Distance
from Bangalore – 593 km/ 10hours (approx)
ABOUT ALLEPPEY
Referred
to as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha has always enjoyed an
important place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today, it is
famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine
products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot.
The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old.
Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the
attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which
is greatly fascinating to visitors.
ACTIVITY
Have
you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If
you haven't, make sure you do. This one is really a wonderful and
unforgettable experience!
Present
day houseboats are huge, slow moving exotic barges used for leisure
trips, and are in fact reworked version of kettuvallams of olden
times. The original kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and
spices. A standard kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad
to the Kochi port.
The
kettuvallam is held together with coir knots. Not even a single nail
is used during the construction of the boat.. The boat is made of
planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated
with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With
careful maintenance, a kettuvallam can last for generations.
Today,
the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel
including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a
kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of
wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow
uninterrupted views. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen,
some are powered by a 40 HP engine. Boat-trains - formed by joining
two or more houseboats together are also used by large groups of
sightseers.
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