Families work by the water. It’s real life, not a tourist show.
A Perfect Base in Southern Kerala
Kollam lies between Varkala and Trivandrum, with a peaceful lakeside stay in between.
Three Backwater Experiences in Kollam
Stays here usually fall into three types: luxury, wellness, and simple island retreats.
1. Heritage Luxury by Ashtamudi Lake
Ideal if you want comfort and refined service. Traditional design, large rooms or villas, open gardens, and views of the sunset are expected. Sightseeing at night by boat, eating seafood at the water and cultural shows now and then.
2. Nature Retreats and Wellness Retreats.
A more intimate and less noisy resort out of town is a proper reset.
You’ll find:
- Fewer rooms and greenery.
- Cottages leading out to gardens or backwaters.
- Ayurveda-based personalised therapy.
Simple, healthy local food.
Signature experiences:
- Paddleboarding in silent mangroves.
- Morning yoga by the water.
- Slow boat rides into peaceful side channels.
This style is for you if you want to sleep early, eat light, spend time on your health and let nature do some of the healing.
3. Rustic Island Stays on Munroe and Nearby
Stays around Munroe Island are different for travellers who value the authenticity of the places they stay rather than luxurious ones.
Expect:
- Cottages, plain, simple, near the water.
- Natural atmosphere and birds, frogs, and a village.
- Host families or small teams who know every bend of the canals around you.
Standout experiences:
- Canoeing in the early morning through the narrow canals with low branches.
- Island life unfolds around you — sand boats pass, music drifts, and children wave.
- At night, clear skies reflect stars on the water.
- Select this when you do not mind that you will not have as many hotel features and would instead sacrifice them in favour of a better sense of place.
Selection of Backwater Resort at Kollam.
Have in mind the way you would like to feel after the trip.
1. Choose Your Priority: Nature, Healing or Comfort.
- Would it be luxury and comfort, a health centre retreat, or a plain stay in nature?
- Do I want something more earthy and closer to everyday village life?
Once you answer this honestly, your shortlist becomes easier.
2. Look Closely at Location, Not Just Photos
- Two resorts can show beautiful pictures of water, but the setting can feel very different:
- A resort on open Ashtamudi tends to have big skies and wide views.
- A place in a narrow canal may feel more enclosed but also more intimate.
- An island resort might mean more silence—but also a bit more effort to reach.
- Checking a map alongside the pictures gives you a better idea of the kind of quiet you’ll get.
3. Check How Many Rooms They Have
If peace is your main goal, the number of rooms matters:
- Smaller resorts in Kerala, Kollam are quieter with fewer guests.
- Larger ones offer more facilities but can feel busy.
- Choose what suits your rest style.
4. Read Reviews for Clues About Atmosphere
Instead of just ratings, read recent reviews for:
- Comments about noise, large groups or events.
- Check how staff handle requests.
- Read reviews on cleanliness and food.
- This shows the real experience beyond marketing.
Why a Backwater Resort Is Perfect for a Real Break
A true backwater stay does something that city hotels rarely manage: it gently changes your internal pace.
Here’s how:
You naturally disconnect
When the main “activity” is watching light change over the lake, screen time drops without force. You end up using your phone less simply because there’s more interesting live scenery in front of you.
Small moments feel bigger
Drinking tea while a fisherman rows past, hearing rain on the lake, or spotting a kingfisher becomes enough. You stop chasing constant stimulation.
You get time to think
With fewer distractions, thoughts that are usually buried under daily tasks have space to surface. It’s often in such settings that big decisions become clearer.
Optimal backwater escape period.
You may make two nights of it, and you will find you are beginning to slacken down. Three nights are even better, where you have time to do boat rides, walks in the village and mornings to do nothing at all. Anything less can be a hurry when one wants to take their time in a place that is supposed to be taken at leisure.
Who will be most pleased with Kollam?
Kollam suites are good for travellers who prefer peace rather than company, like:
- Couples who desire some silence.
- Tourists who prefer solitude to read or write.
- Families that wished to unplug screens and schedules.
Photography tips at Ashtamudi Lake
Wake up at the time of sunrise and support your camera in the sunset. These are the seasons that have soft and flattering light and beautiful colours. It is simple and universal to shoot reflections of trees and clouds on the water or to shoot the silhouette of boats and nets and the sunset sky.
The reason why Kollam is more genuine
Backwater places are almost purely tourist-orientated, but in Kollam, one still has the sense of staying in touch with the earth. Children attend school in boats, fishermen ply the lake, and day-to-day activities keep on whether tourists are present or absent. It is this daily beat that renders a stay here sincere, nonchalant and covertly special.
Your Quiet Corner of Ashtamudi Awaits
Kollam doesn’t compete for attention. It offers calm waters and a relaxed pace. Choose luxury or simple stays — the goal is to unwind. If you’re tired of crowds, pick a backwater resort in Kerala and breathe.
Plan Your Peaceful Escape Today
Choose your ideal backwater stay in Kollam and start planning a break that truly lets you slow down and breathe.
