Map of Backwaters in Kerala is a network of 1500 kms of canals both manmade and natural, 38 rivers and 5 big lakes extending from one end of Kerala to the other.
Before the trucks became popular, the main cargo transportation was through backwaters by 'Kettuvalloms'. Kettuvalloms means, ‘stitched boat’. They are 70 foot long, 30 tons capacity, made with wooden planks joined and stitched together with coconut ropes and painted with cashew nut oil inside and fish oil outside.

There are many boarding points and routes to choose from depending on your time, budget and itinerary. The boarding points are Kumarakom, Alleppy, Thottappally and Alumkadave near Kollam (Quilon). See the map above.
Alleppy is 2½ hours drive from Cochin International airport and 1½ hour from Cochin. Kumarakom is 4 hours drive from Periyar. Thottappally is 5½ hours from Periyar and 3½ hours from Kovalam beach. Alumkadave is 2½ hours from Kovalam beach.

Room Facility:
Houseboats are converted ‘kettuvalloms’. They are designed for comfortable cruise and overnight stay. The boat has one / two baths attached double bedrooms with modern comforts, a living cum dining room, sundeck and a kitchen. The boat has solar lamps and fans. The Houseboats are of premium category (Golden Star - approved by Department of Tourism, Kerala State).
Dinning room Bedroom with dressing tablen In the one bedroom boat the living cum dining room is bigger in size. This boat can accommodate two persons.The two-bedroom boat also has a living cum dining room. This boat can accommodate four persons.At night the boat is anchored at a beautiful and quite part of the lake.