HOUSE BOATS Stay in Backwaters of Kerala The houseboats are renovated cargo boats… kettuvallams… and are provided with all modern conveniences and comforts to make your stay a pleasant experience. A cruise along the palm-fringed waterways of Kerala in a luxury houseboat is the most enchanting holiday experience in India today. Kettuvallams, the stitched boats provide the best way to experience the colourful backwaters of Kerala. The Kettuvallams of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. Today, the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. The traditional house-boat of Kerala is one of the most enduring images of the backwaters. The only way to discover the real Kerala is to cruise along its backwaters. The National Geographic Traveler says, "It is astonishingly romantic to watch the sunset from one kettuvallam among several, while the three boatmen hang lanterns and a pearly glow fades behind the scrim of palms... Waking at dawn, we find ourselves surrounded by hundreds of fishermen's skiffs on immense Vembanad Lake. It’s like time travel into a quiet morning of another century." Features of Houseboat Each houseboat is of excellent construction and luxurious furnishing with exquisite flooring, hull and valavara (canopy). They are in top cruising worthy condition. Each houseboat is provided with a sun deck, spacious living / dining area. Each houseboat with attached toilets, separate toilets for crew. Spacious passage and a neat, classy kitchen Kitchen is properly protected from hazards by fireproofing and fire extinguishers. Clean environment with a hygienic storage hold; free from insects and safe fuel storage facilities. The services of professional cooks are available on the boat.