Rejuvenate oneself in a houseboat?

[bozo]

The age old ‘Kettuvallams’ have undergone a major makeover. These ‘Kettuvallams’ have been converted into houseboats and thus a major industry has sprouted in the central Travancore area. While the ‘Kuttanadan Kettuvallams’ that criss crossed the lagoons and lakes in Alleppey, the ‘Venice of the East’ transported large amount of goods and other materials, they are now part of the tourist industry after undergoing a thorough transformation. Being made out of huge logs these giant houseboats move at a leisurely pace.

The unexplored avenues of ‘God’s Own Country’ can be explored during a ride in these houseboats. A houseboat is a house recreated inside a boat. You can enjoy all sorts of games and other amusement activities while lazily cruising beside the palm-fringed backwaters. The gastronomic delights of the state will certainly tickle your taste buds. If you are on a holiday Kerala is the right choice for you and a houseboat must be booked in advance or else during the peak tourism season, your timetable will go awry.

The skilled artisans that build the houseboats follow a unique locally developed technology. The wooden parts are held together without the use of nails. Only experienced craftsmen and carpenters can undertake this job. To hold together heavy planks of wood for long period of time requires much effort. Fish oil or cashew nut kernel oil is applied to the wooden structure that is tied together and it takes several days for the joints to get properly cured.

A status symbol in the backwaters of Kerala is the houseboat. Moving to and fro through the calm and serene backwaters, these houseboats are a major foreign exchange earner for the country. The charges for travel and stay vary from one operator to the other. The most modern means of communication will certainly help you to be in touch with the outside world without any hassles. While the local television channels beam a select list of programmes, inside the houseboats, you will be fed with both the local and the international fare because these houseboats look traditional but they are fitted with world class amenities.