If you came to plan your Kerala Houseboat Alleppey tour package do visit
Kerala tour can never be complete without experiencing a houseboat cruise in the backwaters of Kerala. Explore the bucolic charm of the sleepy hamlets, the enviously relaxed pace of the native folks and above all the spectacular natural finery around with a houseboat cruise, which is one of the best ways to spend a day of your life. As you float over the serene backwaters of Vembanad, you step back in time and enter a world of its own, dotted with fishing nets, water lilies and vast expanses of lush paddy fields, and coconut groves.
Houseboat Alleppey will offer you the ultimate luxury of exploring the waterways and lagoons at a pace of your own. Enjoy the sight of fishermen going about their daily catch, the ducks being herded to greener pastures or the village lads taking a nose dive in search of the pearl spot fish, a local delicacy of Kerala- the sights and sounds of nature becomes loud and clear as you go deeper into the backwaters. The many ancient temples around and the quaint charm of the village markets or the agility of the toddy tapper are some of the many unique sights that you will come across on a houseboat cruise. A Houseboat cruise in Kerala with a night halt in the backwaters, is easily one of the must do things before you die!
Houseboats are the erstwhile rice boats which were used to ferry agricultural produce and paddy along the waterways. While they come in all sizes, the most common ones are 67 feet in length and 13 feet wide. With the expansion of road network, though these boats outlived their utility, these were reintroduced in the form of houseboats for tourism. Made from wooden planks, coir and fiber, these massive ecofriendly boats are unique in their design in that not even a single nail is used in its construction!
Houseboats are available in various sizes and designs including one , two and three bedrooms along with living rooms, kitchen and bathroom. The deck balcony is a great spot to enjoy a bird’s view of the surroundings or to work up a sun tan.
There are many cruise routes to choose from including Alappuzha, Kumarakom and Cochin. Some of the attractions include the Salim Ali bird sanctuary , the ancient Budhist temple of Karumadi kuttan, ancient churches and temples and the under water paddy fields of Kuttanad which is one of the very few places in the world where paddy is cultivated under water.
Another must visit at Kumarakom is the Bay island Driftwood Museum at Chakranpadi, which has an impressive collection of driftwood articles of artistic value. There are many coir spinning units in Aleppey where coconut husks are crushed and beaten into ropes.
In the houseboat, you will be offered traditional Kerala luncheon with both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes including the signature dish of pearl spot fry. You can even buy fresh fish at the market as the boat cruises along and can get it prepared the way you like. The chef and the helpers in the boat will always be ready to serve you to make your houseboat cruise experience something special. Houseboat cruise is a wonderful option for not just family holidays but also for corporate meetings and product launches among others. Simple, unique and enjoyable, houseboat cruise indeed has become a synonym of any Kerala holiday.
