We and our family friends started from Munnar in the morning and reached Alleppey formally called as Allappuzha by lunch. Our driver was in hurry because our lunch was to be on the houseboat cruise. As we reached Alleppey we saw swarm of boats , some of them two-storyed and luxurious.
Swarm of houseboats at Alleppey
I wondered how my house boat would look like! We reached our boat – ‘The Syndicate’ after crossing three boats.
Syndicate houseboat at Alleppey
It was a nice old fashioned kettuvallam or houseboat with three well furnished rooms , attached bathrooms , small balcony and adjoining open drawing dining with separate kitchen.
Syndicate Houseboat’s drawing room
Scenery as seen from open drawing room of our houseboat
We and our family friends had booked the full boat. It was quiet costly Rs.10,000 per night. I and my son went in the room to check it.To my amazement, the room had windows by which me and my son sat for a while. We kept on watching the water under the boat passing by. It was a nice refreshing feeling. Soon we saw a boat terminus.
During this time, my husband was clicking snaps. Cool breeze was blowing and we were watching the beautiful scenery and other beautiful houseboats.
Beautiful and refreshing view of Alleppey Backwaters
Beautiful scenery
Another beautiful houseboat
Then,we were offered welcome drinks and fresh fruit plates which were quite refreshing. After a while,to my surprise the boat stopped in the middle of the lake so that we could have lunch there itself. It was one of the most memorable lunches of my life.
Another Boat terminus in Lake at Alleppey
Cold winds had started and our boat was moving slightly with water currents. We had a break of almost an hour and resumed our journey. Then in the evening, we had some snacks and tea at the lake.
Snack point at Alleppey
All the travelers were excited and waved at each other as our boats crossed. My husband clicked some snaps when a houseboat crossed ours.
A boat coming towards our boat
Houseboat passing by at Alleppey Backwaters
Houseboat passing by our houseboat at Alleppey
Houseboat by passed our houseboat at Alleppey
We resumed our journey and later parked our boat at a scenic place where many other boats were also lined up and enjoyed the sunset.
Houseboats parked before sunset
Sunset view from houseboat at Alleppey Backwaters
It was dark and we had dinner in the dining area. After dinner, we enjoyed light music and gazed at the clear starry night for two hours to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Boat traffic at waterway
Next morning was special again ! We actually came to know the actual meaning of a waterway.
Waterway at Alleppey
On the way back ,we saw glimpse of true Kerala life. Schoolchildren , office goers , few shops – all of them on boats! Sellers were selling cold drinks in a boat. We saw many water taxis. It was an amazing experience for me to see water taxis for first time in India. Although I had ferried one at United States.
Sellers selling cold drinks in boat
We actually were caught in a small jam of boats where we had to turn left in a small connecting canal.
Soon our journey in the houseboat came to an end which we did not want of course. Houseboat cruise in backwaters is once in a lifetime experience.
Finally, we returned to our shore and resumed our next part of journey – Kovalam beach
Did you know?
- Nicknamed “Venice of the east” by Lord Curzon , this town , also known as Alleppey.
- Allepey is a picturesque place with canals ,fresh water rivers , beaches , Lagoons and backwaters.
- Houseboats are reworked versions of Kettuvallams or boats with knots – which means the entire boat is held by coir knots. These boats were earlier used to carry tons of rice and spices.
- Annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on Punnamada Lake , near Alappuzha (on 2nd Saturday of August , every year).
Starting point for Nehru trophy boat race
- Punnamada Lake is also popular for many temples and ancient churches. One of the popular sweet dish here is Payasam.
- Punnamada Lake also houses the Coir industry & Coir board.
- The whole of district of Alleppey is crisscrossed by system of canals , which is part of National Waterway. One of the features is region of Kuttanad – also called granary / rice bowl of kerela , where rice farming is done below the sea level.
Other beautiful snaps
Vast beauty of Backwaters
Many houseboats at backwaters
Alleppey water taxi terminus
Other houseboat at Alleppey
Boarding place for houseboats
Nidhi KM
Copyright Viharin.com
amazing place looks like venice pics…………… i will surely visit the place….. thank u
Thanks Rachna!