One of the most preferred ways to get close to the backwater life in Kerala is the houseboat stay. In the early days houseboats, which is also known as Kettuvallom, were used for the transport goods (a standard kettuvallom can hold up to 30 tones) from the isolated interior villages to the towns. With the advent of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the Kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now these kettuvalloms are back again as a major tourist attraction. A houseboat is about 67 feet in length and has a width of around 13 feet in the middle. The materials that go into the making are local and eco friendly; bamboo poles, coconut fiber, ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. The main wood used is "Anjili". There are houseboats with fully furnished single room to six rooms. All of them have a living area with comfortable chairs, kitchen and bedroom with attached toilet. In addition there is a separate rest room for the crew. Many of the boats are equipped with solar lighting, chemical toilets and outboard engines. The crew includes a chef, and two oarsmen. The cuisine is of traditional Kerala flavour.
In Houseboats, the air conditioner is installed in the bedroom and it will switch on from 9 PM to 6 AM only (there are boats available with full time Air-condition, which will around Rs. 2500 extra for 1 bedroom boat, have to book in advance). Houseboat package will be like : You can checkin the boat at any time after 1200 hrs and boat cruise till 2 pm, then anchor for lunch. Again around 3.30 pm cruise starts and by 5.30 pm it will be anchored in a safe place for the night stay. Next day morning around 7.30 am cruise starts and drop you at nearest Jetty around 9 am. Our car will be there when the boat arrives.
Houseboats are available at Kumarakom and Alleppey. Both are backwaters, one side of the lake is Kumarakom and other side is Alleppey.
