Kerala offers the unique opportunity to experience breathtakingly exquisite backwaters which consist of complex network of lagoons, lakes and canals. The backwater is widened by green forests which lay hanging over the top of others. Kerala backwaters are the gatherings of lagoons, lakes, estuaries, beaches, all crisscrossing across Kerala. Canals seems to be like a silver threads spinning across, when looked from air.

House Boat


The predominant way to experience Kerala backwaters is houseboats which are also known as Kettuvalloms. In Kerala, house boats are used for housing, transport, commuting, and commerce.
Kettuvallom is a country boat that was used in the early days mainly for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages to the towns. With the advent transportation services and infrastructure gradually Kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now they are back as houseboats which attracts tourist.

Take a leisurely journey along Kerala backwaters; you will feel yourself lucky while traveling in a houseboat. You can see tiny huts made up of bamboos as if kept on the banks. You may be able to see deers, elephants, and monkeys along with the small birds singing songs.

Other scenes are fish flowing along the house boat, water making small ripples the sound of cool breeze blowing. Houseboats are also very popular among honeymooner as they provide green surrounding with tranquility. A ride on a Kettuvallom is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.


A houseboat is about 67 feet in length and has a width of around 13 feet in the middle.

The materials that go into the making are local and eco friendly; bamboo poles, coconut fiber, ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. The main wood used is Anjili. There are houseboats with fully furnished single, double, triple bed rooms. Houseboats with swimming pool and Nalukettu are also available.

There are different itineraries the most popular among tourist is between Alappuzha and Kumarakam.