Kerala Backwaters: A Houseboat Experience

There are travel experiences that are hyped up and then there are those that actually exceed every expectation. Spending a night on a houseboat in the Kerala backwaters was definitely the latter. I booked a houseboat from Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha. The boat was a traditional Kettuvallam, a rice barge made of jackwood and coir rope, converted into a floating home. It had a bedroom, a bathroom, and an open deck with lounge chairs. The crew consisted of a guide and a cook. As we drifted through the narrow canals, the world slowed down. We passed villages where people were washing clothes in the water, kids waving from the banks, and women selling fresh coconuts from small canoes. The food was incredible. The cook prepared a traditional Kerala meal with fish caught that morning, served on a banana leaf. Watching the sunset from the deck with a cup of chai, listening to the sounds of the water and the birds, it was pure magic. If you are on a budget, you can also do a day cruise or take a public ferry, which is much cheaper and gives you a more authentic experience. But if you can splurge for one night, do it. It is worth every rupee.