 Kerala is the Southern
State of India. It has an area of 15,005 square miles (38,863 square
kilometres), only about 1 percent of the total area of the country. The state
stretches for 360 miles (580 kilometres) along the Malabar Coast on the
southwestern side of the Indian peninsula; its width varies from 20 to 75 miles.
It is bordered by the states of Karnataka (formerly Mysore) to the north and
Tamil Nadu to the east and by the Arabian Sea. Kerela, certainly is the rich
cultural and ethnic place due to its diversity. The visit to religious places of
Kerela is the best option to view the different architectures of ancient India.
Kerala Backwater Tourism
The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons
and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast)
of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes
(including Ashtamudi Kayal and Vembanad Kayal) linked by 1500 km of canals, both
manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually the entire length
of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore
currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers
flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
Vembanad lake is the largest of the lakes, covering an area
of 200 sq km, and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam
districts. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake's outlet to the
Arabian Sea. Alleppey, "Venice of the East" has a large network of canals that
meander through the town. The Vallam Kali (the Snake Boat Race) held every year
in August is a major local sports & tourist attraction in the backwater areas of
Kerala.
A land of canals lagoons, lakes and rivers, which Kerala
backwaters have now become a part of the lives of its people and a kaleidoscope
for the visitors to see the rural and real life in the heart of Kerala. The
tough and labor-intensive jobs of boat building, prawn cultivation and coir
manufacture are a part of the daily livelihood of Keralites. Alapuzha (Alleppey)
& Kumarakom are the starting-point of the boat cruise through these backwaters
as one reaches the land of Kuttanad, also known as the rice bowl of Kerala,
because of its paddy fields.
Kumarakom has a spectacular lagoon to behold and coconut
trees have become icons of Kerala tourism industry. There are bird sanctuaries
to see along the shores and the village life has the attraction of simplicity
and old-age world. There are bungalows that have now been converted into
heritage hotels and ride of local houseboats called 'Kettuvallams' are
indispensable for every traveler to Kerala. Kerala has traditional snake boat
races with 130-feet long Chundan boats as its stars that add further value to
its backwaters. The most prominent among these races are Nehru Trophy Boat Race
at Alleppey and Aranmula Boat Race. Take the journey to the hearts oflagoons,
lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas of Kerala will be an amazing experience for
the Tourists. The land of swayingpalm trees and blue waters and skies, which is
aptly named as 'God's own country'.
Kerala Houseboat (Kettuvallam) is a kind of house boat in Kerala,
India. Kettuvallam literally means "bundle" or "package" boat ( Kettu means tied
with ropes, and vallam means boat - Malayalam language). A house boat is about
60 to 70 feet in length and has a width of around 15 feet in the middle. The
boat is made of wooden planks joined and stiched together using coconut fiber
ropes.Usually the wood used will be 'Anjili', The roof covering is made of
bamboo poles and palm leaves. The outside of the boat is painted using cashew
nut oil, which acts asa protective coating. During the time when road and rail
transportation was expensive or unavailable, traders used Kettuvallam as a form
of main transportation in the inland waterways. The boats had enough facilities
for cooking and sleeping for the boatmen. Sometimes boatmen's families also
accompanied them. These boatmen were also famous for the folk songs they sang
while rowing the boat and for their style of cooking which they developed for
the conditions inside the boat.
The new generation Houseboats are renovated forms of original
Kettuvallams. The modern type House Boat have all the creative comforts like a
Hotel ie well-furnished bedrooms, modern hygienic toilets, cosy living rooms,
dining area, beautiful kitchen and in some cases even a balcony for angling.
Most of the Houseboats are powered by remarkably unobtrusive inboard diesel
engines and use solar energy for power requirements. "Kerala Houseboat
Tour with Kerala Tourism" |
