Kerala houseboats

Although Kerala, the thin slither of southwest India, has long been an industrious spice trading state, thanks, in no small part, to its wealth of waterways, in recent years tourism has proved a much more profitable pursuit with Kerala’s backwater houseboats offering a unique glimpse at life afloat, and on dry land.

The obvious attraction of reclining on deck as you sail past rice paddies, riverside villages and all manner of bird and animal activity is tangible which is why avoiding busier ports, canals and rivers lets you sail clear of noisy, polluted water ways and embark on a much more peaceful experience in places like Alleppey.

The majority of houseboats are motorised, former rice barges known as kettuvallam that have been converted into floating lodgings featuring a kitchen, en-suite bedrooms, sun deck and lounge area to comfortably accommodate from two to eight passengers. All mod cons, electric lights, fans and air-con, add to cushions and comfort levels below deck with three meals a day rustled up by the cook, whilst a crew of two will steer the boat and push off in shallow water using bamboo poles, as well as acting as tour guides.

This can be an extremely comfortable and luxurious way to travel, although the size of your average houseboat (21m by 4.5m) can mean many of the more popular main canal routes get slightly clogged, especially during the peak months of December and January. Below are 10 reasons why Kerala houseboats rock, for all the right reasons, and if you want to ensure you're not signing up for an overcrowded, multi-storey houseboat from hell then do your research and let Responsible Travel steer you in the right direction.

Idly watching riverbanks for the occasional otter or water vole is part and parcel of Kerala backwater houseboat tours with turtles appearing from under lily pads or sunning themselves on conveniently placed palm roots, providing perfect fodder for nature photographers. Kerala's backwaters are also teeming with birds, especially within the quieter canals, so bring your binoculars and keep them handy for kingfishers, cormorants, bee-eaters, and kites.

Although southern India, Kerala especially, is much more laid back than the chaotic cities further north, it has to be said that when you step foot onto a Kerala backwaters houseboat you really do start to see the world from a whole new angle. Tea shops, spice gardens and coconut groves could all pass by over the course of a day on the river and as you start to get to grips with local lifestyles from a unique vantage point you may well find a life afloat helps to put parts of your life into perspective too.

From traditional toddy bars, surrounded by local workers, to school kids, rushing to the river bank to welcome your arrival, travelling and living aboard a houseboat in Kerala really does open your eyes to the industry and lifestyles of backwater communities, far from tourist hotspots. The longer you spend on board the more you'll recognise how certain times of the day dictate what's happening on the river bank, with time off the boat in homestay accommodation the ideal way to turn mere observance into a much deeper, and more involved, cultural experience.

Setting sail on an organised Kerala backwater houseboat tour allows you to really get to know the crew and find out more about the different facets of their life as well as how to drive the boat. Having a local guide on board is the best way to develop an understanding of the cultural and natural points of interest that you'll find along the way, with visits to riverside villages letting you learn how responsible tours are helping to put money back into the pockets of those who need it most.