There is no recorded history on the origin of this land. But the oral history among local people, transferred from generation to generation is a blend of myths and legends. There is reference to Kuttanad in the epic Mahabharata of ancient India. During their exile, the five Pandava princes are said to have traveled through this land. In those days, Kuttanad was part of a dense forest, later destroyed by a forest fire which is also mentioned in the epic. Thus came the place name Chuttanad or the burnt place. In course of time Chuttanad became Kuttanad. One can still see Kari or coal if we dig deep into the soil of Kuttanad, pointing to the fact that the place was once a forest, destroyed by wild fire. In Kuttanad most of the place names end in Kari. Some familiar place names are Ramankary, Puthukkary, Oorukkary, Mitrakkary, Mampuzhakkary, Kainakari, Chathurthiakary and Chennamkari.
During the reign of Chera dynasty that ruled over ancient Kerala, Kuttanad attained an important place in history. One of the powerful kings in the dynasty: Cheran Chenguttavan is said to have ruled his vast kingdom from Kuttanad, when it was also a famous centre of Buddhism. There is another version for its place name. The Buddhist centre Buddhanad later became Kuttanad.
Kuttanad has a most prominent place among all tourist destinations in the God’s Own Land. For all discerning travelers with an eye on scenic beauty it is indeed the most sought after tourist destination. Currently some 200,000 tourist are estimated to be heading for Kuttanad annually. More than three quarters of them are of foreign origin.
A boat cruise through the serene backwaters and a short stay in the most colorful villages are among the most exotic experiences that Kuttanad can offer. The boat cruises are routed through the vast expanses of the Vembanad lake and the majestic rivers of Pamba, Achankovil and Meenachil that flow through the region.
The tourist season in Kuttanad runs through the months of October to March. A pleasant climate prevails in Kuttanad throughout this season.
It is the boat cruise that can bring out all the beauty and vivid charm of Kuttanad. One great advantage of the cruise is that one can watch the village life without ever intruding into the privacy of people living there. The palm fringed river banks, the blue serenity of vast expanses of water and the arresting beauty of lush green paddy fields leave an indelible memory with all the tourists coming to Kuttanad. One can spend any amount of time immersed in the most enchanting natural beauty of the region.
