Houseboats Routes & Boarding Points, Kerala

There are many interesting routes to take for a cruise on the Backwaters of Kerala, each route more enchanting than the other.

Alleppey to Alleppey is a one night round about cruise which takes you through the Legendary Punnamada Lake. Sail along the gentle clear backwaters to the romantic Vattakayal Lake and spend a night aboard.

A one night cruise from Alleppey to Kumarakom, this package offers you a magical night. Water birds - both residents and migratory adorn the canals and water ways. The water lilies when seen in the night dazzle like the twinkling stars in a dark sky. Fishing women and men add to the magic with their imaginative ways of fishing.

Alleppey to Kottayam is one of the most exotic Backwaters cruises. A cruise from Alleppey through these backwaters leave you enchanted and with the most beautiful moments of your life. See the toddy tappers at work and farming done at below sea level.

Alleppey to Thottappally - a cruise of many historical places. Visit important places like the Ambalphuzha temple and the Champakkulam Church. The cruise from Alleppey to Kidangara takes you through the exotic backwaters to the Vembanad Lake and the interesting Pathiramanal Island.

Alleppey to Mankotta - this cruise takes you through the Punnamada Lake and provides you with the opportunity of visiting the coir making villages and other historically important sights.

There are two options for a cruise from Alleppey to Alumkadavu - a one night cruise and a two night cruise. This cruise takes you to the place of origin of those house boats you are traveling in - the Kettuvallams. Alumkadavu is the place where entire clans used to make these Kettuvallams.

Boarding Points
A Cruise on the Backwaters in Kerala can be best enjoyed in a Kettuvallam, the traditional boat of Kerala. You can either just relax on the cruise and watch the rural life of Kerala and spend the whole time sailing on the Backwaters, or stop the boat at certain points to see the architectural wonders in the internal part of the land. Choose your routes according to your budget, itinerary and the time available to you. You can board the houseboats from Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thottappally and Alumkadave.

Alleppey: Board at Alleppey and take a cruise on the serene Backwaters of Kerala. As you sail along the backwaters you can see unusual sights like the rice bowl in Kuttanad - a region which is not only rich in its growth of paddy fields but a place famous for the farming being done at below sea level.

Location: 2 ½ hours drive from Cochin International Airport

Kumarakom: Technically an Island, it has a network of rivers and lakes which converge with the Vembanad Lake, giving it an appearance of being a cluster of Islands. A cruise from KumaraKom on its backwaters gives a bird lover the perfect oppurtunity to see many kinds of water birds.
Location: 4 hours drive from Periyar and 10 km from Kottayam.

Thottappally: Take a cruise from Thottappally and as you gently sail along aboard the Kettuvallams, you can see and experience the serenity of rural life. The villagers lead a life which seems untouched by time and urbanization. The backwaters are a treasure box of wonders.

Location: 5 ½ hours drive from Periyar and 3 ½ hours from Kovalam Beach.

Alumkadave: Board the kettuvallams from the place of their origin and take a cruise on the backwaters surrounding it - the waters where these magnificent boats were first sailed upon.

Location: 2 ½ hours from Kovalam Beach..

Uniqueness
A vacation in a house boat - a simply unique and memorable experience. The house boats are like luxury hotels set afloat. As you drift on the backwaters of Kerala, you will find yourself being enchanted by the exquisitely beautiful sceneries around you.

The House boats themselves are converted Kettuvallams. Kettuvallams were used as the main mode of transport for ferrying tons of rice and spices from the inner isolated villages to the towns and cities. Now renovated and giving all the comforts of a luxury hotel, these Kettuvallams rule the tourism industry of the Backwaters in Kerala.

Made without a single nail by tying together planks of wood with coir ropes, these Kettuvallams are very strong and last for generations together. As you glide through the waters in these Kettuvallams you feel refreshed by the fresh air.

These house boats are available to cater to every requirement of the tourists. With one bedroom house boats, you are fully free to stop any where and can have the run of the whole house boat.

The crew consists of three members - two oars men and a professional cook. The cook backs up as a guide as well. To have a party just link together two and more house boats to form a boat train.

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