Kerala - The Green Country.

Famously referred to as Own Country the landscapes of Kerala never fail to amaze. From the

surreal beaches along the Malabar Coast to beautiful backwater canals making their way through vast rice

fields, mountains covered in the mist to glorious tea and coffee plantations, the abundant natural beauty

attracts visitors from all over the world. Hence, Kerala is hailed as one of the most beautiful places on

earth. 

Situated in the southern part of India, Kerala is also home to some of the most flamboyant houseboats in

the world. Although Jammu and Kashmir are also known for its number of finely crafted vessels, these are

typically stationary. Meanwhile, those found in Kerala continue to navigate the area’s lush backwaters and

lagoons, offering visitors a tranquil journey through the remote and historic locations. 

Alleppey or Alappuzha, fondly nicknamed as “Venice of the East” is considered as the Citadel of

Houseboats in Kerala. With a labyrinth of inland canals, brackish lagoons, interconnected lakes and

beaches, Alleppey is mostly known to be the starting or ending point to most Houseboat tours. 

“Kettuvallam” (as called in Malayalam) is a houseboat widely used in the Indian State of Kerala. Derived

from two words, “Kettu” means to tie or tying and “vallam” means a country boat. The houseboats are

generally made of hundreds of jack wood planks held together by coir knots. The brownish-black coating

forms because these planks are dipped in the resin extracted from boiled cashew nut kernels, which also

increase their strength and durability. The traditional Kettuvallam is mainly used for sightseeing around the

Kerala backwaters. Houseboat rides are considered a prominent source to draw numerous travellers from

all over the world and boost tourism. The houseboat captains gather experience with years, which enables

them to manoeuvre the houseboats with care and precision. 

These houseboats were first built in Southwestern India in around 3,000 B.C.E. and were used for the

transportation of merchandise such as rice and spices, as well as passengers. With an average length of

100 ft, the immense scale of the boats allowed them to transport impressive quantities of goods, equal to

three times that which can be carried by a modern cargo truck. For centuries these boats have navigated

the backwater canals. Once made well, the Kettuvallams are said to last generations. 

Houseboats come in various shapes which include one to even ten bedrooms with attached and non-

attached washrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchen and some even provides a balcony, upper deck

etc. It’s available in a/c as well as non a/c. The accommodation availability varies from simple to luxury. A

cook is there to serve you in some houseboat and the food is available within the boat. Houseboats are

more expensive and much more spacious than, Motorboats and Shikkara boats. 

House boating is the backbone of Kerala's tourism and is a prime attraction wherein you can opt for

packages that offer to stay on these houseboats along with a plethora of additions like diving into the

backwaters, preparing food with the locals or cultural performance, all while gently meandering through the

green waters. A breezy ride is a quintessential experience in these wooden houseboats, as they tend to

make you feel exotic and yet comfortable, once you set foot in the palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala.