Alappuzha Kerala Tourism
Have you at any point gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? On the off chance that you haven’t, ensure you do. This is effortlessly one among the most amazing and one of a kind encounters that our state brings to the table.
Show day houseboats are gigantic, moderate moving fascinating canal boats utilized for recreation trips, and are in actuality revised variant of Kettuvallams of time long past circumstances. The first Kettuvallams were utilized to convey huge amounts of rice and flavors. A standard Kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons of items from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.
In Malayalam dialect Kettu alludes to ‘staying structures’ “Vallam” implies watercraft. These are pontoons with covered rooftop cover over wooden frames. The vessel is made of boards of jack-wood consolidated with coir. This is then covered with a burning dark sap produced using bubbled cashew pieces. With watchful upkeep, a Kettuvallam can keep going for eras.
A part of the Kettuvallam was secured with bamboo and coir to fill in as a restroom and kitchen for the group. Dinners would be cooked locally available and supplemented with newly cooked fish from the backwaters.
At the point when present day trucks supplanted this arrangement of transport, individuals thought of another way that would keep these water crafts, all of which were over 100 years of age, in the market. By building extraordinary rooms to oblige voyagers, these vessels traveled forward from close eradication to make the most of their present fame.
Presently these are a natural sight on the backwaters and in Alappuzha alone, there are upwards of 500 houseboats.
While changing over kettuvallams into houseboats, care is taken to utilize just common items. Bamboo mats, sticks and wood of the areca nut tree are utilized for material, coir mats and wooden boards for the deck and wood of coconut trees and coir for beds. These days, Solar boards are favored for lighting.
Today, the houseboats brag of similar solaces of a decent inn including outfitted rooms, present day toilets, comfortable parlors, a kitchen and even a gallery for calculating. Parts of the bended top of wood or plaited palm open out to give shade and permit continuous perspectives. While most vessels are poled by neighborhood rowers, some are controlled by a 40 HP motor. Pontoon trains – shaped by joining at least two houseboats together are likewise utilized by extensive gatherings of tourists.
What is really supernatural about a houseboat ride is the amazing perspective of the untouched and generally difficult to reach rustic Kerala that it offers, while you drift relaxedly directly through it.
Houseboats:
House boats are available at Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kasaragod. Please contact DTPCs for more info.
DTPC House boat Pre-paid Counter, Alappuzha
For booking houseboats, travelers can make use of the House Boat Pre-paid Counter ‘Trusted Service, Trusted Rates’ managed by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).
Contact details
Alappuzha – House boat pre-paid counter
Mobile: 09400051796, 09447483308, +91-477-2251796, +91-477-2253308.
Tourist can make advance booking by transferring INR 2500/- to the account of the DTPC and send email to dtpcalpy@yahoo.com.
The account number of DTPC is A/c 10150100253203, Federal Bank, Mullackal Branch, Alappuzha. Bank code is FDRL 000001015.
