Kerala Houseboat Tour – Beautiful Options to Explore Enchanting Backwaters

A houseboat cruise over Kerala backwater is probably the best way to explore the breathtaking beauty of this place. The charm of the glistening Kerala backwater destinations must definitely be explored through the royal Kerala houseboats. You should definitely take a Kerala houseboat tour. A houseboat tour package may be customised to suit your needs and budget. Many tour operators in Kerala will book a memorable tour for you.

Kerala houseboats are one of the prime attractions of the heavenly state of Kerala. There are many type of houseboats available in Kerala. You can book the one you like from a reputed houseboat tour operator. For a memorable holiday experience, you may book either a luxury AC houseboat or a non-AC houseboat. The room sets are different in different houseboats, but all of them offer impeccable services.

The popular Kerala backwater destinations are Alleppey backwater, Kumarakom backwater and Cochin backwater. Here you get a chance to discover the scenic natural beauty on a houseboat cruise. As soon as the houseboat cruise begins, you will feel as if you have been transported to a world of wonderment. The diverse flora and fauna, luxury resorts, beautiful temples, rustic village and other attractions of Kerala are simply wonderful. You will also agree to this after your Kerala houseboat sail experience.

During your holidays in Kerala, you cannot afford to miss the chance of residing overnight in a conventional houseboat. Houseboats are basically country made boats and not even one nail is used in their construction. You will have to see it to believe it. It is a great opportunity where you will get to know other interesting facts about the houseboat. 

Earlier, houseboats in Kerala were used for sending goods from the village to the port and vice versa. However, as time passed, the houseboats used merely for transportation began to disappear. The houseboats faded away into oblivion but were introduced again, with a completely different aim this time. They were now meant to serve as attractions for tourists. They were introduced to popularize Kerala tourism with houseboat cruise as its prime attraction. Today, it certainly is a major appeal of Kerala tourism that draws innumerable tourists from all parts of the world. Not only this, Kerala houseboat cruise has become very popular amongst the newlywed couples and honeymooners too. They love the experience of sharing quality time amidst the luxurious ambience and awe-inspiring beauty.

Well if you want to experience the charm and beauty of these wonderful backwater destinations of Kerala, a tailor made Kerala houseboat tour package from VoyagesKerala will surly caters your needs. VoyagesKerala provide several tour packages and houseboat booking in Kerala, sightseeing tour, etc. Choose one package that cater your needs and enjoy your vacation in this beautiful state of India – Kerala in a delightful and memorable way.

Click here to know more about VoyagesKerala HouseBoat Packages

e-mail: tours@voyageskerala.com
24 Hours Helpline No : + 91 93870 66801

Read More

Alappuzha Beach- Visit This Precious Gem of India

The most beautiful part of theArabian Seain the west, besides a number huge lakes and crisscrossing freshwater rivers, there dwells the Alappuzha beach. It was once a demanding port located near Kerala. The Alappuzha beach is also popularly called as Alleppey beach. It is one of the most admired tourists' spots in this district. From its natural beauty to the pleasing water spots, this beach has everything you wish to enjoy.

 There are many wonderful places to visit in and around this beach. The lighthouse at this beach is also an impressive old structure to tour. There are a few colonial buildings that attract tourists from around the world. If you are a nature lover, then this is the place for you to be, as there are many beautiful gardens close to this beach that you can visit and enjoy the natural beauty.

 The two parks namely theVijayaParkandSeaViewParkare worth visiting. You can bet that your children will enjoy each and every minute spent at these parks. The Alappuzha beach gives you an opportunity to look at a whole new world of immense splendor and liveliness. Its marvelous surroundings give you an opportunity to indulge in a variety of water sports and relax on the warm cozy sands sipping on your favorite beverage.

 You could hire water scooters or a high speed boat. Paragliding is one of the popular sports around here and you would not want to miss out on it.  Boating is other option, where you can take pleasure in and if you are lucky, you also get to see whales playfully swimming in the seawater faraway. Besides all this, there are also many attractions that you might want to explore and make you vacation the most memorable one.

 Alappuzha town is well known for it amazing backwaters. It is an important attractive feature of this beach area. The cruise launches from Alleppey and ends at a jetty, which gives an awesome view of the landscape, gardens, churches, temples, industries and great historical monuments. Some of the famous places to visit in this region are Kuttanad region, Krishnapuram palace, Champakulam church, Chavara bhavan, Bhagavathy temple, Mararikulam and many more.

Reaching Alappuzha beach

 You can reach Alappuzha beach from the Kochiairport by road. It is just at a distance of nearly 85 km. You just need to hire a bus is you are travelling in a group or just by purchasing bus tickets for the number of your people heading towards this beach. You can also buy bus tickets beforehand to avoid last minute hassles. Bus tickets online services are quite easy to operate and offer safe modes of payment. Online bus tickets can be booked from anywhere in the world to this miraculous beach.

 At this picturesque destination, you can spend a memorable time and discover the beauty ofIndiawith your family members and friends. You could not only cross a few nicely constructed bridges, but also pass by well built canals.

 Months of August to March, are perfect to be at this beach and hire houseboats, participate in boat races, relish seafood and much more. The resorts and the hotels are way beyond your expectation, and their accommodation facilities are superb and worth every penny you pay them. 

Contact VoyagesKerala to know more about the Alappuzha beach Holiday Packages. Get10% off on all our Kerala Holiday Packages. Please call 093870 66801

Read More

Nehru Trophy Boat Race - Kerala's 'Water Olympics'

It is indeed an Olympics of its own right... Not just a boat race, but sort of a mega sports event featuring gigantic boats alongwith a large team – unmatched in every respect in the whole world... That's the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race of Kerala, South India.

A colorful sports carnival that takes place on the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha (Venice of the East), on Second Saturday of August every year, Nehru Trophy Boat Race is known for its thrilling competition and mass appeal.

The most striking feature of this event is the Snake Boat, locally known as ‘Chundan Vallam' – A huge wooden boat over a 100 feet  in length and with a raised prow adding to its majestic appearance. A Snake Boat can carry around 100-120 rowers.

A little flashback...

Given the name ‘Snake Boat' by the erstwhile colonial powers, perhaps due to its dazzling movement thro' the waters like a snake; this wooden marvel has long been associated with the history of Kerala. During the medieval era when Navy ruled supreme, snake boats played a decisive role in the victory of many local kingdoms that existed in Southern Kerala region.

Origin of Nehru Trophy Boat Race...

In the palm-fringed, water-logged areas of Alappuzha and Kuttanad, various models of wooden boats were the prime vehicles of transportation since ancient times. The 1st Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Kerala (which was Thiru-Kochi State, then) in 1952. In the honour of Prime Minister, the first unofficial Snake Boat Race was conducted. Out of several contestants – each featuring a snake boat with 100 odd teams – a team named ‘Nadubhagom Chundan' came first.

Jawaharlal Nehru was so impressed by the fast paced boats and their oarsmen's skills; that he insisted on a ride on the winning boat, soon after the race. He was given a rousing ceremonial farewell in the Snake Boat. Later, Nehru donated a Silver Trophy (a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus) with his signature. Thereafter, people of Alappuzha began to organize and conduct Snake Boat Race every year, in the fond memory of the then-Prime Minister. This soon came to be known as ‘Nehru Trophy Boat Race'.

Over the years, the Nehru Trophy race has grown to be the most competitive and popular of all the boat races in Kerala. For the people of Alappuzha / Kuttanad, this is more like their national festival. Organizing and conducting this event is a matter of pride and joy for them.

The preparations for this celebrated occasion begin several weeks in advance. Snake boats are smeared with sardine oil for smooth passage through water ... Very best oarsmen are selected ... Then, under the supervision of the senior-most oarsmen, vigorous practice sessions commence ...

Each snake boat accommodates 100+ rowers sitting in two rows and 5 other oarsmen. There are other group of people standing in between; singing the ‘Vanchi-pattu' (boat songs with hymns) which gives a rhythm for the rowers to charge forward, all-together.

This synchronized way of rowing needs long and devoted training and inherent aptitude. Team work is so important that even a silly neglected act of one participant can lead a boat to lose the race.

During the preparations, each ward in the village and rich individuals takes their turn in feeding the would-be participants, which each & everyone does proudly. All folks, whatever be their religion / status, stand as a single entity to make the approaching race a grand success.

On the day of the Snake Boat race, the venue ‘Punnamada Lake' will be brimming with excitement. Hundred-Thousands of people, locals & tourists, assemble to watch the race.

The 1400+ meters long water-race-course is divided into various tracks for the conduct of this competition. As the race starts, these big water vessels rip through the tracks, resembling quick snakes... Oarsmen splash the oars in unison with the rhythmic chants of ‘Vanchi-pattu' and drum beats... The backwaters get ‘electrified' ... Spectators go wild with frenzy ...

As the boats race to finishing point, the atmosphere will be beyond words !!!

Unparalleled in thrills, Alappuzha's (Kerala) most important sports event is now regarded as the greatest water sport show in the world.

Read More