Cruising down the emerald waters…
Last week my family had the chance to go on a backwater cruise along with three other families. Although I had seen a lot of houseboats and even written quite a lot on them, I never imagined a real trip abroad one would be such an out-of-the-world experience. I never knew so much natural beauty and peace existed in the world. Let me share my experience of this houseboat cruise with you.The serene bac
kwaters and lagoons, the imposing houseboats and the nostalgic trip down nature’s waterways is an experience that is unique to Kerala. It offers you an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the splendor of ‘God’s Own Country’ while lazing on a luxurious floating resort.
kwaters and lagoons, the imposing houseboats and the nostalgic trip down nature’s waterways is an experience that is unique to Kerala. It offers you an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the splendor of ‘God’s Own Country’ while lazing on a luxurious floating resort.The breathtaking backwaters of Kerala have become the trademark of Kerala tourism. Kerala backwaters are a unique feature found nowhere else in the world. These backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. It is also a self-supporting eco-system teeming with aquatic life. The narrow canals connect the villages together and still are used for local transport. 
Over 900km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable with kettuvellams or houseboats that carefully blend traditional and modern concepts. The charming cocoon-shaped silhouette of the houseboat is retained while its interior is converted into elegant suites, complete with bath-attached bedrooms, lounge, deck, living and dining area, toilet and kitchenette.
Surrounded by its all-natural decor, houseboats provide the ideal observation platform, not just for underwater life, flora and fauna, but also for the charming rural lifestyle slipping by in slow motion. These regal houseboats run by private tour operators did not come cheap, but the experience will left me with a true sense of the wonder that is Kerala.
And the food? Simply yummy! We enjoyed a delicious meal of traditional Kerala cuisine made of fresh catch and local flavors and spices and served in style by the crewmembers onboard. Of course, there was the renowned ‘Karimeen’ (pearlspot) fry too along with meat dishes, tapioca and steaming rice.
By the way, these houseboats have also found mention in the National Geographic Traveler that says, “It is astonishingly romantic to watch the sunset from one kettuvellams among several, while the boatmen hang lanterns and a pearly glow fades behind the scrim of palms…waking at dawn, we find ourselves surrounded by hundreds of fishermen’s skiffs on the immense Vembanad Lake. It’s like time travel into a quiet morning of another century.”
Over 900km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable with kettuvellams or houseboats that carefully blend traditional and modern concepts. The charming cocoon-shaped silhouette of the houseboat is retained while its interior is converted into elegant suites, complete with bath-attached bedrooms, lounge, deck, living and dining area, toilet and kitchenette.
Surrounded by its all-natural decor, houseboats provide the ideal observation platform, not just for underwater life, flora and fauna, but also for the charming rural lifestyle slipping by in slow motion. These regal houseboats run by private tour operators did not come cheap, but the experience will left me with a true sense of the wonder that is Kerala.
And the food? Simply yummy! We enjoyed a delicious meal of traditional Kerala cuisine made of fresh catch and local flavors and spices and served in style by the crewmembers onboard. Of course, there was the renowned ‘Karimeen’ (pearlspot) fry too along with meat dishes, tapioca and steaming rice.
By the way, these houseboats have also found mention in the National Geographic Traveler that says, “It is astonishingly romantic to watch the sunset from one kettuvellams among several, while the boatmen hang lanterns and a pearly glow fades behind the scrim of palms…waking at dawn, we find ourselves surrounded by hundreds of fishermen’s skiffs on the immense Vembanad Lake. It’s like time travel into a quiet morning of another century.”
For those enthusiasts looking forward to savor life in its natural and pristine settings, I would definitely recommend a backwater cruise in enchanting Kerala. Get ready to glide into a world of rippling water, placid lakes and lush greenery and to spectacle the sublime beauty of Kerala’s natural settings.
Comments
And life here isn't too good either...My father in law has been hospitaluzed due to complications of his liver cirrhosis. Aman is down with a new kind of viral fever...My mother in law is at rest with a broken toe....my house almost resembles the general ward of a hospital!!!!
and i am trying my best to remain sane amidst all this hungama....
although they are called houseboats, the ones in Kerala are not actually used for living on a long term basis....in earlier days, these boats served as tempopary home for traders while they travelled from one shore to another with their wares...even today nobody actually lives in them full-time...
Kerala houseboats are not only unique in their looks but also in their architecture...Can u believe that the elaborate traditional houseboats were constructed without using a single nail?? everything was tied down in place with ropes made from coconut fiber...