Everything You Need to Know about the Houseboats of Kerala
Every time we hear the word ‘Alleppey’ or even ‘Kerala,’ one of the first things that come to our mind is the houseboats of Kerala. Commonly known as Ketuvallam in the regional language, these houseboats navigate through Kerala backwaters offering the tourists a tranquil journey.
When did it all start?
Developed by Thomas Vargheese in Kottayam, the first construction of these houseboats began around 3000 BC. They were initially used to transport merchandise such as rice and spices other than passengers, as they could carry an impressive amount of goods, usually thrice the amount of a standard cargo truck. These 95 to 100 feet long houseboats connected remote villages and were used to supply nearly 30 tons of materials to the traders.
From the nobles to tourists
A few years later, nobles and members of the royal or affluent society used these houseboats as mobile resorts. Gourmet chefs were appointed to prepare traditional cuisines. The luxury houseboats were used only by the elite community until independence. Post-independence, the traditional houseboats began to appeal to tourists and became a significant revenue for the state. Various tourist packages were made to suit the tourists’ budgets.
The making of the “Tharavallam” Houseboat
Modern boats have now taken to a new form known as ‘Tharavallam.’ It stays true to its heritage, but these boats use brass nails to fasten the parts of the boat together for added strength and safety. The wooden hull is made out of virgin “Anjili” (Wild Jack) and is protected from wood deterioration by coating it with a protective layer of cashew nut oil. Our houseboats fall under the ‘Tharavallam’ category.
A peek inside the boats
Keeping up with the heritage of Kerala, the interiors of our houseboats in Alleppey and Kumarakom are adorned with a rare collection of hand-carved wooden artwork. Like the palaces, the floral hand-carved wooden ceiling is also a specialty in our houseboats.
