Trivandrum Backwater Canal Landing Place, 1900 Postcard
A 1900 postcard of the Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) backwater canal landing place. Thiruvananthapuram was the capital of Travancore State during the British era. Today it is the capital of Kerala state, which was made up of Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar. Kerala is blessed with backwater canals and lakes crisscrossing from Thiruvananthapuram up to Kasargod. The backwater canals as shown in this scene were intertwined with other larger and smaller backwaters throughout the state.
The boat landing places were in common use before the emergence of motor vehicles and roads. Since cargo and passenger boats were inevitable for transportation purposes in the backwaters of Kerala. But these are little neglected today with many of these feeder waterways covered with weed and silt. The place shown in this postcard is presumably the same as shown in Raja Ravi Varma’s painting- Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming the Governor-General of Madras. This landing place has been converted into a market.
Also see post 5 Old Postcards of Cochin, Ernakulam & Quilon Backwaters. To see more on canals go to A passage through time.
Did you know- one can travel from the southern tip of Kerala to almost the northern tip (nearly 600 km) by water.
From the collection- 1971 Raja Ravi Varma Commemorative First Day Cover., Antique Photo Malik-I-Maidan Canon 1880., Vintage Print Aerial View Of Old & New Delhi., Antique Photos of Shakuntala Railway 1918
