Hover In The Houseboats Of Kerala Over The Streaming Backwaters

By Author: Vijay Joshi
Total Articles: 35
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Amidst the heavenly Kerala, the Backwaters meander throughout Kerala connected through labyrinth of rivers, canals and Lagoons, hidden within tall coconut trees and swaying palms, Bushy mangroves which unabashedly allure visitors from all across the world. Houseboats on Keralan Backwaters or kettuvalam were used as the way of transporting goods from the remote Kerala villages to towns like Alleppey, Kollam, Cochin and Kottayam. But with the development of concrete Bridges and Ferries, this local way of transporting acquired the passenger seat.

However, Houseboats are back in trend in Kerala and this time as a way of exploring the backwaters and the isolated villages. The Kettuvallams, modernized as Houseboats are about 70 feet long and 13 feet wide. The raw materials used in building these boats is completely eco friendly namely, Bamboo poles, Coconut Fibre, ropes, Bamboo mats, carpets etc. the main wood used is ‘Anjili’ wood. Modern Houseboats are designed to meet the Green Palm/Goldstar certifications by the Department of Tourism, which has recently enacted regulations, stipulating the standards of Kerala houseboats ...
... or kettuvalams.

Around nine hundred kettuvallms ply the backwaters and there are multiple routs which are popular among tourists. The Kerala backwater tours give the tourists the unbelievable experience of spending their vacation living in a house floating over steep, perfect blue gorges coming out of heavy mangroves, shed by tall coconut trees. Kerala Houseboats cruise through emerald waterways and represent the majestic, unique way of living of erstwhile Kerala.

Infinite Lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries and the deltas of forty-four rivers make up the 900 km backwater maze of kerala. The Backwaters mainly cover the four districts of the state which are Kollam, Alleppey (Alappuzha), Kottyam and Kochi(Cochin). The Vembanad lake, the largest backwater flows through Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Kottayam districts and releases in to the sea at the Kochi (Cochin) Port. The second largest backwater stretch gives visitors the opportunity to take the longest ride in the backwaters and is also considered the gateway to the backwaters.

Luxury A/c Houseboats offer tourists these facilities, i.e., Front living area and bedrooms with beautiful wooden ceiling with overlapping logs. The bedrooms of the luxury houseboat have complete glass windows stretching across 3/4ths of the wall to offer the guests a complete and uninterrupted view of the backwaters while traveling. Each bed in the Luxury A/c Houseboat is located at the exact height of the window, so the guest gets a good view even while lying on the bed. Each room in the Luxury A/c Houseboat has a dressing mirror, luggage compartment, writing table, wardrobe, attached bathrooms and air-conditioning Bathrooms in the Luxury A/c Kettuvallams have a shower area with WC and wash basin and are one of the largest, if not the largest on any boat. All fittings are of high quality. Onboard game activities include - Chess, Caroms, Scrabble, and Playing cards etc with Fishing rods, painting and sketch pads, and Library & High-End music system available on the boat.

On a Kerala Houseboat, crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and a guide come along. Sometimes, Houseboats are poled by local oarsmen and sometimes it’s powered by Engines. Non A/c Houseboats are also available.

To feel and witness the true nature, take the plunge and come down to the beautiful backwaters of Kerala and enjoy a vacation of a lifetime.

Vijay Joshi is an eminent travel analyst and writer giving information about Houseboats in Kerala.