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Houseboats
Houseboats in Kerala
About Houseboats
» Each houseboat is of excellent construction and luxurious furnishing
with exquisite flooring, hull and valavara (canopy). They are in top cruise
worthy condition.
» Each houseboat is provided with a sun deck, spacious living / dining
area.
» Each houseboat with attached toilets, separate toilets for crew.
» Spacious passage and a neat, classy kitchen.
» Kitchen is properly protected from hazards by fireproofing and fire extinguishers.
» Clean environment with a hygienic storage hold, free from insects And
safe fuel storage facilities.
» Clean good quality linen, blankets, towels etc.
» Log books and tourist records are updated regularly and the boat has
a valid license.
» Log books and tourist records are updated regularly and the boat has
a valid license.
» The service of professional cooks are available on the boat
Houseboats ( Kettuvalloms ) of Kerala : The Houseboats of Kerala
are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from
being lost to the State altogether. Once they ruled the backwaters, poled along
by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities.
But in the recent times, the kettuvalloms have been replaced by more and modern
modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay.
It
takes great skill and meticulousness to construct these giant Houseboats by
tying huge planks of jack wood together. Curiously enough, not a single nail
is used in their making of a houseboat. There used to be an entire clan of artisans
who were involved in kettuvallom construction. Today, an innovative holiday
idea has restored these majestic representatives of a unique culture and with
them their makers.
The Kerala houseboats that cruise these emerald waterways are an improvisation
on the large country barges which were an essential part of the land's ethos
in days gone by. Modified to meet a novel concept of holidaying, the kettuvalloms
( houseboats ) are comfortably furnished with an open lounge, one or two bath
attached bedrooms and a kitchenette, and are extremely eco friendly, merging
smoothly into the panorama. Every houseboat is manned by a crew - usually a
cook, guide and oarsman.
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Houseboats in Kerala
›› About Houseboats
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Houseboat Cruise
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