Houseboats: The Luxurious Leviathans of Kerala’s Backwaters
An overnight cruise on the mesmerizing waterways of Kerala is possibly one of the world’s best and most tranquil experiences. Embark on an experience where the grandeur and the magnificence of what you see and experience will fill your soul. Lose yourself to the serene sublimity of it all. And as the night falls and the stars speckle the skies, let the gentle lullaby of the lapping waters lull you to sleep. Kerala Travel Centre tells you why this is one experience not to miss…
A houseboat cruise is the best way to experience the tranquillity of the waters, to see glimpses of the lives of people who are shaped by them, to gape in awe at nature’s best kept secrets, to find recluse from the urban grind.
The houseboats in Kerala are huge, exotic, slow moving barges used for leisure trips. They are reworked Kettuvalloms, a word which literally means ‘boats tied with knots’, referring to the way they are built. Not a single nail is used in their construction. Kerala’s houseboats are the most popular tourism products in the country today. They offer the best way to experience the labyrinth of meandering waterways, canals, streams, and lagoons forming the famous backwater system of Kerala.
In earlier times these houseboats were used to carry consignments of grain and other produce along the waterways. The kettuvalloms of yore were famous for the way in which they were built. Huge planks of Jack wood or Aanjili (Artocarpus Hirsuta) were sewed together with coir. The hulls were then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. These days brass nails are also used to improve the longevity of the boats. While converting Kettuvalloms into houseboats, care is taken to use only eco-friendly and traditional materials, retaining the bamboo matted roofs and coir matted floors.
These houseboats are innovatively designed and incorporate the best of the old and the new. They come in various sizes, with some of them having as many as seven air-conditioned, bath attached bedrooms, conference halls, open lounge deck, dining area and kitchenette. The crew comprises of oarsmen, a cook and a guide. The houseboats are generally powered by remarkably unobtrusive inboard diesel engines, allowing one to cruise along the backwaters at a gentle pace. Most of them are equipped with chemical toilets. Some even have solar panels. Authentic Kerala food is served onboard.
You can choose from a wide selection of beautiful routes to cruise and experience the bewitching beauty of Kerala’s backwaters. Whichever route you choose, the sweeping vistas that unfold before you at every turn are beyond description. You need to see it yourself. We could go on and on about this magical experience. Which is why every one of our Kerala tours includes a houseboat cruise.
Call the Kerala Travel Centre today on freephone 0808 178 9799 to discuss this experience of a lifetime.
