Houseboat

Houseboat is one of the most remarkable and unique experiences that Kerala has to offer. The history of Kerala houseboats goes a long back. Long before the Highways came into existence and railways lines became a reality, water bodies had been the transporting veins of Kerala. Boats in a variety of shapes and sizes have traditionally been the main means of transport of men and materials in the Kerala backwaters since the olden days. In Malayalam language Kettu refers to ‘dwelling structures’ ‘Vallam’ means boat. These have thatched roof covers over wooden hulls.

Today, the houseboats boast of the same comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen. Most tourists spend the night on a houseboat. Food is cooked on board by the accompanying staff – mostly having a flavour of Kerala. There are two types of houseboats, namely – deluxe houseboats and premium houseboats. As the name suggests, premium houseboats are superior to the deluxe houseboat.

The rooms are single, double or triple with small private balconies. Some of the houseboats have air conditioning. Many houseboats provide electric fans, a television, hot and cold water in the bathrooms, and mosquito curtains. There are windows on the sides of the deck. In some boats, the insides are covered with smooth Kerala mats called metha payas. Some of the high-end ones are two-storied and provide newspapers, fishing rods, CDs, and a facility for conducting small conferences.

Houseboats are available mainly at Kollam, Kottayam, Allappuzha and Kasaragod.

Kerala Houseboat Highlights

• Luxury bedrooms

• Toilet

• Kitchen

• Cook

• Kerala dining

• Delicious food

• Trained staffs

• Cruise through narrow canals

• Safe and secure