KUMARAKOM, KERALA: A small wooden boat carrying hot tea and traditional Kerala snacks has become one of the most charming sights on the backwaters of Kumarakom, thanks to 75-year-old Shantamma, affectionately known as Chaya Chechi or Chaya Chachi.

For more than a decade, Shantamma has taken her floating tea stall onto the backwaters, serving visitors and guests freshly prepared tea and familiar Kerala snacks. Her unusual way of doing business has recently attracted renewed attention on social media and in travel and lifestyle media, spotlighting one of Kumarakom's distinctive local experiences.

Shantamma started her floating tea-stall business in 2013, following the closure of her earlier tea shop. Instead of giving up her livelihood, she adapted her business to the waterways that form the heart of Kumarakom's tourism landscape.

Her boat is equipped with the essentials needed for the daily trade, including tea-making equipment, cups, ingredients and containers for snacks. She rows out to serve customers staying along the waterfront as well as visitors travelling through the backwaters. Among the items served are hot masala tea, banana fritters and sukiyan, a popular Kerala snack.

A Taste of Kumarakom Beyond the Houseboat

Kumarakom is internationally known for its Vembanad Lake, houseboat cruises, bird sanctuary and waterfront resorts. But experiences such as Shantamma's floating tea stall offer visitors something different — a glimpse into the everyday life, food traditions and livelihoods that have developed around Kerala's waterways.

For tourists, having tea delivered by a small boat while sitting beside the backwaters or aboard a houseboat turns an ordinary refreshment into a memorable local experience. It is this combination of food, waterways and personal interaction that makes Shantamma's story particularly relevant to Kumarakom's growing interest in experiential tourism.

Her story also reflects the resilience of local entrepreneurs whose livelihoods are closely connected with Kerala's waterways. Operating a floating shop is not without difficulties. Monsoon weather, changing tourist numbers and the practical challenge of transporting and maintaining supplies on a boat all add to the demands of the business. Yet Shantamma has continued with the venture for more than ten years.

A Local Story That Became a Tourism Attraction

Shantamma's welcoming personality has become an important part of the experience. Visitors are not simply buying a cup of tea; they are meeting a local resident whose working life has become intertwined with Kumarakom's backwaters.

Her story has gained visibility through travel and food content creators, with videos showing the 75-year-old rowing her boat and preparing tea and snacks for visitors. The social-media attention has helped introduce her unique livelihood to a wider audience.

Stories such as Shantamma's demonstrate that Kumarakom's tourism appeal extends beyond its well-known resorts and houseboats. The destination's people, food, waterways and traditional occupations are equally important elements of the visitor experience.

As Kerala increasingly looks towards authentic and community-linked tourism, the story of Kumarakom's floating tea seller offers a simple reminder: sometimes the most memorable travel experiences are found not in elaborate attractions, but in a cup of tea shared on the water.