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House
Boats
Large ‘Kettuvalloms’, traditional Kerala country boats of over 60 ft. in length, have been converted into luxury
houseboats. Spending the night in these traditional Kerala Houseboats, floating on the emerald backwaters, will be one of the most memorable moments for every traveler. These houseboats with all modern amenities, consists of a living room with an upper deck, one or two bedrooms with attached modern bathrooms attached, and a kitchenette. Needless to say, there will be a couple of oarsmen, a cook, and if you so wish, a guide.
You might begin your cruise at Alappuzha, which is hailed as the Venice of the East, because of its intricate maze of backwaters, canals and bridges. As the houseboat floats along the backwaters of Kuttanad, you will find yourself amidst along canals where the level of water is often higher than that of the green fields on either side. A beautiful backwater spot accessible from Alappuzha is Kumarakom. Breathtaking green, the village slumbers by the Vembanad Lake. On-cruise scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of lush greens and deep blues. As the boat glides along the gorgeous green of the fringed palms the ripples in the blue water blend into little wavelets. A 14-acre bird sanctury adds to the natural beauty of Kumarakom. Birds such as Water Ducks, Cuckoos, Siberian strokes spend happy summers here. By the Vembanad lake nestles a golden yellow island, Pathiramanal which is a heaven of peace for the tourists.
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An over night cruise in the splendid houseboats will take you down to Kochi or
Kollam. Many beautiful sights greet you along the way to Kochi, such as the Chinese fishing nets, said to have been introduced into Kerala by the traders from Kublai Khan's court. The route to
Kollam, winds up the Pampa river to
Champpakkulam, an island hamlet, then into the Karumadi Canal. The statue of karumadikuttan is believed to be of Buddha. Some see it as a remnant of bygone era when Buddhist monks came to Kerala with the message of love and non-violence. The past Trikunna-puzha across Kayamkulam Lake and Ashtamudi lake finally drawing in the ancient port of
Kollam. Throughout the scenery continues to be ravishing. |
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