Spend a night in a houseboat anchored in the middle of a beautiful back water, cruise along the coast when the day comes, taste different kinds of fishes and other delicious dishes..all these and more.
Kettu Vallam: :House boats of Kerala.
A small kettuvallam would have a bath attached single or double bedroom, kitchen and a sit out..There will be one or two people who are the sailors cum cooks cum guide for you.It usually cruises along a chosen route during day time and at night will be anchored in the middle of the
back water.One family or a maximum of 6 people can stay in a kettu vallam.
The Cruise:
Enter your house boat and just relax. The sailors or the company representative will come and tell you about the route of the cruise and some other facts about the place. After that they will leave you alone. There will be one or two sailors who control the boat, these people will tell
you many things as to where you can get some good fish for dinner tonight etc. On the way you can find lush green kerala landscape, birds, coconut trees many many more things. Make sure you have enough film for taking snaps.
You can even try fishing if you enjoy that. If you get a lucky catch of good ’Kari meen’ or some thing like that give it to the kitchen crew they will cook it as you wish. Its like your own home in the water. Dont forget to ask them where you can stop for tasting ’Kallu’ or Toddy which is keralas indigenous beer taken form Coconut trees.
An Unforgettable night:
By 6 p.m. or so the boat will stop some where in the middle of the back water. You can see Chinese fishing nets all over the back waters. You have to feel it to know how this feels like...you and your dear ones only, Water all around, nice cool breeze, stary sky, absolute silence everywhere.
You can sit and enjoy your drinks by then the dinner will be ready. Then its all upto you. I am sure this will be one night you can cherish all throughout your life.
Morning:
The next day morning we wake up and see nature in its full glory..sun rising, birds, vast endless ocean on one side and other side far away the shore... morning cup of tea is ready.Then break fast. Slowly we realize its time to go back to the shores the journey is about to be over..
One Complaint:
I was browsing through the visitors book in the boat. People from different parts of the world have written what they felt.. most of them had only one complaint. Why such nice things in life are so short?
May be that’s the way it should be..
Plan Your Trip.
There are many companies offering kettu vallam rides. Contact any Travel agent who offers kerala tourist packages, you will have a list of this.Select one and book in advance. Alappey is very near to Kochi. Once you arrive in kochi you can ask them to pick you up and take you to the starting point of the ride.
So when are you planning to go there?