Plan your honeymoon in Kerala backwaters and explore beautiful backwaters, houseboat and much more.
A Tranquil Adventure along the Kerala Back-Waters
Kettuvalloms or houseboats in Kerala are not some modern day’s notion; rather these were an ancient means of transport through which the state used to transport its men and materials. These crafts are made out of age old huge cargo vessels, and measure up to 120 feet in length. Kerala boat houses now offer a spectacular way of admiring its jaw dropping beauty and serene scenery. The kettuvalloms generally are eco friendly; these are fully furnished with a wide-open lounge, have one or two attached bedrooms and a well facilitated kitchenette. Every houseboat contains a crew of three men, a guide, an oarsman and a cook.
The state of Kerala is famous for its dense network of lush backwaters which is always navigated by houseboats. You can easily find countless Kerala houseboats packages centring at Kumarakom. In order to experience the grandeur of these luxury castle boats and to relish the beauty of Kerala at its best, you can select from a vast collection of houseboats depending upon your budget and your specifications. Any particular Kerala houseboat package features the size of the boat (single to triple bedroom boat), AC or non-AC craft, number of amenities available and most important the route or the scenery through which the boat will navigate its way around the land.
Many tourists who are visiting Kerala first time book houseboats in advance so that they would not have to face any confusion or difficulty in exploring the area. But if you are courageous and eager to explore the culture and lives of the locales in depth, we advise you to hire a houseboat as you go exploring the land.
Here are the tips of how to hire a houseboat:
Rather than booking Kerala houseboat packages in advance, much excitement lies in hiring the one right on the spot.
Alleppey is the main gateway to Kerala backwaters that lies in between Kochi and Kollam, and this is where a large number of houseboats are hired. Normally tourists hire the boat for one day, but enthusiasts hire it even for a week also.
From Alleppey, your houseboat will set on an adventure along the backwaters to Kumarakom, Kottayam and Alinkadavu, which lie nearby Kollam. Houseboats travel nearly 25 to 30 miles a day through backwaters; therefore, you will be able to gaze at the tranquil scenery all around you. Don’t forget to take a camera with you; you will get to see unusual sights and scenes along the way.
If you are continuing your journey on to Munnar or Periyar in Thekkady, then choose the route of Alleppey to Kottayam or Alleppey to Kochi.
Other famous Kerala boathouses cruising routes are:
Allepey to Alumkadavu: This is a long cruise, located near Kollam. Since it’s an overnight trip you will get a chance of sleeping while engulfed by the lake’s calmness. Watch how houseboats are traditionally manufactured here.
Alleppey to Kuttanad: If you are quite intrigued by Kerala’s village life, then this route is exactly for you. Here your boat will traverse through lush paddy fields, along a large network of narrow backwaters. Nearby villages, you will be mesmerised by the stillness of village life, farming and all.
Alleppey to Kumarakom: Because of its stunning landscape characterising tranquil backwaters, adorned with paddy fields, palm trees, rich flora and fauna, Kumarakom remains the most sought-after place to houseboat cruising. Here canals are wider and numerous luxury resorts can be seen standing on the verge of Vembanad Lake.
Taking a Kerala houseboat trip pays off the biggest benefits if you hire the boat in between the beginning of December till the end of January as weather these months is cooler and dry.