The backwaters of Kerala, with the small round Keralite boats floating through them, are an ideal destination for those who wish to take a break from a hectic routine and head to the peace of natural surroundings. The backwaters of Kottayam, Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Thottapally are renowned for their idyllic charms, where you can take it slow and easy. The lovely inland lagoons of the Kottayam-Alleppey stretch are a dream come true, as you take a leisurely cruise through the coconut grove lined stretches and click pictures. The peaceful riverside hamlets, where fishermen hang their nets out to dry, or the Kettuvalam boats on the waters, make you feel at peace.

Houseboat is a concept based on the traditional kettuvallam that was used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to Cochin (Kochi) port, in olden days. When the modern trucks replaced this modest transport system, some one found a new way to use the old kettuvallam (almost all of them are more than 100 years old). That was, by building rooms for accommodating travelers. Now there are as many as 120 kettuvallam converted into houseboat at Alleppey alone.

The name kettuvallam means a boat with knots 9wooden planks are joined together with coir knots and no nail is used to carry goods (30 tons can be loaded in one normal boat) to Kochi, the workers (crew) used to cook their meals onboard supplementing it with the fish from the fresh water. The same concept is followed in the houseboat – local food is served and the people are from Kuttanad. They know the backwaters, lakes and canals. They understand English and they can speak “Alleppey English” also.

While converting the Kettuvallam into houseboat, maximum care had been taken to use natural products – roofing with bamboo mats, bamboo and arrecknut tree, flooring platform with wooden planks covered by coir mats, the coats are made coconut tree’s wood and the bed is again coir form. The lighting is with the help of solar panels.

Itineraries for various Cruises :

Alleppey – known as the Venice o the East – is a small town South of Cochin and most of the houseboats are parked here. Vembanad Lake, narrow canals, paddy fields and the villages are the attraction.

Kumarakam (near the birds sanctuary) is the place where popular resorts like Coconut Lagoon and Taj Garden Retreat are established. Most of the tourists are staying at Kumarakam and from the resort they abroad the houseboat. If the guests are going to Periyar (Thekkady – where the Periyar Lake, the boating to see wild elephants and trekking to the rain forests of Western Ghats are popular) from Alleppey, they can disembark at Alleppey.

Alinkadavu is the place near Quilon from where the guests can progress towards Trivandrum (Thiruvanathapuram – Capital of Kerala) and Kovalam (beach).

Itineraries are specially made for Weekend, i.e. Friday-Saturday-Sunday.
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