---
title: "Kayal Backwaters: Kerala Lagoons | Model Diplomat"
description: "Kayal Backwaters are Kerala's brackish lagoons formed behind sandbars, vital for UPSC geography and understanding coastal ecosystems."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/kayal-backwaters"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Kayals are the network of brackish lagoons, lakes, and estuarine channels parallel to the Kerala coast, formed where rivers meet the Arabian Sea behind sandbars.
- How do kayals differ from the lagoons on India's eastern coast such as Chilika and Pulicat?
- Why is the Kuttanad region significant in the kayal system?
- What role did the Thanneermukkom bund play in altering the backwaters?
- Which kayals hold Ramsar status and why does it matter?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Kayals are the network of brackish lagoons, lakes, and estuarine channels parallel to the Kerala coast, formed where rivers meet the Arabian Sea behind sandbars.

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In 2002 the Ramsar Convention designated Kerala's Vembanad-Kol and Ashtamudi kayals as Wetlands of International Importance, recognising their ecological value among the country's largest backwater systems.

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