|
|
Have you ever gone houseboat cruising on the backwaters of Kerala? If you
haven’t, make sure you do. This one’s really an absolutely
wonderful, unforgettable experience!
The houseboats of today - huge, slow moving, exotic barge used for
leisure trips - are the reworked kettuvalloms of olden times. The original
kettuvalloms were used to carry tonnes of rice and spices - a standard
kettuvallom can hold up to 30 tonnes - from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.
Traditional Kerala houseboats, Kettuvallam, glide past, powered both by
gondolier-like boatmen with poles and by sail. Kerala's houseboat cruising
is not just restricted to the backwaters, you also get a chance to explore
the wildlife and indulge in some water sports such as water skiing, water
sailing and angling. The most popular backwater cruise is from Kollam to
Allappuzha.
THE TRADITIONAL HOUSE BOATS
Kettuvallams, the stitched boats provide the best way to experience the
colourful backwaters of Kerala. The Kettuvalloms of Kerala are giant
country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length.
The traditional houseboat, the indispensable part of the picturesque
backwaters of Kerala, was mainly used in Travancore and
Kochi and in
the Minicoy Islands in olden times.
The wood commonly used to make Kettuvalloms is 'Anhili', which is found
in abundance in central Travancore area. Large planks are tied together
using hand made coir ropes and beaten coconut fibres.
This gives the Kettuvallams enough strength to withstand heavy waves in
the sea. These long cargo boats are a familiar sight on the backwaters.
These traditional Kerala houseboats undoubtedly form one of the most
abiding images of the backwaters in Kerala.
Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting
tourism product in India, the luxuriously furnished houseboat.
Kettuvallams or the 'house-boats of Kerala' dot the serene palm-fringed
backwaters of Kerala.
Witness The Making Of the Traditional Kettuvallams
At a quiet spot just outside the small town of Karunagapally, 23 kms
north of Quilon, it's possible to watch the construction of traditional
Kettuvallams. Kettuvallams are built entirely without the use of nails. 
It requires great skill and adroitness to construct these giant boats by
tying huge planks of jack wood together. The boats are applied with fish
oil and cashew nut oil and left to cure for days.
Oil is simultaneously applied atleast three times before the boat is set
on water. Each jackwood plank is joined to the next with coir rope, and
then the whole is coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled
cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, they last for generations.
Enjoy The Backwaters of Kerala
A sojourn in Kettuvallams, the Houseboats of Kerala, offers a panoramic
view
of one of the most picturesque aspects of the God's Own Country. One can
cruise in it through the palm-fringed backwaters, throughout a night in
waxing moonlights.
The lullaby of the waves and the dazzling delights of the moonlit night
can be experienced by spending a couple of nights aboard the Kettuvallam.
The traditional houseboat of Kerala is one of the most enduring images of
the backwaters.
These houseboats of Kerala are converted version of the "Kuttanadan
Kettuvallams".
The Luxury in Water
Kettuvallams, the large traditional boats are converted into floating
luxury dwelling units.
These house boats are available in all sizes and shapes, the most popular
accommodation type being a suite, having one or two bath attached
bedrooms, one living room, kitchenette, an open lounge, deck and a crew
comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.
The houseboats are generally powered by a small outboard engine, allowing
one to cruise along the backwaters. A recent innovation is a small
conference room in a houseboat.
Price For Comfort
A 24-hour stay costs somewhere in the range of Rs. 6000. There are
cheaper ones including dormitories and one bedroom. About 250 boats
operate along the backwaters.
Cheaper boats are available for much less but it is a cheaper experience
too. At the dockside, called Finishing Point at
Alappuzha,
the town of houseboat operators and the starting point for backwater
journeys, the boats are available for even Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day.
){kind=link}