The God's Own Country offers an array of prime properties set in the finest spots of Kerala's theme destinations. Sprawling mansions set in lovely locales-exotic islands, luxuriant game reserves...on hill sides, by beaches, backwaters.... presents an exotic ways to experience Kerala. Designed to give you a feel of the heritage of hospitality this land is renowned for. Offering you a spectacular view of its natural splendour. And a taste of its spicy richness. With a subtle blend of the traditional and the luxurious, these properties are destinations by themselves
The Houseboats of Kerala ( earlier known as rice barges or kettuvallams ) are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from being lost to the State altogether. Once they ruled the backwaters, poled along by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities. But in the recent times, the kettuvalloms or rice barges have been replaced by more and modern modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay
The Kettuvalloms or Rice barges of Kerala are constructed with great skill and meticulousness by tying huge planks of jack wood together without the use of a single nail and coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. Today, appropriately called houseboats they have furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, living rooms, kitchenettes and even balconies for angling. Sections of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm leaves open out to provide shade and allow an uninterrupted view of the backwater country
The Kerala houseboats that cruise these emerald waterways are an improvisation on the large country barges which were an essential part of the land's ethos in days gone by. There used to be an entire clan of artisans who were involved in kettuvallom construction. Today, an innovative holiday idea has restored these majestic representatives of a unique culture and with them their makers
The Kerala House boats are either poled by local oarsmen or powered by engines. All of them have a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and a guide. Gliding along the calm and serene backwaters flanked by green palm groves, watching rural Kerela is a unique experience to any visitor
The houseboats of Kerala have become one of the most exciting tourism products in India. Today there are A/c and Non A/c house boats with with Deluxe and Luxury facilities. The houseboat holidays of Kerala are increasingly becoming popular with domestic as well as international tourists. Consequently, the number of houseboats plying the backwaters of Kerala have increased dramatically
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