| The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish | | | | boat is painted with protective coats of cashew nut |
| lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea. | | | | oil. |
| The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, | | | | Unbelievable as it may sound, not a single nail is used |
| both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and | | | | in the making of a Kettuvallam. Jack wood planks are |
| extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The | | | | joined together with coir rope and then coated with |
| backwaters were formed by the action of waves | | | | black resin made from boiled cashew nut shells. The |
| and shore currents creating low barrier islands across | | | | materials that go into the making are all local and Eco |
| the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from | | | | friendly bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo |
| the Western Ghats range. | | | | mats, coir carpets etc. These traditional country |
| Kerala has over 900 km of interconnected | | | | boats were used as the mode of transport in the |
| waterways, rivers, lakes and inlets that make up the | | | | early times from the isolated interior villages to the |
| Kerala backwaters. The backwaters have a unique | | | | towns. |
| ecosystem - freshwater from the rivers meets the | | | | But these boat services have been laid off with the |
| seawater from the Arabian Sea. | | | | developments taken place in the transport services in |
| There is a different Kerala along this Backwaters | | | | the recent past. Today these giant 80-foot |
| Tourism. Throbbing with its unique culture. The routes | | | | watercrafts have been adapted into luxuriously |
| along this Backwaters Tourism are always | | | | furnished houseboats. |
| breath-taking green, the skyline vanishing with a line | | | | A Kettuvallam usually has one or two bath attached |
| of coconut trees on the banks and a lot of other | | | | rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew |
| attractions. | | | | comprising two oarsmen and a cook. Traditional |
| House Boats of Kerala | | | | lanterns are used as lights. Your holiday in this tranquil |
| The popularity of Kettuvalloms has returned in the | | | | world is the comfortably furnished houseboats. |
| function as major tourist attractions. Many find the | | | | Come, check into a houseboat for a memorable |
| Kettuvallom an ideal means of exploring the beauty | | | | cruise along the backwaters of Kerala. |
| of the Kerala backwaters. | | | | The Hindu wrote, "A cruise along the mirror-still |
| The houseboats in Kerala, south India, are huge, | | | | lagoons, picture-book lakeside, palm-fringed canals and |
| slow-moving, exotic barges used for leisure trips. | | | | shimmering rivulets of `God's Own Country' is the |
| They are a reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the | | | | most enchanting holidaying experience in the country. |
| Malayalam language, Kettu means "tied with ropes", | | | | With a cruise along the palm-fringed waterways |
| and vallam means "boat"), which, in earlier times, | | | | turning to be part and parcel of holidayers' itinerary, |
| were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to | | | | the traditional kettuvallam has emerged as the |
| the Kochi port. Kerala houseboats were considered a | | | | mascot of Kerala Tourism." |
| convenient means of transportation. | | | | Kerala has a wide variety of options for backwater |
| Such a houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet (about 18 | | | | tourism and the house boats are available in various |
| to 21 meters) long and about 15 feet (about 5 m) | | | | ranges and the ac and non-ac options are also |
| wide at the middle. The hull is made of wooden | | | | available. Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom, Kumarakom |
| planks that are held together by ropes of coconut | | | | Lake Resort, Whispering Palms Lake, Taj Malabar |
| fiber; the usual wood is 'Anjili'. The roof is made of | | | | Cochin and Taj Residency Cochin are some of the |
| bamboo poles and palm leaves. The exterior of the | | | | Kerala backwater resorts. |