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