Everything You Wanted to Know about the Kerala Houseboat Experience

Curious about the origin of houseboats?

Let me take you back to the life and times at my ancestral home in Kumarakom. Generations of my family lived on coconut farms and rice harvested on our fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Curiously, the structure of our home was centred around an ‘Ara’ which is a traditional wooden storehouse for rice harvested twice a year. Throughout the year, depending on ‘Market days’ in towns like Cochin, my ancestors would load our Kettuvallom (houseboat) with tonnes of rice and coconut and row away through the waters to sell our produce in the towns.

For generations, the entire backwater economy depended on transporting farm produce to town markets on rice boats

It was the normal way of life for people in the backwater villages. At some point of time with minor adjustments, these boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. With time and developments, other modes of transport gained traction with fewer villagers opting for the slow country boats.

Kettuvallams have now transformed to full-fledged hospitality centres. The construction of these houseboats is fascinating and clearly sets them apart. Kettuvallom literally means 'Boats tied with Knots'. Traditionally, everything was either tied or sewed and not a single nail was used. Every part of the boat is made by hand and is made totally of natural products like bamboo, coir and palm bark. The boat itself is crafted out of evergreen tree called Anjili. Cashew oil is used on the exterior to waterproof the wood. This hand crafted wonder takes 10 artisans about 6 months to build and it lasts for generations

What activities are available other than cruising?

Now that you have a general idea of the houseboating experience, the most common query we get is regarding the activities on and off-board. Generally, when a boat is booked, only cruising and food is included. While the boat does stop a couple of times for you to get down and see some unique spots in the backwaters, all activities are optional.

The canoe or country boat ride is the most popular add-on to the cruise experience. You get to interact with locals, purchase fresh catch and also explore the country-side. Some people like to fish but we don’t recommend this as your boat has to be docked and it will reduce cruising time.
 

For the indoorsy type, many boats have indoor games and also TV/DVD players. When the boat is anchored for the evening, it is possible to visit church/temple, visit coir factory or walk the village. The houseboat staff will be able to arrange any of the above on your request.

Food Menu on a houseboat - Eat like the locals!

For once stop counting calories and count flavours instead! When you opt for a night stay on a houseboat, you will be served three meals on-board. By default, the traditional Kuttanadan style preparations are made and the touch of a blessed cook makes the food served on-board truly exquisite. However, special menus/special dishes can be arranged if you inform your operator well before your trip.

Most operators provide Jain, Vegetarian, Chinese or North Indian cuisine on special request. Before entering the boat, you can also specify your choice of oil – Sunflower or coconut oil. If you prefer the vegetarian cuisine, you will relish a multicourse traditional sadya served on a banana leaf.
 

For non-vegetarians, Local live preparations of spicy crab or prawns and fish baked in banana leaves are not to be missed. Chicken and duck dishes are also local delicacies you could experience on a houseboat. You can also buy fresh fish, jumbo prawns or crabs from local fishermen and your chef will prepare it for you.

In the case of houseboats, you pay for ambience, quality of construction and season of travel. The difference in category is basically in the quality of internal furnishing, spaciousness, facilities, air conditioning and certifications. You get to choose between standard, deluxe, super deluxe and premium/luxury houseboat categories. We explain the differences below:

Houseboats have over the years evolved from the traditional hospitality centres they were. To serve a variety of specialised trip requirements, there are now different types of boats. The difference is basically in the construction style. Each of these variants will appeal to a different type of traveller. We run you though the most popular types below:

Being the longest lake in India, houseboat cruises are most popular here. Around 80% of the houseboats operate in this region, so you will have a variety of houseboats to choose from. The popularity also comes with crowds, so this is not the most exclusive backwater experience available. There are a few routes here that travellers must know about. 

An eight hours houseboat cruise from Kollam to Alleppey or Alleppey to Kollam, longest cruise of Kerala, is one of the best and unforgettable houseboat experiences. There are some routes which you could consider especially if you are looking to spend a couple of days on a houseboat and travel down to south Kerala. However due to blocks in the canal, the entire route from Alleppey to Kollam is currently not possible on houseboat.
 

This place is a heaven for peace seekers as house boat tourism is still in its infancy here.  You can look forward to have a more tranquil experience than the crowded backwaters of the Vembanad. If you choose the stay in Bekal, then these pristine backwaters are just 30 minutes away. You can choose from 2 hour cruises, sunset, lunch and dinner cruises to overnight stay. The boats are prices a tad higher here but it is worth the experience considering the exclusivity and pristine backwaters on offer.
 

Besides the main circuits mentioned above, there are many off-the radar circuits like the Chettuva-Manaloor route near Thrissur and Poothota backwaters near Kumarakom. The hop-on-hop-off service of the Muziris Heritage circuit also covers a major backwater stretch. These circuits suit people who want a more exclusive and away from the crowds experience.

Unique houseboats in Kerala

Have you thought of conducting a conference or large family gatherings on a boat? There are boats designed just for the purpose. Planning a luxury honeymoon? A boat with glass panels and a jacuzzi might fit the cause, right? There are eco-friendly solar powered boats, there are boats owned and run by local self-help groups and many more such unique options. So, if you are looking for something special, we are sure we can find some interesting options. Here are some speciality boats featured below:

Tips for booking your houseboat

We frequently come across travellers needing inputs when it comes to booking a boat. While all our best advice is written in a different article, we share the highlights below:

Booking in advance

It is advisable to book a boat in advance especially during the peak season. Most of the good boats get sold out first. What will be left for spot booking will generally be of lower quality or under maintenance.

Day trips or overnight cruises?

Day cruise is ideal if you are pressed for time. But if time permits, by all means go for entire overnight experience. Some complaints regarding the overnight stay is primarily by people going for substandard experiences and operators cutting corners in park zones to meet the cut cost. If you opt for a good boat the overnight experience will be worth it.

What is best time of year for houseboating?

From October till February the weather is cool and dry and a great time for a cruise. However, houseboats are available all year around. If you end up coming between March and May ensure that your houseboat has full-time air-conditioning as summers will be humid in Kerala. The monsoon season (July to Sept) is now being promoted as a unique Kerala experience on the houseboat and it will be raining discounts!

You only get what you pay for

Don’t go for the cheapest offer, there are many places where they will compromise on quality to recover your cost. You may end up killing the quality of your experience to save a little money. Take recommendations from sources you trust.

Finalise the special items on the menu and activities like country boat cruising well before your trip. These are add-ons to standard houseboat packages.

So that’s us signing off, hope we have been able to help you along the way to a houseboat experience. If you have some queries related to houseboats, do ask in the comments section below. Have a great houseboat experience in Kerala.