The Batapady backwaters in Mangaluru are a confluence of three rivers—the Uchhila flowing in from the north, the Talapady from the east and the Kunjathoor from the south. This incredible calm is sheltered from winds and waves, where a different world is unfolding. The silence at Batapady is broken only by the soothing sound of paddles making contact with water.
The dense mangroves resembling floating giant bushes, their aerial roots shimmering in the morning sunlight, reflected by water and birds flying overhead, is a perfect setting to go kayaking. Here, egrets dart out from their secured places, warning others of intrusion or the black waterfowl preening itself dry.
Ashoka Vardhan G and Devaki G vouch for the peace here. In their 60s, the couple are avid adventure junkies—mountain climbing and cycling. Ashok, who heads Aarohana Mountaineers and Adventurers in Mangaluru, has even tried his hand at hand-gliding.
When Ashok found out that a kayak costs `22,000, he sold his tandem bicycle and submitted specifications to Samudra Shipyard Pvt Ltd at Aroor in Kerala for a custom-designed kayak. Ashok, who sold his thriving bookselling business in Mangaluru in 2012, recalls his previous stints at sea in a traditional boat fitted with an outboard engine had been memorable.
“It was a big day for us and for children in our neighbouhood when the kayak, Samudra, was delivered to Ashoka in October 2014,’’ says Devaki. Their bright red kayak is 14.5-ft long, 2.75-ft wide and weighs 39 kg.
Whenever Ashok and Devaki feel like paddling in open waters, they secure the kayak on their vehicle’s roof carrier and head out to Uchhila coastline on Mangaluru-Cochin Highway (NH 66), 30-minute drive from their house.
In the still Batapady backwaters, they paddle through coves and inlets, without a soul in sight.
“There is no bigger excitement than emerging from a dark narrow stretch between two huge mangroves. It’s almost like entering a cave, and the experience is different each time,” says Ashoka. Their many kayaking trips helped them discover ideal paddling locations with easy access in Phalguni, Shambhavi and Netravathy rivers.
“The kayak’s fibre glass structure contributes to its buoyancy,” says Ashok. Before heading out, they always check the weather forecast and carry life jackets. They honed their paddling skills in calmer waters near the Nandini and Shambhavi rivers in Mulki town, 37 km from Mangaluru. Once they grew confident, the search began for different paddling experiences.
They hope more people take up kayaking, forcing the district administration to keep backwaters
clean, which is littered with waste.