If you’re looking for a unique backwater dining experience near Kochi, Boche Toddy Pub is a must-visit destination. Located at boCHE Island in Kumbalanghi, this new venture by Boby Chemmanur blends traditional Kerala toddy shop vibes with a modern waterfront dining setup.
Also known as boCHE Bhojanam, this place is quickly gaining popularity among food lovers and travelers exploring Kumbalanghi.
📍 Location & First Impressions
Situated in the scenic village of Kumbalanghi, the toddy pub is surrounded by serene backwaters, coconut trees, and rustic charm.
Entrance View
Entrance of Boche Toddy Hub with traditional Kerala-style architecture
As you enter, the setup gives a village-style feel with a modern touch. The pathways, greenery, and waterfront immediately set the mood for a relaxed experience.
🌅 Ambiance – Dining Over the Backwaters
One of the biggest highlights of Boche Toddy Pub is its ambiance.
The restaurant is built on a raised platform above the backwaters, offering uninterrupted views of the calm waters. The structure uses thatched coconut palm leaves, recreating the authentic feel of a traditional Kerala toddy shop (കള്ള് ഷാപ്പ്).
Inside the Toddy Hub
Open space inside Boche Toddy Hub with rustic setup and greenery
Restaurant Seating Area
Wooden seating arrangement inside the restaurant overlooking the backwaters
Evening Ambiance
Beautiful dusk view from the restaurant with warm lighting and backwater breeze
The experience becomes magical during sunset, with cool breezes and soft lighting enhancing the atmosphere.
🛖 Private Dining Huts
Apart from the main restaurant, there are private huts available for a more exclusive dining experience.
Outside View of Huts
Traditional thatched huts for private dining experience
Inside View of Hut
These huts are perfect for families or small groups who want privacy while enjoying the scenic surroundings.
🍽️ Food Review – Authentic Kerala Flavours
The menu offers a variety of Kerala-style dishes at reasonable prices.
Here’s what we tried:
🥥 Kappa with Kera (Fish) Mulakittathu
Kera Fish Mulakittathu (Spicy Kerala fish curry)
Kappa (Steamed Tapioca)
A classic Kerala combination — the kappa was soft and perfectly cooked, paired with flavorful, spicy fish curry.
🫓 Kerala Paratha & Nadan Chicken Curry
Flaky Kerala Paratha
Nadan Masala Chicken Curry
The parathas were soft and layered, and the chicken curry had a rich, authentic taste.
🥞 Kallappam with Beef Roast
Soft Kallappam
Spicy Beef Roast
One of the best dishes we tried — the beef roast was well-cooked and packed with flavor.
🍹 Drinks
We opted for fresh lime juice instead of toddy this time, which was refreshing and well-prepared.
📖 Menu & Pricing
Menu Cover
boCHE Bhojanam menu cover
Menu Card
Food menu showing pricing and variety of Kerala dishes
The pricing is quite reasonable considering the location and ambiance, making it accessible for most visitors.
🚗 Parking Facility
Spacious car parking area at Boche Toddy Pub
There is ample parking space available, which is a big advantage for visitors coming by car.
👍 Overall Experience
Boche Toddy Pub offers a perfect mix of:
✅ Scenic backwater views
✅ Authentic Kerala toddy shop ambiance
✅ Delicious local food
✅ Reasonable pricing
✅ Ample parking
Whether you’re a local or a tourist exploring Kochi, this place is ideal for a relaxed evening with great food and views.
⭐ Final Verdict
If you want to experience traditional Kerala cuisine in a beautiful waterfront setting, Boche Toddy Pub is definitely worth a visit.
If you’re looking for a peaceful backwater escape in Alappuzha, Punnamada Resort offers a beautiful blend of traditional Kerala architecture, lakeside views, and relaxed luxury.
Located along the scenic Punnamada Lake, this heritage-style resort is perfect for couples, families, and anyone wanting to experience Kerala’s famous backwaters in comfort.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the property, cottages, restaurant, lake views, swimming pool, and overall experience.
🎥 Watch the Full Video Tour
🏡 Arrival & First Impressions
Main entrance pathway lined with traditional Kerala-style cottages at Punnamada Resort.
The resort welcomes you with beautifully maintained stone pathways and heritage-style cottages built using exposed brick and wooden roofing. The landscaping immediately gives a calm, village-style charm.
Reception building surrounded by greenery and traditional architecture.
The reception area blends seamlessly with the property’s overall design, giving a warm and authentic Kerala welcome.
🌿 Resort Grounds & Architecture
Spacious independent cottages surrounded by lush greenery.
The cottages are thoughtfully spaced, offering privacy while still keeping you close to the lake and main facilities.
Cottages facing the serene waters of Punnamada Lake.
One of the biggest highlights is how close the resort sits to the backwaters.
Wooden bridge crossing a peaceful canal within the resort property.
Small details like wooden bridges and water channels enhance the charm of the property.
🌅 The Backwater Experience
Sunrise view over the vast Punnamada Lake.
Morning views here are magical. The golden sunrise over the lake creates a calm and unforgettable atmosphere.
This is one of the main reasons travelers choose to stay in this part of Alleppey.
🏊 Swimming Pool & Relaxation
Outdoor swimming pool surrounded by traditional Kerala cottages.
The swimming pool area is spacious and well-maintained, offering a refreshing break after exploring the backwaters.
🍽 Dining Experience
Indoor dining space with wooden interiors and warm lighting.
The interiors maintain the traditional Kerala aesthetic with wooden furniture and tiled roofing.
Exterior view of the resort’s restaurant building.
Open-air restaurant with backwater views.
The restaurant overlooks the greenery and backwaters, creating a relaxed dining atmosphere.
🛏 Cottage Interiors
Spacious cottage interior with traditional wooden ceiling design.
Rooms are comfortable, spacious, and reflect Kerala’s heritage architecture.
Open-style bathroom concept blending indoor and outdoor elements.
One unique feature is the semi-open bathroom design, offering a natural and earthy experience.
✨ Final Thoughts
Punnamada Resort in Alappuzha offers:
Traditional Kerala-style cottages
Beautiful backwater views
Calm and peaceful surroundings
A well-maintained swimming pool
Lakeside dining experience
If you’re planning a backwater stay in Alleppey, this resort provides a balanced mix of heritage charm and modern comfort.
Location
Punnamada Resort, Alleppey (Alappuzha), Kerala, India
Living in a vibrant city like Kochi has its perks, but sometimes the soul craves an escape—a quick journey into the embrace of nature, away from the urban hustle. This monsoon, we found the perfect one-day trip that offers the best of two worlds: the roaring, energetic spectacle of a waterfall in its prime and the quiet, ancient mystery of rock caves.
Just a 40-kilometer drive east from the city center lie Areeckal Waterfalls and the nearby Kochareekkal Caves. It's a journey that sees the landscape transform from city streets to serene country roads, winding through lush pineapple farms and rubber estates. As you climb into the hilly region of Piravam, the air gets cooler, the scenery gets greener, and you know you've left the city far behind.
The Monsoon Marvel: Areeckal Waterfalls
Our first stop was the magnificent Areeckal Waterfalls. Arriving during the peak of the monsoon season in August is a treat, as the waterfall is a thundering force of nature. After paying a nominal entrance fee of ₹20 per person, we began the walk down a series of steep, stone-paved steps. With every step, the sound of crashing water grew louder, building a sense of excitement for the view to come.
A word of advice for visitors: while the descent is manageable, the climb back up can be quite strenuous. It's especially important for the elderly or those with health conditions to take it slow. Thankfully, the management has placed benches at regular intervals, which are perfect for catching your breath on the way up.
The raw power of Areeckal Waterfalls during the peak of the monsoon season.
Reaching the bottom, we were greeted by the spectacular sight of water cascading over tiers of glistening black rock. A clever check dam has been built at the base of the main fall, creating a safe, natural pool for visitors to bathe in. It's the ideal spot to let the cool, fresh water wash over you.
The falls flow in beautiful, multiple tiers, creating several spots to enjoy the water.
The man-made pool at the base is a safe and popular spot for families to enjoy a refreshing dip.
While we didn't go in for a swim ourselves, it was wonderful to see families and children laughing and playing in the refreshing spray. The entire atmosphere is filled with an energy that is both powerful and joyful.
A close-up look at the water gushing over the dark, ancient rock formations.
Experience the Journey Yourself!
To truly capture the sights and sounds of this beautiful location, we’ve created a travel vlog of our visit. You can watch it with either English or Malayalam narration below.
Watch in English:
മലയാളത്തിൽ കാണാം (Watch in Malayalam):
A Whisper from the Past: Kochareekkal Caves
After soaking in the energy of the falls, our adventure continued. A short 3.5-kilometer drive away lies a place with a completely different vibe: the Kochareekkal Caves. Trading the roar of the waterfall for a serene silence, this spot feels like stepping into a forgotten world.
The caves themselves are ancient rock shelters, but the real showstopper is the way nature has intertwined with them. Massive, centuries-old tree roots have sprawled over and around the rocks, creating a living, breathing sculpture that is both beautiful and humbling to witness.
Nature's masterpiece: ancient tree roots reclaiming the rock shelters of Kochareekkal Caves.
This is not a place of grand vistas, but of quiet details. The air is still, and the atmosphere is mystical. A little further down, a small man-made pool of crystal-clear water adds to the tranquility of the surroundings. It's a place to sit, reflect, and marvel at the slow, persistent artistry of nature.
The tranquil pool near the caves, reflecting the deep green of the surrounding forest.
The Perfect Day Trip
Areeckal Waterfalls and Kochareekkal Caves offer a perfectly balanced day trip from Kochi. You get the thrill and energy of a powerful monsoon waterfall and the profound peace of an ancient, nature-wrapped cave. If you're looking for a quick and rewarding escape into the heart of Kerala, this journey comes highly recommended.
Have you visited these places? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
Tired of the urban buzz of Kochi? Do you ever feel the need to escape the city's relentless pace, even for just an afternoon? What if I told you that a world of serene islands, shimmering backwaters, and tranquil village life exists just a stone's throw away?
Welcome to Kadamakkudy, a stunning archipelago of 14 islands that feels like a world away but is surprisingly close to the heart of Kochi. It's a place where time slows down, where the roads are framed by water, and where the sky puts on a spectacular show every sunrise and sunset. Recently, we took a drive out to this hidden gem, and it was an experience that soothed the soul.
The journey itself is part of the charm. As you turn off the main highway, the cityscape melts away, replaced by narrow, winding roads flanked by lush greenery and the first promising glimpses of water. The air changes, the sounds change, and you can feel yourself entering a different rhythm of life.
The serene backwaters of Kadamakkudy under the soft light of the monsoon clouds. The stillness of the water creates a perfect mirror for the sky.
What truly defines Kadamakkudy is its landscape—it’s often called "Kochi's own Kuttanad," and for good reason. The vast expanses of water, dotted with traditional fishing boats and bordered by swaying coconut palms, are deeply reminiscent of the famous Alleppey backwaters. It’s a place where life is intrinsically tied to the water.
A timeless scene of local life, as a boatman paddles his 'vallam' across the tranquil waters, connecting the scattered islands.
To truly share the immersive beauty of this drive and the peaceful atmosphere of Kadamakkudy, I've created a full video of our journey. You can experience the sights and sounds just as we did. Watch it below in either English or Malayalam—the visuals are the same, so you can choose the language you prefer!
Our Kadamakkudy Journey: The Full Video
For our English-speaking audience:
For our Malayalam-speaking audience (മലയാളം പ്രേക്ഷകർക്കായി):
As you can see in the video, one of the main attractions is the Kadamakkudy Lake View Point road. On one side, you have the sprawling Pokkali fields, a unique ecosystem that alternates between salt-resistant rice cultivation and prawn farming. On the other, fish farms and vast water bodies stretch to the horizon. It's a panorama of blue, green, and the vibrant life they support.
Taking a moment to soak in the incredible 360-degree views from the Kadamakkudy viewpoint.
The beautiful blend of nature and habitation, where mangrove ecosystems thrive right alongside the local community.
The sheer expanse of water here is breathtaking. It creates a sense of openness and freedom that is hard to find in the city. Whether it's the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore or the sight of a lone bird fishing in the shallows, every detail adds to the area's profound tranquility.
The vast, calming waters of Kadamakkudy, a perfect landscape for quiet contemplation and escape.
While the drive itself is a joy, Kadamakkudy offers more for the curious visitor. You can go kayaking through the serene canals, enjoy some of the best birdwatching near Kochi (especially in the early mornings), or indulge in delicious, fresh seafood at one of the local eateries, including the famous toddy shops.
If you're in Kochi and looking for the perfect one-day trip or a simple evening escape, I cannot recommend Kadamakkudy enough. It’s a reminder of the timeless beauty of Kerala's backwaters, waiting to be explored.
The iconic Kerala landscape—a line of coconut palms mirrored in the glassy water, capturing the essence of God's Own Country.
I hope this post and the videos inspire you to take your own trip to this slice of paradise. If you enjoyed this journey, don't forget to like the videos, leave a comment, and subscribe to the channelKeralapix for more Kerala adventures!
The road to serenity. In Kadamakkudy, the journey itself is the destination, with tranquil backwaters accompanying you on both sides.
Driving the narrow strip of land that cuts through the vast expanse of water. This is the classic, immersive Kadamakkudy experience.
A break in the clouds! A glimpse of blue sky transforms the landscape, highlighting the lush greenery along the scenic route.
The profound stillness of the backwaters on a calm day. The water acts as a perfect mirror, reflecting the soft, overcast monsoon sky.
Found the perfect spot to pull over and just soak it all in. The vibrant walkway adds a beautiful pop of colour to the scenic drive.
A glimpse into the unique ecosystem where mangroves and coconut palms thrive at the water's edge, creating a picturesque Kerala landscape.
