Houseboats

The House Boats in Kerala commonly known as Kettuvallams are huge boats with high carrying capacity. These boats or boat houses were part of Kerala's culture and tradition over the past many years. Presently they got new life in the form of houseboats, providing a good time for the tourists who visit Kerala. A journey in this boat house is interesting, passing through villages, busy boat jetties and vibrant celebrations. Kerala house boats are mainly massive vessels crafted out of wood and other natural materials.

House Boats :
Its Simple and it is beautiful. It’s the True art of Nature . House boats are built by Wood, bamboo , Coir combined by the craftsmanship and technology of the expert local people. .. Earlier Days these large boats were used for transfer of goods. The Oarsmen travel several days to reach the next destination Hence they stay in the boat enroute cooking the food in the boat and they sing song to get relaxed… These Large vessels are safe and carefully managed….

Structure of a Houseboat : The hull of the boat is made of long wooden planks. They are tied using coir made of natural coconut fibre and then stuffed in between. Traditionally these houseboats are steered by two men. In modern times almost all boats are motorised as well. Long bamboo poles are also made use of to get momentum.

Furnishing : The interior furniture in hoseboats of Kerala are either of natural cane or wood, floor is clad with coir mat matching each other and highlighting the traditional architecture of Kerala..

Roofing : In most of the Kerala Houseboats, bamboo and coconut tree products are used for making the frame of the roof . Also leaves of coconut tree is used to tatch the boats along with weaved bamboo

Alleppey :
A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the List of places known as Venice of the East by Lord Curzon. Though the present town owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century, district of Alappuzha figures in classical Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age.

History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, as well as with other parts of India. Alappuzha has a lighthouse, which is a major tourist attraction.

Soon after Alappuzha was developed as a port by the Diwan Raja Kesavadas, the town started functioning as the main commercial centre of the state of Travancore. Export flourished from the port. Spices like pepper were the main export items.

Domestic trade was also active. Many traders from Gujarat came and settled down here to do trading, leading to the presence even now of a Gujarati community in the town. Alappuzha is a centre for coir industries. Later coir (different kinds of rope made from coconut fibre) became a major product of the town, both for local and world markets. Alappuzha is now the hub for backwater tourism in Kerala. A routine trip in a House boat includes food cooked on board in the traditional Kuttanad style. Alappuzha is unique in that it is the only district in Kerala without forest.