The house boats of Kerala or Kettuvallams are 80 feet long gigantic country boats. The construction of these boats is done very meticulously and requires great skill as the entire boat is held together by coir ropes. Amazingly no nails are used for the construction. The boat is built by tying big planks of jack-wood together with coir ropes. The “Kettuvallam” gets the name “Boat with Knots” because the entire boat is held together with knots of coir.

Each houseboat employs a crew consisting of a cook, and two boats men or oarsmen. Some house boats are equipped by 40 hp engine in addition to the oarsmen. The cook is the captain of the boat and backs up as a guide too. Delicious meals are cooked onboard and the tempting aromas emanating from the kitchen are enough to whet your appetite. The cuisine is purely traditional and supplemented by fish caught from the backwaters.

Traditional lamps give out light creating an atmosphere of village life amidst modern comforts. Houseboats with solar lighting are also available.

According to the accommodation, the Kettuvallams are divided into 3 types. There is a single room accommodation, suitable for two people. The double room boat can accommodate up to 4 people. For larger parties there are bigger houseboats available. Two or more Kettuvallams can be linked together as a boat train too.

Other facilities include the living cum dining room, bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a private balcony in the houseboat. If you want to have a party then many houseboats can be linked together to make boat trains as you sail along.