The Kerala houseboats have travelled a long path from the traditional rice barges used for transporting rice and other commodities. Today, a trip in a Kettuvallam or houseboat is the major attraction of a holiday in Kerala. Houseboats, a leaf from much celebrated tradition and heritage of Kerala is a testimony for artistry and meticulousness of Keralites. It takes great skill for the construction of houseboats. Houseboats, which are generally around 80 feet long, are made of wooden planks joined together using coir ropes. Not a single nail is used in its making. The boat is then painted with black resin made from boiled cashew nut shells, which acts as a protective coating. Presently, houseboats rule the Kerala backwaters and offer a wide range of facilities. |
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