Houseboats Basic Structure
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A glide in a "Kettuvallam" (Houseboat) through the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are panoramic sight one can never forget.
The Houseboats of Kerala ( earlier known as rice barges or kettuvallams ) are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from being lost to the State altogether. Once they ruled the backwaters, poled along by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities. But in the recent times, the kettuvalloms or rice barges have been replaced by more and modern modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay. The materials that go into the making are local and ecofriendly; bamboo poles, coconut fibre, ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. The main wood used is "Anjili". There are houseboats with fully furnished single room, double room and triple rooms. All of them have sundeck, private balcony with comfortable chairs, kitchen and toilet with w.c. In addition there is a separate rest room for the crew. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. The crew includes a chef, and two oarsmen. The cuisine is of traditional Kerala flavour. Alongwith the local specialties; delicious fish and prawns. There are single bedroom houseboats for two people and two bedroom houseboats for four people.
The houseboats of today - huge, slow moving, exotic barge used for leisure trips - are the reworked kettuvalloms of olden times. The original kettuvalloms were used to carry tonnes of rice and spices - a standard kettuvallom can hold up to 30 tonnes - from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.
Basically Kettuvallam was designed to transport cargo to various destinations in Kerala. When it was used for tourist purpose, there new problem cropped up like - No free movement was possible because the floor area of the hull was very less. The space below the hull was more compared to the space above. There were no openings, which provided enough of light, air or view towards outside. The tourist felt it difficult to walk through the length because the curved shape of the hull with Manikals coming across. The roof was made of thatch, which was not properly done so during rain leakage was likely. Due to the low head clearance of the Valapura it was only possible to sit on the padi of the hull. Since the Valapura was low, the airflow through the Vallam minimum. The hull is curved and for the beginners it was very difficult to balance when the vallam was in motion.
Most of the latest designs have incorporated 3 bedrooms with a common toilet, a living space and kitchen. Now some of them have come with lesser number of bedrooms but with large living space and may be a deck balcony at the roof level. The platforms that cantilever from the hull are used as balconies. For fixing the toilet seats, shower tray and ceramic floor finish a concrete slab is laid at the floor level. The soil outlet of the toilet seats are taken through the hull and let out to the following water beneath, The water is stored in a plastic tank kept at the top portion of the Valapura taking connection to the kitchen and toilets. The pipes, tank and other synthetic materials are covered with coir or panambu to maintain the aesthetic quality of the eco friendly materials. The air cylinders, which are of the metal body, are fixed to the underside of the cantilevered platforms at the entry points of Valapura. These cylinders helps to balance the structure on water reducing its tilting to the sides to a minimum. Since the circulation inside the Vallam is more in the new function more stability is required.
Interior decorations and fittings differ according to the level of luxury. The houseboats of Kerala have become one of the most exciting tourism products in India. There are houseboats of different categories like standard, economy, deluxe, luxury, air-conditioned, non-A/C, etc. So, there are many choices for tourists to select from. Today there are A/c and Non A/c house boats with with Deluxe and Luxury facilities. The houseboat holidays of Kerala are increasingly becoming popular with domestic as well as international tourists. Consequently, the number of houseboats plying the backwaters of Kerala have increased dramatically. So inorder to evaluate the safety and service standards of houseboats and classify them accordingly, the Government of Kerala has conceptualized a scheme to grade the existing house boats which maintain the quality standards into Gold and Silver Star categories and also to give Green Palm certificate as a symbol of eco-friendliness to those house boats which adopt environment friendly practices in its operation.
The Houseboats of Kerala ( earlier known as rice barges or kettuvallams ) are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from being lost to the State altogether. Once they ruled the backwaters, poled along by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities. But in the recent times, the kettuvalloms or rice barges have been replaced by more and modern modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay. The materials that go into the making are local and ecofriendly; bamboo poles, coconut fibre, ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. The main wood used is "Anjili". There are houseboats with fully furnished single room, double room and triple rooms. All of them have sundeck, private balcony with comfortable chairs, kitchen and toilet with w.c. In addition there is a separate rest room for the crew. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. The crew includes a chef, and two oarsmen. The cuisine is of traditional Kerala flavour. Alongwith the local specialties; delicious fish and prawns. There are single bedroom houseboats for two people and two bedroom houseboats for four people.
The houseboats of today - huge, slow moving, exotic barge used for leisure trips - are the reworked kettuvalloms of olden times. The original kettuvalloms were used to carry tonnes of rice and spices - a standard kettuvallom can hold up to 30 tonnes - from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.
The Hull
The hull is a series of wooden planks, long cut and carved by the expert hands of the carpenter, tied together using coir with coconut fibers stuffed in between. Kettuvallam is steered by two persons in deep waters by means of oars. Long bamboo poles or 'punts' are used to propel in shadow areas. Bamboo beams sprouting off on the sides are used as foot holds for the same a senior oarsman and a helper control the Kettuvallam by singing songs and chants for inspiration. A box of sand, a few bricks in interior facilitate cooking on lower racks, with storage on the upper ones. Food and necessary items are stored in shelves sleeping quarter is on the uppermost racks, which have the best ventilation and accessibility. The interior space can also be used for the same when there is no cargo. Fresh water is stored in earthenware pots.Basically Kettuvallam was designed to transport cargo to various destinations in Kerala. When it was used for tourist purpose, there new problem cropped up like - No free movement was possible because the floor area of the hull was very less. The space below the hull was more compared to the space above. There were no openings, which provided enough of light, air or view towards outside. The tourist felt it difficult to walk through the length because the curved shape of the hull with Manikals coming across. The roof was made of thatch, which was not properly done so during rain leakage was likely. Due to the low head clearance of the Valapura it was only possible to sit on the padi of the hull. Since the Valapura was low, the airflow through the Vallam minimum. The hull is curved and for the beginners it was very difficult to balance when the vallam was in motion.
The body in Houseboats
Due to these difficulties it become necessary to make some changes in the form so that a comfortable cruise was possible. The body was redesigned and remodeled to adapt for the new demands and functions. Certain elements had to be added and others removed to make it good enough for comfortable cruise. Height of roof was increased to get sufficient headroom. A plank was laid all through the length to reduce the disadvantages of curved shape of the hull for walking and comfortable seating. Windows and other openings were provided for light, airflow and view. The entrance is provided in the center of the linear axis with a top hung panel, which was supported by poles on either ends of the Valapura.Most of the latest designs have incorporated 3 bedrooms with a common toilet, a living space and kitchen. Now some of them have come with lesser number of bedrooms but with large living space and may be a deck balcony at the roof level. The platforms that cantilever from the hull are used as balconies. For fixing the toilet seats, shower tray and ceramic floor finish a concrete slab is laid at the floor level. The soil outlet of the toilet seats are taken through the hull and let out to the following water beneath, The water is stored in a plastic tank kept at the top portion of the Valapura taking connection to the kitchen and toilets. The pipes, tank and other synthetic materials are covered with coir or panambu to maintain the aesthetic quality of the eco friendly materials. The air cylinders, which are of the metal body, are fixed to the underside of the cantilevered platforms at the entry points of Valapura. These cylinders helps to balance the structure on water reducing its tilting to the sides to a minimum. Since the circulation inside the Vallam is more in the new function more stability is required.
Colour and texture
The colour of the Valapura is yellowish brown, which is the colour of the natural materials like panambu, coir and bamboo. It is a warmer colour comparing to the colour of the surrounding atmosphere. This gives a nice eeling of being inside the Vallam.Roofing
Bamboo is used for the framework of the roof and splits of Bamboo are used for weaving mat for roofing. Bamboo poles are used for punting the Vallams. It is strong fiber and absorbs more carbon. The Kettuvallam has been so much a part of Kerala's culture and heritage for years. Although it faced a period of decline with the advent of surface transport it has now come back to the scene as tourist attraction, it is a space adapted for the present, from the past to be used in the future and it plays a significant role in the social and economic aspects of the life e of the people of Kerala.The slow moving Kettuvallam splitting the serene backwaters flanked by greenery provide an enchanting experience to any visitor. Floating in these backwaters in a country craft Kettuvallam to explore the unusual representation of Kerala through the intricate maze of canals conjures up a surreal existence devoid of any time sense.Lighting
Light and the patterns of light and darkness it creates can call our attention to one a rear of our room de-emphasize others and thereby create division of spaces. At night the traditional hurricane lamp is used to light the interiors. Usually each one is hung from the ridge of Valapura one at front, one at rear and one or two accordingly for the living spaces. And mostly for half of a month there will be moonlight, which gives enough light, reflected on water.Interior
Houseboats have one or two bedrooms with attached toilet and bathroom, a kitchenette, an open lounge, a balcony, etc. Some have projecting sit-outs. There are houseboats with mini conference hall. The floor is covered with coir-mats.Interior decorations and fittings differ according to the level of luxury. The houseboats of Kerala have become one of the most exciting tourism products in India. There are houseboats of different categories like standard, economy, deluxe, luxury, air-conditioned, non-A/C, etc. So, there are many choices for tourists to select from. Today there are A/c and Non A/c house boats with with Deluxe and Luxury facilities. The houseboat holidays of Kerala are increasingly becoming popular with domestic as well as international tourists. Consequently, the number of houseboats plying the backwaters of Kerala have increased dramatically. So inorder to evaluate the safety and service standards of houseboats and classify them accordingly, the Government of Kerala has conceptualized a scheme to grade the existing house boats which maintain the quality standards into Gold and Silver Star categories and also to give Green Palm certificate as a symbol of eco-friendliness to those house boats which adopt environment friendly practices in its operation.
Furniture
Many houseboats have furniture made with thick cane or wood growing in the Kerala greenery. They are made in aesthetically-appealing designs by the handicraft artisans of Kerala.Water Supply
Purified and bottled water is provided for drinking, besides popular soft drinks and beverages. Water for kitchen and the toilet is stored in plastic tanks placed on the top of the roof structure, with pipes leading to various places. Tank, pipes, etc. are covered with coir mats or bamboo mats, for aesthetics.Toilet
Toilet facilities also differ in various houseboats. Some have toilets attached to each bedroom. Some others with two or three bedrooms have common toilet. Some have bio-chemical toilets with W/C and hand shower. For fixing the toilet seats, shower tray and ceramic floor, finish, a concrete slab is laid at the bottom of the hull.
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