Private kettuvallam overnight in Kuttanad
Kettuvallam were built for centuries to carry rice and spices along Kerala's waterways, their hulls of jackwood planks stitched together with coir rope. Since the 1990s they have been converted into houseboats, with roofs of woven bamboo and palm leaf. We charter only premium boats with one or two air-conditioned bedrooms, a sitting deck and an upper sun deck, for you alone.
You board at about noon. Lunch is served as the boat moves south from Punnamada into Kuttanad, along wide canals and then narrower ones, past paddy fields lying below the water, village churches and temples. The cook prepares Kerala dishes with fish bought from fishermen along the way. In the afternoon we stop for a walk on the bund and a visit to a village or church.
By local rule, houseboats stop cruising around sunset and moor for the night. We choose a quiet mooring away from other boats. Dinner is served on deck with lanterns, and the bedroom air-conditioning runs on the generator through the night. After breakfast the boat returns to the jetty by about 9 am. Rules, routes and timings change, so check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How do I choose a good houseboat in Alleppey?
Choose a single-party boat with one or two bedrooms, from an operator with a record of inspections and trained crews. Ask about air-conditioning hours, the age of the boat, life jackets and the route. We visit the boats ourselves and book only those that meet our standards, with a named boat and crew.
Do houseboats cruise at night?
No. Local rules require houseboats to stop cruising around sunset and moor for the night, partly for safety and partly to protect fishermen who set nets after dark. Most boats cruise from about noon to 5.30 pm and again for an hour or two the next morning. Check current status before you travel.
Is one night on a houseboat enough?
For most guests, yes. One night gives about seven hours of cruising, a sunset and a sunrise on the water. A second night tends to repeat the experience in a limited space. We usually pair one houseboat night with two at a lake resort in Kumarakom or at Marari.
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