A houseboat cruise in Kerala is an experience
of a lifespan. House boats are a major tourist attraction
and have won the heart of lots of travellers who are left
spellbound by the tranquility of the backwaters while riding
the houseboats. The houseboats are an integral part of the
people living in Kerela as well as Kashmir, both in terms
of livelihood and economy of the region. "Kettuvallams
"or Rice boats were initially used for transportation
of people and products between villages and towns as there
were lesser mode of transportation.
The back water in Kerala are best experienced
while slowly moving down the labryinth of canals
in a thatched roofed houseboat, known as "kettuvalam".
The house boats are renovated cargo boats about
80 feet in length and provided with all modern
comforts for leisure travel.
Each houseboat is constructed with exquisite floorings
with hull and velabara, the other name of a canopy.
Kettuvalam, are made by tieing pieces of wood,
Jack wood plank are joined together with coir
rope and coated with resin made from boiled cashew
nut shell.
Houseboats of Kerala are meant to provide a pleasurable
ride along the backwaters of the state. To make
the guests feel at home, as much as possible,
the houseboats have been luxuriously furnished
with all the basic requirements of stay.
The houseboat will be manned
by 3 men – a captain, an engine driver and
a cook. All the staff members are from the locality
with some training in hospitality aspects.
The food is made on a fixed menu, if individual
preferences are not informed earlier. Fish during
lunch and chicken during dinner is the practice.
No electric power supply is available in the houseboats,
except some boats with solar lighting.
Most of the products used for the conversion of
the Kettuvallam into houseboat are traditional and
echo friendly materials – bamboo mat for roofing,
coir mat on floors, bamboo ply for walls etc.
Most of the houseboats have 2 bed rooms with
twin beds (two separate beds) attached with tiled
toilets
The boats will be moving in the canals, lakes
and rivers only till 5 pm. Afterwards it will
be anchored in a safe lake. A small out board
engine is used for moving the boat.
The houseboats are certified by Department of
Tourism, Government of Kerala in two categories
– Golden and Silver. The golden category
houseboats have more spacious rooms, tiled toilets,
hand held shower, kitchen, sit out and an overall
better service.
You are free to reward (tip)
the crew as they are earning a living from the trips
they get during the 6 months' season time.
