Backwaters & Houseboats of Kerala

900 kms. of dappled, green waters. Fringes of dense tropical greenery. Clear skies shimmering through coconut canopies. Kerala is a labyrinth of lazily meandering backwaters. Sprinkled with traditional houseboats, country crafts, rural lifestyles and Tranquillity. It's an intricate network of innumerable lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries and the deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable. The largest backwater stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad lake which flows through three districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi port.

Backwaters are the accumulation of Sea Water at the sea beach during the to-fro motion of sea-waves in the form of lagoons, estuaries etc. Today, Kerala Backwaters has become the most exciting tourist spot in India.

The Ashtamudi Lake (literally, having eight arms), which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest and is considered the gateway to the backwaters.

The Kettuvallom :
Showcasing a unique heritage The kettuvalloms (houseboats) of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. It took great skill and meticulousness to construct these giants by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single nail.

Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting tourism product in India, the luxurious furnished houseboat. A kettuvallom usually has one or two bath attached bedrooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.

The State is blessed with beautiful beaches and back waters, which are the most important tourist attractions of Kerala. The State has about 550 km. long coastline studded with world's best string of beaches. Along the coastal plains is a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals, which provide excellent facilities of inland navigation. 

Backwaters Destinations are Kollam, Allepey, Kottayam, Kumarakom, Kochi and Kozhikode.

 

KERALA HOUSEBOATS

Stay in Kerala House Boats on Backwaters of Kerala :
Kerala offers a unique mini - canvas to the traveller; the backwaters, which consist of a complex network of lagoons, lakes & canals. Life on the backwaters is entirely different; water being the key to everything. There are no roads here, only waterways. On the banks one can see lush green rice fields spreading away into the distance and coconut groves with the occasional temple or church.

These canals or waterways, vary in dimension from being wide enough to be dubbed lakes, rich with marine bounty. To being nothing but snaking silvers of freshwater. And are mainly concentrated around the townships of Allepey, Kumarakom, Kottayam, Kollam (Quilon), Kozhikode (Calicut) and Kochi.

The backwaters are best experienced while slowly punting down the labyrinth of canals in a traditional thatch-roofed houseboat, known as 'kettuvallam'. An experience you will savour for a long time.

The houseboats are renovated cargo boats… kettuvallams… and are provided with all modern conveniences and comforts to make your stay a pleasant experience. To complement the traditional way of rowing using large poles, outboard engines are also provided. The boats are designed to facilitate a most eco-friendly functioning.

A wide selection of beautiful routes are available for the cruises and you can choose one that suits your budget and time frame. Each route is comprehensive, serene and enjoyable in itself, extending to you a complete experience of Kuttanad. The unique water land of Kerala. 

Features of an Enthralling Houseboat : 

» Each houseboat is of excellent construction and luxurious furnishing with exquisite flooring, hull and valavara (canopy). They are in top cruise worthy condition.
» Each houseboat is provided with a sun deck, spacious living / dining area.
» Each houseboat with attached toilets, separate toilets for crew.
» Spacious passage and a neat, classy kitchen.
» Kitchen is properly protected from hazards by fireproofing and fire extinguishers.
» Clean environment with a hygienic storage hold, free from insects And safe fuel storage facilities.
» Clean good quality linen, blankets, towels etc.
» Log books and tourist records are updated regularly and the boat has a valid license.
» Log books and tourist records are updated regularly and the boat has a valid license.
» The service of professional cooks are available on the boat.


A fleet of Houseboats contains :

1. One bedded accommodation
2. Two bedded accommodation
3. Large boats for families.
4.  Conference Facilities with 5 bed room accommodation

Getting There:
By Air: The nearest airport is Cochin, 64 kms to the North. Trivandrum International airport is 159 kms to the south.
By Train: Alappuzha is linked by rail to cities like Cochin, Madras, Howrah, Bangalore and Bokaro. The railway station is situated 5 kms away from the bus station and ferry station. (Enquiry Phone : 253965, 253865)
By Road: Road Well connected by road (NH-47). Trivandrum - Allepey : 160 Km, Cochin - Allepey : 70 km.
By Sea: Water Connected with Cochin (5 1/2 hrs), Quilon (8 hrs) and Kottayam (2 1/2 hrs)
Ferry Services: Alappuzha is linked by boat service through the backwaters to Quilon, Changanassery, Kottayam, Cochin, Kumarakom, Kovalam and Chengannur.

The ferry station and bus station are close to each other. The ferry boats from Alleppey passes through scenic backwaters.

 

Short cruise in & around Allepey & Kollam :
A boat ride into the countryside offers a close look at rustic village life- skiff-fishermen launching their cockleshell boats, large flocks of domesticated ducks waddling down to the water from thatched houses on the banks. Women, neck-deep in water, with their waist-length hair heaped in a crown, catching fish with their feet, aimless cattle grazing in lush pastures, white lotuses floating here and there in small, shallow ponds.

Short cruise on backwaters are also available on the smaller boat If you don't want to stay overnight or longer in the houseboats. The duration of these cruises are depends on the routing & can be covered In 3 to 6 hrs of time period.

Houseboats for groups can be also arranged for the short cruise.


Short Cruise from Kollam :

Allepey Round
Take you through the legendary punnamada lake. High points of the cruise are the visit to the 400 year old church and the viewing of a Kerala race boat…. the snake boat.


Overnight cruise from Allepey :

Allepey - Allepey:    Check in Allepey - cruise through Punnamada Lake - visit the Chavara Bhavan, olden wooden house - enjoy the panoramic views of paddy fields, narrow canals and coconut lagoons - visit 400 year old Champakulam church - view the 110 feet long snake boat. Night stay in the middle of the Lake.

Allepey - Kumarakom:    Check in Allepey - Cruise through the punnamada lake … the venue of the famous Nehru trophy snake boat race. Enter the enchanting waters of the vembanad lake… enjoy the panoramic views and the glimpses of life along the banks. Visit R-block, C-block where paddy is cultivated much below the water level. Stop by the pathiramanal island. Visit chavara bhavan… the old wooden house where the blessed kuriakose elias chavara was born.  Night stay at Kumarakom. Early morning leave the houseboat after breakfast.

Allepey to Kottayam :     A cruise that links two district headquarters. Glide across the punnamada lake… location of the famous boat races, take in the fascinating life along the banks. Pass by r-block, observe how paddy is cultivated by the help of dykes several feet below the sea level. Have a long, enjoyable break from the routine. Night stay on boat at kottayam. Morning at 10 a.m. leave the houseboat.


Allepey to Thottappally :    Glide along from Allepey through punnamada lake… admire the old traditional houses on the banks…visit the chavara bhavan… admire duck farming… stop by at triveni … visit the ancient ambalapuzha temple… the church at champakkulam… the 11th century buddha image or karumadikkuttan… have the time of your life… serene, quiet and easy. Night stay on house boat at thottappally. After breakfast leave the houseboat.


2 Nights Cruise Allepey - Alumkadavu :    The most fascinating and enjoyable route available. Cruise through the punnamada lake… admire the old chavara bhavan…traditional nalukettu houses… enjoy panoramic view of paddy fields… visit the ancient champakkulam church…view the snake boats…visit the historical temple of ambalappuzha and the ancient buddhist image of karumadikkutan. At kumarakody memorial recall the celebrated malayalam poet kumaran asan who drowned there. Enjoy the view of chinese fishing nets at kayamkulam pozhy, you can see the sun set and sun rise, Chinese fishing net in operation. Cruise through alumkadavu lake…visit india's most famous living woman saint matha amrithanandamayi. Drop by at the coir village…observe the processes that go into making coir.

Kumarakom - Alumkadavu :    Check in Kumarakom - visit bird sanctuary - visit R'Block, C' Block - visit the Chavara Bhavan, olden wooden house - enjoy the panoramic view of paddy fields, narrow canals and coconut lagoons -Night halt at Vattakayal - visit the 400 year old ancient church - view the 110 feet long snake boat - visit the ancient Buddhist image of Karrumadikuttan, only one Buddhist temple in Kerala - night halt at Kayamkulam Pozhy, you can see the sun set and sun rise, Chinese fishing net in operation. Cruise through Kayamkulam Lake - visit Vallicavu Amrithanadhamayi Ashram, most famous sanyasini - visit the coir village. Check out at Alumkadavu.

 

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