House boat cruise is a marvelous experience at par with nothing. It is unique to the core. What you need is nothing but a beauty loving mind, a heart that is replete with quest for quiet and serenity.
House boat is simple in appearance but complex in construction, indeed. Its equivalent in the Malayalam Language is ‘Kettuvallam’ meaning boat made using knots. The wooden blocks are joined or tied together with coir knots. Nails are not used at all in the construction. The wood used for the Kettuvallam is Jackwood whose kernel is famous for its hard texture and durability. This apart, the whole wooden structure with coir knots is coated with a black caustic resin made from the sap of boiled cashew shells specially treated for this purpose.

Certainly, Kettuvallams are parts of the ancient and recent history of the region. I t has a chequered past in a land like Kerala where the landscape is marked distinct with a lot of streams and lakes. In the early days, the kettuvallams enjoyed a place of prowess and dignity in socio- economic life of the land. Then they were the main means of transport for agricultural produces and other raw materials from far-off villages to towns and for various products from towns to villages. With the advent of modern vehicles and conveyance facilities, kuttuvallams had to face a regression. Though they were once supposed to have been written off as museum piece, it has now reemerged as a chief attraction for domestic as well as overseas tourists.

The kettuvallams undergo a value-added facelift when they are changed into house boats fit for tourist cruise.Bamboo mats, sticks and areca wood are used for roofing. Specially made coirmats and wooden planks are used for flooring. Beds are made of coconut wood and coir. The house boats SahaYathri Tours provides are equipped with all facilities of a state -of -the art hotel. Well-furnished bed rooms, comfortable toilets, cosy living rooms and sophisticated kitchen are among the various facilities. Either traditional lanterns or electric lights can be used for illuminating the rooms. House boats having one bed room are meant for only two persons, those having two bed rooms for four persons and those having three bed rooms can be availed by six persons. Each house boat has a crew comprising a driver, engine operator and a chef. The cuisine is with emphasis on ethnic and traditional flavour. Delicious local fish varieties are available as dishes.
In addition to cruising in the house boats, facilities will be provided for diving, swimming, fishing, bird watching or sun bathing. Come and enjoy this unmatched blissful experience of beauty and solace of nature coupled with a culture renowned for its hospitality.