Kasargod

The Place :
Kassargod is one of the most beautiful districts of Kerala. It has 11 rivers (Out of 44 in Kerala), Forts, Beaches, Hills and Backwaters. Bekal Fort is the biggest fort in Kerala which is 14kms from Kanhagad and 11 kms from Kasargod. Then there are the Kottencheri Hills near the Talakaveri , the starting point of River Kaveri. Apart from this there are Khandragiri Fort, Anandashramam, Malik Deenar Masjid, Valiyaparamba backwater and Kareem forest park - the only man made forest in Kerala.

As you move on the back of the Kettuvallamns in the backwaters of Kassargod, sit in the sun - sit area and enjoy the ripples of the water. See the lush greeney which surrounds you from one side and watch out for the water birds which roam around. The common ones are the ducks which take a dip in the backwaters to catch the small fish roaming in the waters.

You can also do some of the fishing sitting in this area. Or you just open a book as tea is served here. You will also see small children running on the shores of the backwaters with kites in their hands or common folk going on their daily chores. This scene can be best seen in the morning hours when everyone is getting ready for their work. In the afternoon the backwaters become silent. This is also the time when you will be taken for sight-seeing. Then after the lunch the evening is yours to enjoy on the houseboat. In the evening you can also try your hands out on preparing one of your favorite dish with the chef onboard. However preparing something is a choice of yours and not a compulsion.

The last destination on houseboat will be the place where the Kassargod Wildlife Sanctuay is proposed. Today this place is open for people to see, though there is no wildlife is here at present. You can see the water birds and small animals here as you pass by. From here you can either proceed back or can finish your journey at any of the villages in the back route.

The Houseboat

Kettuvalloms or Houseboats are the country boats which were used in the early days for transportation of man and material. With the coming of roads these have now been converted into ornamental water borne materials which are used to give the tourists a comfortable stay in the backwaters of Kerala.

Usually a Houseboat is about 67 feet in length and has a width of 13 feet in the middle. The material which is usually used in making a houseboat and its interiors are bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, coir carpets. The wood used in making the Houseboats is known as Anjilli. There are Air Conditioned and Non - Air Conditioned Houseboats.

Each Houseboat has a crew of 3 people - the Captain of the boat, the Chef and the Cabin Assistant. The rooms in a Houseboat can range from one to a maximum of five. The Houseboat can either be single or double decked. The rooms have a attached bath and there is a dinning hall, a sun sitter open room and a kitchen. The food prepared in the Kitchen is purely South Indian.