 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kettuvallam Rice Boat Journeys |
|
||||
| Kerala Backwaters, India |
|
Cruise languidly along the Keralan backwaters in a floating wooden hotel, operated by the original riceboat company |
Reviewed by Yasmin Boland  |
KETTUVALLAM RICE BOAT JOURNEYS - AT A GLANCE Kerala is famous for its backwaters – and if you thought that meant stagnant ponds, think again. Here it refers to a beautiful, palm-fringed network of canals, lakes and lagoons linking towns along the Arabian Sea and inland. These waterways are still used today to ferry cargoes of spices, fish and newspapers, not to mention locals propelling little dug-outs to visit friends or tend fields. Pride of the backwater fleet are the old rice-barges, or kettuvallam (‘roped-together’) as they are called in Malayalam. Built from jackfruit logs lashed firmly together with coconut fibre, they have been converted (and many more made from scratch) into one-, two or even three-bedroom water-palaces. You can board just north of Kollam (formerly known as Quilon), Allappuzha (Alleppey), Kochi (Cochin) or any other backwater dock, and spend a day or several cruising to your destination, pausing to take in local sites. As a relaxing holiday, a honeymoon or simply an unhurried means of getting from A to B, it is unbeatable. |
|
HIGHS The slow pace, so rare in our world, which almost forces you to relax. The aquatic scenery of water-lilies, palm trees and colourful Indian villages. The excellent cuisine whipped up on board from ingredients purchased en route. Being rocked to sleep, and waking up to birdsong. Being delivered from hotel door to hotel door. One of the few operators to have boats with an upper deck - great for extra privacy and cool breezes. |
LOWS The heat which envelopes the boat when you stop moving (though refrigerated drinks and ventilator fans are available). The insects at dusk (but you can combat this – see ‘Lodging’). With many competing riceboat companies, it feels less special than it used to – but Tourindia are the pioneers, and their vessels considered the most authentic. The prices are slightly higher than other boats but then the standard of accommodation, service and food is better. |
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
