Ambassador
Kavya Nair
Ambassador · Alleppey, Kerala
Ambassador
Ambassador · Alleppey, Kerala
My family has operated houseboats on Kerala’s backwaters for three generations. I learned to navigate these canals before I learned to drive a car. The waterways are my roads, and the villages along them are my neighborhood.
I studied marine biology at Cochin University, which gave me a deep appreciation for the delicate ecosystem of the backwaters. When I guide travelers through these channels, I’m not just showing them beautiful scenery — I’m introducing them to a way of life that’s existed for centuries.
The Kerala most tourists see is beautiful, but limited. I’ll take you to the hidden channels where kingfishers nest, the toddy shops that haven’t changed since my grandfather’s time, and the spice gardens where you can taste pepper right off the vine.
The three experiences Kavya loves sharing most.
Past the tourist houseboats, there are narrow channels where the canopy closes overhead and the only sound is birdsong. That’s where I take you.
My mother’s fish curry is legendary in our village. She’ll teach you to make it — and the secret is in the kokum.
Wake before sunrise and join the local fishermen casting Chinese nets. The catch becomes your breakfast, cooked on the shore.
“Testimonials coming soon. We're collecting stories from travelers who've experienced India with Kavya.”
— Future traveler