Enchanting Houseboats of Kerala
Houseboats / Kettuvalloms of the yester years are one of the tourist attractions of Kerala and tourists and travellers have been flocking to see them and cruise in them. Backwaters of Kerala and the houseboats are the best that couls have happened to Kerala tourism as well as Indian tourism.
About the Backwaters of Kerala
Kerala is the southernmost state which has only 1% of the total area of whole of India stretches for about 580 kilometers on the western coast. Backwaters of Kerala are the well known tourist destinations for the tourist and travellers coming into India. These backwaters are brackish lagoons and lakes lying parellel to the arabian sea, and the network of canals includes Ashtamudi kayal / Ashtamudi lake and the Vembanattukayal / Vembanad Lake, linked by 1500 kilometers. You can find both man made and natural canals fed by 38 rivers running the entire length of the state. 
Kettuvalloms or the Rice Boats of Kerala
Kettu Valloms or the knotted boats or the stitched up boats as they are called are about 25 - 30 meters long, made with jackfruit tree planks joined with coir knots. The most interesting aspect is thet you cannot see a nail in the whole constructions of these boats. These boats have been used for centuries for transporting the agricultural produce from one place to anotherthrough inland waterways when Road transport was not available . Now that the roads and the road transport have taken over the transportation of goods, these boats were lying unused.
All about Houseboats of Kerala
These kettuvallams lying unused were recast into overnight stayers witn fully air conditioned bedrooms sundecks, dining areas, toilets, open lounges etc. These house boats when tried became a great hit with the tourists who come into Kerala from all parts of the world for a cruise in the backwaters.
Traditional authentic kerala food is served in the houseboats served on banana leaves in the typical Kerala style with rice, smabar, aviyal, etc with fried or curried fish caught fresh from the backwaters.
The rates are Rs 6000 or 150$ for a couple on a standard houseboat, apparetly there are mmore than a hundred houseboats in the Alappuzha jetty itself.
How to Reach Alappuzha Boat Jetty
The Kochi International airport at Nedumbassery is the nearest airport to Alappuzha which is 60 kilometers away. major railway station is Ernakulam railway station but Alappuzha itself is a railway station but not many trains go to the station. So it is better to get down at Ernakulam station and then travel by Bus or by cabs tp Alappuzha.
Accommodations at Alappuzha
As Alappuzha is an important city in the state of Kerala as well as a tourist destination by itself, there are many hotels from luxury to budget, resorts and homestays available.
Some of them are,
Punnamada Serena Spa Resort, Alleppey
Hotel Royale Park, Alleppey
Pooppally's heritage Homestay, Alappuzha
Cherukara Nest, Alappuzha
Keraleeyam Heritage Home, Alleppey
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