Backwaters
900
km of tranquility
It's an intricate network of innumerable lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries and
the deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. Over 900 km of
this labyrinthine waterworld is navigable. The largest backwater stretch in Kerala
is the Vembanad lake which flows through three districts and opens out into the
sea at the Kochi port.
The Ashtamudi Lake (literally, having eight arms),
which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest
and is considered the gateway to the backwaters. The Ketturvallom: Showcasing
a unique heritage The kettuvalloms (houseboats) of Kerala are giant country crafts,
measuring up to 80 feet in length. It took great skill and meticulousness to construct
these giants by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a
single nail.
Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the
most exciting tourism product in India, the luxurious furnished houseboat. A kettuvallom
usually has one or two bath attached bedrooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette
and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.
