Kerala Houseboat Tour

Kerala Houseboat Tour

Kerala Houseboat Cruises

Kerala Houseboats are world renowned for its concept, ingenuity and beauty. Kettuvallams as they called locally literally means knotted boats; they are giant country boast which were earlier used for transporting cargo across the canals, measuring up to 80 feet in length. The wood used to make Kettuvalloms is ‘Anhili’, which is found in abundance in Kerala. Large sized planks are tied together using hand made coir ropes. This gives the Kettuvallams enough strength to with stand heavy onslaught of waves during monsoons and tides. These traditional houseboats undoubtedly form one of the striking floating behemoths of the backwaters in Kerala.

Today, these goods carriers have been converted into a beautiful tourism product, these Kettuvalloms have been transfprmed into luxurious floating hotels which now fondly called the Kerala houseboata. A sojourn in Kettuvallams, the House boats of Kerala, offers a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque landscapes of the God’s Own Country. One can cruise in it through the palm-fringed backwaters, throughout a night under a virgin and unpolluted sky and environment.

These house boats are available in all kinds of sizes and shapes with varying interiors. Generally each houseboat has a suite with an attached bathroom, one living room, kitchenette, an open lounge, deck and a three member crew comprising a captain, a cook and steward. Today you have boats with one bedroom going upto 10 bedroom houseboats.  You have basic boats with minimum interiors and ultra luxurious ones with jacuzzi and swimming pool as well. The houseboats are generally powered by a small inboard engine, allowing one to cruise along the backwaters. You have airconodtioned and non a/c boats. Airconidtioning is generally powered by generators.

The houseboat package consists of a 21 hour mixed bag of experiences. You check in by noon and you are taken on a 6 hour cruise through the wonderful labyrinth of canals along the Vembanad lake criss crossing through the villages which gives you an idea of the life by the backwaters. You get to see houses, churches, temples, paddy cultivation, fishing, etc… witnessing these are rare. In between you are served lunch and snacks. After 1800 hrs the boat is anchored as that is the time when the fishermen lay their nets and there is no way you can move around. You have the options of either enjoying the silence of nature or watching a movie followed by dinner before you retire for the night.

Next morning you wake up to the chirping of birds and the sound of nature. You are taken on a cruise and served breakfast before being dropped off at 0900 hrs for the onward journey.

Click here for viewing photos of houseboat

The cuisine served on board is traditional Kerala and gives you a true Kerala experience. Average cost of this experience is around Rs.5000.00 for a non a/c boat and Rs.6500.00 for an a/c boat fot two people and going upto Rs. 20000.00 for a luxury boat for two per night.  Also the air conditioning is limited only to the bedroom and operates from 9 pm till 6 am next day. If you want full time air conditioning you will have to specify that during booking and pay a supplement for the same.

Kindly note the the video and photo link given here is of Spice Coast Cruises which gives you an idea as to how and what the Kerala Houseboat experience would be like. The boat quality and services would vary based on the pricing, please check specifically about the boat type and costing before you book.

Images courtesy “Flickr” and video courtesy ” You Tube”