On May 1, Soji J. Alumparambil, a houseboat operator at Kumarakom, headed for the Cheepunkal boat terminal expecting a bustling business atmosphere. Typically, this day, a public holiday for the State, draws a huge crowd, with waterways across the village bustling with local visitors. To his surprise, the terminal was eerily empty. After waiting hours under the scorching sun, he finally welcomed a group of tourists who hired his boat for a two-hour ride.
“It felt like we were back in the midst of the pandemic [COVID-19],” he said. “The usual bustling crowds were nowhere to be seen, and as a result, local businesses, including the boats, had come to a standstill,” he said.
The baking temperatures have coincided with a popular time for the local crowd to visit Kumarakom — the summer vacations. While the destination rebounded sharply from pandemic-induced lows last year, the extreme weather has flagged another challenge as a critical part of the destination’s appeal is outdoor pursuits such as walking, cycling, and boating.
