Houseboat Bed - Memorable stay in Houseboat in Kerala

Houseboat Bed - Memorable stay in Houseboat in Kerala

The backwaters act as a vital waterway for the transport of goods, people and their produce and are more often than not the only link between isolated villages and crowded towns. Stretched over a total expanse of 1500 kms, the backwaters have a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes from north to south. As you sail along on a houseboat you drift into a land that time forgot and watch picture-book towns and ancient trading posts float by. You can see the sky shimmer through a coconut canopy and hear the wind to bring you the oarsman’s song. You can sail a cloud and dream a dream in the tranquility of the backwaters. When you wish to get away from it all and set your soul free, the one place which will surely soothe your soul is the backwater of Kerala. It is the best way to rejuvenate your mind and body. So if you are really looking for peace of mind, take a break at the backwaters of Kerala.

Kettuvallams, the House-boats of Kerala, offer a rare treat while you sojourn in the God's Own Country. You can cruise in it through the tingling backwaters, throughout a night in waxing moonlight. The lullaby of the waves and the dazzling delights of the moon-lit night can be experienced by spending a couple of nights in Kettuvallam which anchored in a undisturbed spot in the Vembanad Lake. The traditional house-boat of Kerala is one of the most enduring images of the backwaters. These house boats are converted version of the "Kuttanadan Kettuvallams". Our craftsmen have created a unique atmosphere on board, a luxurious, self contained world from which to observe rural Indian life flowing gently by. The experience will be quite different from any other holiday.

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".

Houseboat Bed

A portion of the Kettuvallam was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals would be cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad localities, on board. When the modern trucks replaced this system of transport, some one found a new way that would keep these boats, almost all of which were more than 100 years old, in the market. By constructing special rooms to accommodate travelers, these boats cruised forward from near- extinction to enjoy their present great popularity. 

Now these are a familiar sight on the backwaters and in Alleppey alone, there are as many as 120 houseboats. While converting Kettuvallams into houseboats, care is taken to use only natural products. Bamboo mats, sticks and wood of the aracanut tree are used for roofing, coir mats and wooden planks for the flooring and wood of coconut trees and coir for beds. For lighting though, solar panels are used. Today, the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow uninterrupted views. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine. Boat-trains - formed by joining two or more houseboats together - are also used by large groups of sight-seers

Kerala Backwaters Tourism - A splendid Travel Experience

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

BACKWATERS OF KERALA, KERALA BACKWATERS

Backwaters of Kerala 

It is a network of rivers, lakes and inlets interconnected by canals forming 900 km of waterways on the west coast of South Kerala. A number of towns among this serve as points for starting and ending cruises.

Vembanad Kayal, the longest lake is the star attraction. The Port of Kochi at the lake’s outlet to the Arabian Sea is the chief starting point; Alleppey the Venice of the east also is an equally  popular location to start the cruise. So is Kollam the gateway from the south end.

Regular ferry services connect towns on both banks of the backwaters. Tourists prefer to use furnished Houseboats with all facilities, such as fresh tasty meals, viewing decks, freedom to stop where you want etc. There are islands like Vypeen near Kochi, Kumarakom bird sanctuary, Pathiramanal, Monroe Island near Kollam and many others. Hotels and resorts and even home stays are available throughout the course of the backwaters. Canoes can be used for narrow canals.

Sunset at Kerala BackwatersAshtamudi, Sasthamkotta are also major lakes in the system. Backwaters of Kuttanad, Kollam, Allapuzha, and Kochi are well known names in Kerala and all are equally splendid. The view of coconut palms, green fields, birds, small town life is all to be enjoyed while cruising.