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| The Houseboat Experience |
| Kerala’s rainwater surges through the hills and mountain passes to join a network of some 40 rivers resulting in a network of rivers, canals, streams, estuaries, lagoons and other water bodies forming the now famous backwaters. |
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One of the results of this activity is the creation of a myriad of major lakes including the Vembanad, the second largest fresh water lake in the world. At its broadest, the Vembanad is six miles in width and resembles a sea in places.
At places the waters rush forth with intensity to join the sea, offering drainage and flood prevention. Around the lagoons however the sea bullies its way inland making the waters brackish during the summers. Come monsoons, and there is a role reversal. The waters of Vembanad become viciously saline because of the ingress of the sea, but the salinity is absorbed by the roots of mangrove trees in the lake, making it fresh again. Where this network flows, the surrounding scenery is nothing short of breathtaking.
It’s not just the channels of water and the breathtaking landscape on its fringes that captivate the mind. It’s also the life along the backwaters – a world of its own, defined and shaped by the waterways.
A houseboat cruise is the best way to experience the tranquility of the waters, to see glimpses of the lives of people who are shaped by them, to gape in awe at nature’s best kept secrets, to find recluse from the urban grind.
Your Houseboat
The houseboats, or kettuvalloms as they are called in Malayalam, were originally built to carry consignments of grain and other produce along the waterways. The name kettuvallom literally means a boat tied with knots. Each component of these magnificent rice barges is built from organic products such as bamboo, coir and areca nut palm bark. The boat itself is made from the bark of a tree called anjili. The original kettuvalloms were famous for the way in which they were built; with not a single nail being used in their construction and everything tied or sewed together. These days, brass nails are used to improve longevity of the boats.
 The boat uses sturdy seasoned bamboo on the inside and the roof is thatched with bamboo mat and held together by coir. The decks are laden with coir matting and the distinctive canopy uses split bamboo lashed together with coir and covered with palm fronds. Except for the luxurious bathrooms that use ceramic, everything on the boat is made from organic material. Powered by 40 HP engines and the enthusiasm of the boatman (your captain) you can be assured of a ride of your lives.
Houseboats come in different sizes which are mainly dependant on the number of bedrooms required, typically from one to three. There are also boats with up to 10 bedrooms ideal for groups. Regardless of the size, each houseboat offers the best of luxury and comfort. As you embark on your houseboat cruise you will be welcomed with tender coconuts (the ultimate natural energy drink) and introduced to your private crew: your captain, personal chef and a housekeeping staff, all at your service for the length of the cruise.
The frontage has a well appointed sun lounge. As you cruise along during the day, you can sit back on the comfortable seating on the deck and watch the waters and the palm fringed shores drift by. Polished wooden flooring is used throughout the boat which, with the wooded ceilings, gives the boat a special aura.
Come mealtime, your living room is converted into a cozy dining area. The houseboat generally offers Kerala cuisine (note: this includes fish caught fresh from the backwaters) prepared on the boat by your personal chef. If you favour International cuisine, this can be organised.
The bedrooms are air conditioned and equipped with modern facilities. Modern en-suite bathrooms are provided for every bedroom. Comfortable beds, crisp linen and canopied mosquito nets will ensure a good night’s sleep in the backwaters.
Life around you
Local life will unfold before you as an unassuming people go about their daily chores, having clearly adapted their ways to the water. As the boat floats through a maze of canals you will see along the bank neat tiled houses with women doing daily chores like washing clothes, children swimming and fishing, unassuming locals sitting by the banks reading newspapers – all undaunted by the activity around them. Other interesting activities to witness are coir making, rice farming on reclaimed land and copra (dry coconut) drying.
The size of the boat also determines the route it takes. The smaller boats can navigate through different narrow channels whereas the larger boats stick to the larger Vembanad lake. For those who want the best of both worlds, you can disembark from your larger houseboat and be escorted through the narrower channels in a canoe.
You may also want to drag yourself away from the opulence of your houseboat to experience a village walk. Your captain will moor the boat alongside beautiful villages where you can disembark and explore the picturesque flaura and fauna.
Weather permitting your boatman will moor you in the lake itself giving you the chance to be in a world of your own. If the waters are choppy however, you will dock along the bank with your bedroom facing the waters. You can watch the stars or lie on your comfortable beds listening to the sound of the water gently lapping against the hull and find yourself transcending into another world of peace and tranquility. |
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