This is the third part in the series of posts on our trip to Kerala. It was the day 4 of our trip and we drove from Thekkady to Alleppey. We planned for an overnight stay at the houseboat in Alleppey. We reached there around afternoon and our houseboat was waiting for us.

Houseboat:

As soon as we reached the houseboat, we were welcomed by the staff on the boat. There were two of them. Since we were just three members, we opted for a boat with a single bedroom. Based on the number of members, one can choose from a wide range of options available there. There were boats with top decks, having double or triple bedrooms. Also, based on the price, the interiors range from deluxe to premium along with other amenities like full time AC, television and music systems etc.

Our boat was a simple one with one bedroom having a large bed. We asked for an extra mattress which was made available. In the living area, there was a dining table and two sofa chairs. The bedroom had glass windows with curtains which gave us the choice to either witness the views by relaxing on the bed or get shut off from the world while sailing on the backwaters. The bedroom had an attached washroom and also an AC.

Our ride got started soon after we boarded the boat, and we were greeted by awesome views of the backwaters. After about an hour, the boat was anchored at a place, and we were offered a delicious meal. The meal was simple yet tasty with various traditional dishes. We relished the food by enjoying the breeze hitting our faces. After the lunch, the ride resumed again. We came across many other boats and saw the setting of the sun in the backdrop of backwaters which was definitely worth watching.

In the evening, we were asked for our choice of beverage and was then served with hot coffee and snacks. The ride continued till around 6 in the evening and after getting dark, we were anchored at a spot meant for docking all the boats. Since, it was close to a village with a few houses in it, we took a stroll across the place and interacted with the locals. The family of our hosts stayed nearby and were having a musical performance at their place. We were thus invited to their house to witness the performance. Their house was a quick 5min walk from the spot where our boat was docked. We went there, enjoyed the local orchestra and returned back to our boat.

We were then served dinner. Later on, we retreated to our room and had a peaceful sleep. The room was cozy, and we had no disturbance whatsoever. In the morning, we woke up and had hot water bath. We were served breakfast and coffee. The breakfast had the traditional appam and curry which was delicious. The ride back to the destination started after our breakfast and, on the way, we came across a place which had beautiful water lilies. The host of our boat went into the water and plucked two lilies for us. Witnessing the rising of the sun in such a serene place was mesmerizing and gave a beautiful start to our day.

Finally, we were dropped off at the location, from where our driver picked us up for the onward journey to Kovalam.

On the whole, the experience of houseboat was worth trying. However, the night stay can be best enjoyed with a larger group of people and can be given a miss by smaller families or groups. The day cruise option offers a similar experience, and this can be opted by such groups.