Backwaters Tourism in Kerala - A splendid Travel Experience
The houseboats of today - huge, slow moving, exotic barge used for leisure trips - are the reworked Kettuvallam of olden times. The original Kettuvallam were used to carry tones of rice and spices - a standard Kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tones - from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. Traditional Kerala houseboats, Kettuvallam, glide past, powered both by gondolier-like boatmen with poles and by sail. Kerala's houseboat cruising is not just restricted to the backwaters, you also get a chance to explore the wildlife and indulge in some water sports such as water skiing, water sailing and angling. The most popular backwater cruise is from Kollam to Alappuzha / Alleppey.
Kettuvallam, the stitched boats provide the best way to experience the colourful backwaters of Kerala. The Kettuvallam of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. The traditional houseboat, the indispensable part of the picturesque backwaters of Kerala, was mainly used in Travancore and Kochi and in the Minicoy Islands in olden times. The wood commonly used to make Kettuvallams is 'Anjili', which is found in abundance in central Travancore area. Large planks are tied together using hand made coir ropes and beaten coconut fibers. This gives the Kettuvallams enough strength to withstand heavy waves in the sea. These long cargo boats are a familiar sight on the backwaters. These traditional Kerala houseboats undoubtedly form one of the most abiding images of the backwaters in Kerala.
Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting tourism product in India, the luxuriously furnished houseboat. Kettuvallams or the 'house-boats of Kerala' dot the serene palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala.
Enjoy The Backwaters of Kerala: A sojourn in Kettuvallams, the Houseboats of Kerala, offers a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque aspects of the God's Own Country. One can cruise in it through the palm-fringed backwaters, throughout a night in waxing moonlights. The lullaby of the waves and the dazzling delights of the moonlit night can be experienced by spending a couple of nights aboard the Kettuvallam. The traditional houseboat of Kerala is one of the most enduring images of the backwaters. These houseboats of Kerala are converted version of the "Kuttanadan Kettuvallams".
Kerala Houseboats - The Luxury in Water: Kettuvallams, the large traditional boats are converted into floating luxury dwelling units. These house boats are available in all sizes and shapes, the most popular accommodation type being a suite, having one or two bath attached bedrooms, one living room, kitchenette, an open lounge, deck and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide. The houseboats are generally powered by a small outboard engine, allowing one to cruise along the backwaters. A recent innovation is a small conference room in a houseboat.
The only way to discover the real Kerala is to cruise along its backwaters. You will experience a totally different Kerala as you sail down these soothing waters in a country craft and absorb this unusual representation of Kerala life. Kerala’s centuries-old, palm fringed backwaters stretch over 1900
