Cozy interior of a houseboat

Towards the north of Kollam, in a quiet, serene region lies a small picturesque village called Alumkadavu, well-known for its backwaters and its traditional boat building.

These huge boats, locally known as Kettuvallams, were originally manufactured for transporting men and material. Today, they have been modernized and developed into peaceful and cozy houseboats.

The country craftsmen, who specialize in the construction of these boats, have till today retained their tradition of the thatched roof cover over the wooden hulls. But the interiors have been modernized a fresh look with fully furnished single rooms, double rooms and triple rooms. Each room has a sun deck, a private balcony with comfortable chairs, a kitchen and a toilet.

Kettuvallams are huge, about 67 feet in length and 13 feet in width. The crew consists of the chefs, who serve traditional Kerala dishes and the two oarsmen. A journey in a Kettuvallam, is memorable.