Oloppara’s shikara rides offer the most intimate way to experience Kerala’s backwaters: no engine roar, no crowds, just the soft dip of a bamboo pole and the rustle of palm fronds overhead. Handcrafted by local artisans using centuries-old techniques, each shikara seats 2–6 guests beneath a woven coir canopy, creating a private cocoon for romance, reflection, or family storytelling. As the sun melts into the water, these boats become your front-row seat to a living watercolor—kingfishers diving, otters slipping between roots, and village children waving from bamboo bridges
1 to 5 hours trip
Each boat is built from Anjili wood (sustainable local timber) with hand-stitched coir cushions and bamboo lattice sides for breeze and views. Freshly painted in earthy greens and maroons, they blend into the landscape like river chameleons