Kerala Houseboats: A Perfect Getaway

Kerala Houseboat Tour -  A Rewarding Experience of Lifetime

“If you haven’t taken a ride on the houseboat and explored the backwaters of Kerala then you haven’t seen anything yet. “ The true essence of being in Kerala is experienced when you take a ride in the Houseboats on the backwaters. It takes you into that part of Kerala which has managed to stay unswayed from the modern influences. You are guaranteed to get enthralled by the beauty of it and it will be one of those experiences that will stay forever engraved in your memory.

www.alleppeyhouseboats.org.in

The backwaters of Kerala stretches for 900 km interconnected by several waterways, rivers, lakes and inlets.  It is made up of unique eco-system and home to various types of flora and fauna. Traditional houseboats are very famous in which you could take a ride and savour the beauty of the backwaters of Kerala.

Traditional houseboats are referred as ‘Kettuvallam’ by the locals in Kerala. These boats are made in such a way that not a single nail is used and this itself is a unique feature of Kettuvallam. Planks of jack-wood are finely tied with Coir (Stiff coarse fibre from the outer husk of a coconut) and coated with black resin. Once completed, the houseboats can last for many years to come.

Originally these Kettuvallam were used as mediums of transport for carrying rice, spices and coconuts before the modern modes of transport replaced the traditional ones. At present Kerala houseboats are among the most famous tourist attractions. There are as many as 2000 house boats in Kerala and most of them cater to the needs of tourists visiting the place.  It is interesting to know that these houseboats are made of materials that are natural. Bamboo, coir, wood from areca and coconut trees is used to make the entire houseboat.

Houseboats are of many types which have different charges and depending upon the budget of the traveller they can choose which suits their pockets. Houseboats with air-condition, deluxe bedrooms and bathrooms, television, swimming pool, Jacuzzi are all available for people who are willing to pay for it.  Alleppey is the best place for hiring a traditional thatched roof houseboat. You can hire a boathouse for a day or for a week; it all totally depends on you. Traditional meals are prepared by master cooks for the guests on board.

The best season is from December to January end which is also the peak season. The weather during this time of the year is cooler, dry and pleasant than in other months. Monsoon season also attracts many visitors and many combine their houseboat hire with ayurvedic treatment. Houseboats are available for hire throughout the year; however, the prices may fluctuate depending on the demand.

A cruise in a houseboat is a perfect getaway for couples who have come for their honeymoon. The experience will be nothing less than a romantic one. These houseboats are also ideal for family vacation and for business meetings. The experience of cruising the backwaters of Kerala in a boathouse will certainly be something to cherish about. The enchanting surroundings and the charm of the backwaters will keep the travellers captivated and leave them begging for more. 

LAKSHWADWEEP-ISLAND OF LAGOONS

  LAKSHWADWEEP-ISLAND OF LAGOONS

Lakshadweep is a name derived from ‘Lakshadweepa’ which means ‘one hundred thousand islands’ in Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu, and many other languages. It is a group of island in the Laccadive Sea which is 200 km to 440 km of the South Western Coast of India. It comprises of 32 small islands but only ten of them are inhabitated making it the smallest union territory in accordance of area and population in India. It is one of the four coral reef regions of India. Huge number of travelers from across the globe haunts this pleasant and gratifying holiday target to enjoy with their family and loved ones. It is a Nirvana for the tourists who like to enjoy their holidays in the golden beaches and silvery sands under the candid blue heaven.

http://globalvisiontours.com/lakshadweep/islands.aspx

The most frequently haunted islands by travelers are:

Kalpeni: It is situated at a distance of 76 km south of Androth with an area of 2.79 square km. This place lies in a spacious and empty lagoons which is famous throughout the world for its vivid coral and marine life. You can enjoy water activities like snorkeling, pedal boats and sailing yachts. It is also renowned for 37 m light house from where you can enjoy a scenic view of the island.

Agatti Island: It covers an area of 3.84 sq. km and 5.6 km long. The only island of Lakshadweep is located in this Island. Infinitely endued with silvery sandy beaches, coconut trees, and coral reefs, it offers you with proceedings like; kayaking, fishing etc. the Agatti Island Beach Resort is the only resort on the island.

Minicoy: With an area of 4.80 square km and population of more than 60,000 it is the largest island in the archipelago. The main attraction for travelers in this place is the 100 years old light house from where the island seems like a crescent, it also9 has one of the largest lagoons. You can involve yourself in other activities like: taking a walk along the coconut groves, tuna fishing. You can stay at the 20 bedded resorts which is well facilitated.  

Bangaram Island: Covering an area of 2.3 square km it is the only island in the archipelago to serve alcohol to the visitors. It lies at a distance of 8km from the north side of Agatti Island. It is one of the most visited and best tourist destinations in the whole world due to its marvelous palm grove and golden sands. The smooth sand of this beach is controlled by the waves of the multi coloured sea.

Kavaratti Island: It is the most beautiful island of this place covering an area of 4.22 square km. It is the administrative capital of Lakshadweep. This island is famous for the numerous numbers of Mosques (52) that are located in here of which the most beautiful one is the Ujra Mosque. It also has an aquatic aquarium with different kinds of species of Underwater.

Kadmat Island: It has a huge lagoon of almost 10 km from the Amini that makes it the most visited destination. It has an area of 3.2 square km with a lagoon area 37.5 square km.

Heartily accepted as the “Queen of the hills”, Darjeeling is truly a dream come true destination and a place beyond imagination. Every turn of this enchanting hill station has something special that touches the depth of your heart in no time. It is true that Darjeeling is world widely known for its UNESCO world heritage sites and matchless attractions but the culture and traditions of this picturesque hill station also remains to be popular as much as the attractions do. Huge numbers of both domestic and international tourists folks towards Darjeeling to explore and experience their unique culture and traditions. Situated on the foot layers of Lesser Himalayas in the Indian state west Bengal, Darjeeling is a place where tourists accept the unexpected.

It is my pleasure to jot down few lines about Darjeeling culture and here is go. If you are willing to spend your vacation in the queen of hills then, I guarantee you that it is the best deal you have ever made. A visit will be a unique opportunity for you to experience the multifarious culture and traditions along with some of the best attractions of the world. If you are much more excited to experience the culture of Darjeeling then make sure you do visit during the seasons of native festivals. The original inhabitants of Darjeeling were the Lepchas but in today Nepali Gorkhas forms the majority of the population in Darjeeling which includes Sherpas, Tamang, Rai, Mangar, Newar, Limbu, Gurung and others.

The festival of Darjeeling lets you to explore the real colors of Darjeeling culture. The culture in Darjeeling is diverse due to the settlements of various religions. Darjeeling experiences numbers of cultural festivals round the year among which some of the major ones are Diwali, Dussehera, Bhai Tika, Holi, Christmas, Loshar, Buddha Purnima, Ram Navi and many ore local festivals. The ten day carnival held yearly during winters in Chowrasta is the best place to be around to explore the culture and traditions of the hill people. The most interesting and adorable element of these culture are their traditional dishes. Tourist visiting Darjeeling must experience the taste of local foods like momo, thukpa, alu daam, churpi, wai-wai and chowmin. Tongba and chyang are the local made alcohol having great taste and flavor.

Culture of Darjeeling also represents marvelous architectural buildings are churches, pagoda shaped Buddhist monasteries and others. There are several Buddhist monasteries like Dali Gumpha, Bhutia Busty Gumpha and Ghoom Monastry. These Buddhist monasteries are the right place to explore Buddhist culture and traditions. Gompa Tamasha is the major occasion which every single tourist must experience. This celebration is held in few monasteries where numbers of monks take participate and are dressed up in the forms of various characters. They display religious dance forms. If you are bored from your daily life and seeking for a refreshing holiday then why not visit Darjeeling and experience their culture. It is the perfect place to be in your holidays and enjoy every bit of its culture at your best.