Origin in Backwaters
Cargo Boats of kerala
In the past, before the advent of motor vehicles on land, large barge-type cargo boats were used in Southern Kerala Backwaters for transport of cargoes like coconuts, copra, coir, fish, pepper, ginger and general merchandise to and from towns and villages on the shores of the extensive lagoons, rivers, estuaries and natural and man-made canals.
Typical cargo boats, called 'Kettu-vallom' in local language (Malayalam) were 20 - 25 meters long and 4 - 4.5 meters wide, with a load-carrying capacity of about 30 tonnes. Two or three truckloads of cargo could be accommodated in a single cargo boat. These transport vessels were moved by rowing with oars or paddles in places where the lake is deep and by long bamboo poles where water is shallow.
For centuries, the waterways in Kerala served as routes for travel and transportation. Roads and carts linked the hinterlands of Kerala with the boat jetties at different places in the villages and towns in the lowlands. The importance of the waterways declined with the advent of motor vehicles in Kerala in recent years. Cars, buses, trucks, two and three wheelers, with their advantages of speed and convenience, became the preferred means of transport and travel, leading to neglect of the waterways.
Now, the waterways are renovated, widened and deepened to facilitate inland navigation. Old cargo boats are finding new uses in the tourism sector, in the form of houseboats. Formerly, house boats were used to ship rice and spices and other goods between Kuttanad and the Cochin port. It was a three-day affair those days. A standard house boat, which could be about 100 feet long, can hold up to 30 tons, and that is as much as three big lorries can.In the olden times,the crew cooked on board, and most often, their meals included delicious fish caught straight from the water. A portion of the house boat had bamboo roofing, and that was where the crew would rest.
Around six years ago, an entrepreneur, on the request of tourists, remodelled the traditional kettuvallam to suite the role of a tourist cruise boat. This gave an impetus to the resurgence of the kettuvallam and with further modifications,these vessels were transformed into full-fledged houseboats. The kettuvallam was once an integral member of the fraternity of Kerala as an efficient cargo carrier.
Over the years, these boats have imbibed a redefining of their structure as well as function.They offer great scope and promise for the future of Kerala tourism in their capacity as tourist house boats. Each a masterpiece of intricate craftsmanship, the kettuvallam lasts, not just for years, but for generations.
The tradition continues....
Typical cargo boats, called 'Kettu-vallom' in local language (Malayalam) were 20 - 25 meters long and 4 - 4.5 meters wide, with a load-carrying capacity of about 30 tonnes. Two or three truckloads of cargo could be accommodated in a single cargo boat. These transport vessels were moved by rowing with oars or paddles in places where the lake is deep and by long bamboo poles where water is shallow.
For centuries, the waterways in Kerala served as routes for travel and transportation. Roads and carts linked the hinterlands of Kerala with the boat jetties at different places in the villages and towns in the lowlands. The importance of the waterways declined with the advent of motor vehicles in Kerala in recent years. Cars, buses, trucks, two and three wheelers, with their advantages of speed and convenience, became the preferred means of transport and travel, leading to neglect of the waterways.
Now, the waterways are renovated, widened and deepened to facilitate inland navigation. Old cargo boats are finding new uses in the tourism sector, in the form of houseboats. Formerly, house boats were used to ship rice and spices and other goods between Kuttanad and the Cochin port. It was a three-day affair those days. A standard house boat, which could be about 100 feet long, can hold up to 30 tons, and that is as much as three big lorries can.In the olden times,the crew cooked on board, and most often, their meals included delicious fish caught straight from the water. A portion of the house boat had bamboo roofing, and that was where the crew would rest.
Around six years ago, an entrepreneur, on the request of tourists, remodelled the traditional kettuvallam to suite the role of a tourist cruise boat. This gave an impetus to the resurgence of the kettuvallam and with further modifications,these vessels were transformed into full-fledged houseboats. The kettuvallam was once an integral member of the fraternity of Kerala as an efficient cargo carrier.
Over the years, these boats have imbibed a redefining of their structure as well as function.They offer great scope and promise for the future of Kerala tourism in their capacity as tourist house boats. Each a masterpiece of intricate craftsmanship, the kettuvallam lasts, not just for years, but for generations.
The tradition continues....