The Kuttanad houseboats are the splendorous places floating in the picturesque backwaters of Kuttanad. The houseboats have been converted into the architecturally living rooms which were once used as transporting goods to and from the remote areas. Presently there are as many as 200 houseboats currently operating in Kuttanad. A stay in these houseboats with their loved ones while cruising along the enchanting waterways and enjoying the delectable cuisines prepared by the chef on board, surely makes for an unforgettable experience.
These air-conditioned floating villas boast with all the modern facilities to make their guests stay most comforting. While savoring the breathtaking scenic surroundings, sprinkled around the Kuttanad backwaters, enjoy the homely coziness and comforts. Night stay at the ultra luxurious houseboat makes for a truly majestic experience.
The stay at these luxury houseboats are made available to the tourists at a very reasonable price. While on-board, the guests can order for lip-smacking delicacies from its multi-cuisine menus. The tourists can also indulge in activities like Ayurveda sessions, fishing etc.
Houseboat cruises :
The most famed excursion of the Kuttanad region is the full-day journey between Kollam and Alappuzha. Various private hustlers offer their services, but the principal by DTPC and ATDC run on the alternate days. To explore the most idyllic yet the remote areas of Kuttanad, one can hire a punted Canoe. These slower placed Canoe makes for less distance to be covered in an hour but make for the most sorted means to explore the region. They provide the visitors with the experience of being close to the water and the people inhabiting the region, which promises to be most rewarding.
There is a large number of ‘village tours’ available in the area which provides the visitors with the trips to watch boat builders, coir makers and rice farmer in action from close quarters along with an opportunity to dine in a traditional Keralan village setting.
Engineering of Houseboats:
The houseboats used for cruising along the tranquil and picturesque backwaters of Kuttanad are an innovative adaptation of traditional cargo carriers. These wide cargo carriers traverse through the network of inland water navigation routes in the western coastal lowlands of the Kerala state. Locally called as Kettuvalams, they are made of local woods like teak or jack tree and tied together using coconut fiber ropes. A unique feature of these boats is that the artisan does not make use of a single nail in their making. Different types of watercrafts are made for different uses. The exteriors of these watercrafts are coated with cashew nut oil which acts as a protective varnish from preventing the wood from wear and tear.
The famous snake boats which were, in the medieval centuries, used as an army or military logistics for quickly transporting soldiers and materials along and across the long and wide waterways, have presently become a significant part of the joyous snake boat race. Similarly the large cargo ships of the early days have been remodeled into houseboats and are being extensively used for promoting backwater tourism. The yesterday years floating houses today take tourists on a sightseeing tour of the extensive backwaters of Kuttanad. The tourist, while relaxing on these backwaters, enjoys the scenic surroundings of the backwater.
