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900
km of tranquility
It's
an intricate network of innumerable lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries
and the deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian
Sea. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine waterworld is navigable. The
largest backwater stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad lake which flows
through three districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi
port.
The Ashtamudi Lake (literally, having eight arms), which covers
a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest
and is considered the gateway to the backwaters.
The Ketturvallom :
Showcasing a unique heritage The kettuvalloms (houseboats) of Kerala
are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. It
took great skill and meticulousness to construct these giants by
tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single
nail.
Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting
tourism product in India, the luxurious furnished houseboat. A kettuvallom
usually has one or two bath attached bedrooms, an open lounge, deck,
kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.
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