Kerala Holiday

flo11 · Feb 28th, 2004, 20:59

Really had a wonderful time in Kerala last month at the mountains and beaches but couldn't be on a houseboat since they were all booked. I'm not sure whether i should go there again for the houseboat. Any experiences to share

beach · Feb 28th, 2004, 21:25

flow11...

Forget the houseboats, you could have simply walked into any of the local commuter boats. Just like any city bus and pay about 5 to10 rs for the fare!!! Thousands of local people do it everyday. It’s as simple as that!!!

flo11 · Feb 29th, 2004, 17:59

Thanks beach but we were interested to spend a couple of nights in the boat and I doubt it would have been possible then. Well the good news is that we are planning another trip for august. Hope the weather's ok then. Any suggestions??

beach · Feb 29th, 2004, 18:03

Hope you've already read my earlier post Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

at Alleppy/Kottayam/Kollam you'll have good options.

SitaParityaga · Mar 1st, 2004, 21:37

The houseboat trip I took in January was one of the best parts of our trip. I would encourage you to try and give it another chance. If I had it to do over, I would have gone to the pier where all the houseboats are in Alleppepy, and haggled away. I was told by an agent before my trip that "all the houseboats were booked" , which meant "you are going to be paying more than you thought" There was a veritable armada of houseboats in Aleppepy when we went to pick up ours. Do the trip that heads you south from Aleppepy towards Kollam: its more rural, quiet, etc.

flo11 · Mar 1st, 2004, 21:54

Thanks edsita...we are surely going there for a longer period but then this time with everything booked beforehand so that there are no problems when we are there. Have approached a few hotels and travel agents in Kerala for it. Is trichur a real nice place to visit...if so whats interesting for a couple of days there...Regards..

beach · Mar 2nd, 2004, 11:28

It has a number of temples.nice and peculiar architecture.The famous elephant temple festival(with hundreds of decorated eliphants in a competing display) is held at Trichur.

flo11 · Mar 8th, 2004, 11:39

This time we are interested to visit Bekal and our travel agent says its a long way up north of Kerala. Is it really worth the long drive visiting the place..Please advise

beach · Mar 8th, 2004, 14:00

There is a old fort facing the sea.It's nice to see.Not a touristy place.Its an old historic town.A place with not much of fanfare and all. If that sound ok, you may try. Traveling is not a big problem as this is very close to the train and bus routs and connected.

iqbal · Mar 8th, 2004, 14:19

We just returned (today) from a month in India.

The one night on the houseboat from Kollam to Allepey (yes, we started in Kollam) was the most memorable experience we had. Keep in mind that the other nights were great as well.

It is a bit of a luxury but we felt is was money well spent. It's important you have a good crew and remember to check the mosquito netting for holes before you sleep.

I've got a ton of pictures I will post as soon as possible.

Iqbal

SitaParityaga · Mar 9th, 2004, 12:14

If you're interested, here are some pictures from our backwater trip: http://homepage.mac.com/edwardacosta/PhotoAlbum7.html

I have yet to figure out how to make my files small enough to post them here on Indiamike!

steven_ber · Mar 9th, 2004, 12:48

Edsita

Not sure why you can't upload the photo's, I just took your favourite photo, blew it up to it's largest size, copied it to my computer, then uploaded it to the photo gallery.

Photo.

Fantastic photo, I will delete it soon, just leaving it there for you to see.

sudheer poppa · Apr 3rd, 2004, 18:37

You can try the alleppey tourism dev corp mail id below for early bookings. They are semi gov or something like that but offer very good service and about 4000 indian ruppees for 24 hour journey through kumarakom and back to alleppey.

atdcboat@md4.vsnl.net.in

Natrah · Jun 22nd, 2004, 23:27

Hi all

I am looking into taking a backwater cruise in November and from reading everyone's posts, it looks like the best way to do this is by starting from Alappuzha (Alleppey) and finishing at Kollam (Quilon). I have a few questions for you:

Is November a busy period? I don't really want to book in advance over the net as it looks really expensive. Can anyone remember what they paid locally?

How long does this journey take? Can you do it in 24 hours? and I am assuming this is one way, (I will be travelling down to Trivandrum and flying out from there).

Great thread by the way, its been really helpful reading Beach's post and some enticing pictures edsita.

Thanks

butterball · Jun 23rd, 2004, 00:21

natrah...

It shouldn't be too busy - just get there an hour or so before and buy your ticket ( if it's the Government trip you're doing ? ) You can then grab a coffee at the ICH on the main Road.. or stock up on some fruit / food..

It's peanuts - about 100 rs for an all day trip to Quillon. You get to sit on the deck of a rather (ugly) boat under a conopy if you're lucky - but who cares - the scenery is fantastic ! They do stop half way for a lunch where you all pile into a restaurant & eat 'communally' ( and pretty well ).

Not to be missed - although I kind of remember the accoms in Quillon being nothing great - although there's a great huge heaving dingy bar in the centre for a beer to end a long day..

Feb 28th, 2004, 20:59	#1
flo11 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 5	Kerala Holiday Really had a wonderful time in Kerala last month at the mountains and beaches but couldn't be on a houseboat since they were all booked. I'm not sure whether i should go there again for the houseboat. Any experiences to share

Feb 29th, 2004, 18:03	#4
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Backwater Hope you've already read my earlier post Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets! at Alleppy/Kottayam/Kollam you'll have good options.

Mar 9th, 2004, 12:48	#12
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,562	Edsita Not sure why you can't upload the photo's, I just took your favourite photo, blew it up to it's largest size, copied it to my computer, then uploaded it to the photo gallery. Photo. Fantastic photo, I will delete it soon, just leaving it there for you to see. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Apr 3rd, 2004, 18:37	#13
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	You can try the alleppey tourism dev corp mail id below for early bookings. They are semi gov or something like that but offer very good service and about 4000 indian ruppees for 24 hour journey through kumarakom and back to alleppey. atdcboat@md4.vsnl.net.in __________________ We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK Pic Page 1 Pic Page 2 When my life changed over a week

Jun 22nd, 2004, 23:27	#14
Natrah Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 37	Houseboat query Hi all I am looking into taking a backwater cruise in November and from reading everyone's posts, it looks like the best way to do this is by starting from Alappuzha (Alleppey) and finishing at Kollam (Quilon). I have a few questions for you: Is November a busy period? I don't really want to book in advance over the net as it looks really expensive. Can anyone remember what they paid locally? How long does this journey take? Can you do it in 24 hours? and I am assuming this is one way, (I will be travelling down to Trivandrum and flying out from there). Great thread by the way, its been really helpful reading Beach's post and some enticing pictures edsita. Thanks

Feb 28th, 2004, 21:25	#2
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	flow11... Forget the houseboats, you could have simply walked into any of the local commuter boats. Just like any city bus and pay about 5 to10 rs for the fare!!! Thousands of local people do it everyday. It’s as simple as that!!!

Feb 29th, 2004, 17:59	#3
flo11 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 5	Thanks beach but we were interested to spend a couple of nights in the boat and I doubt it would have been possible then. Well the good news is that we are planning another trip for august. Hope the weather's ok then. Any suggestions??

Mar 1st, 2004, 21:37	#5
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 1,145	The houseboat trip I took in January was one of the best parts of our trip. I would encourage you to try and give it another chance. If I had it to do over, I would have gone to the pier where all the houseboats are in Alleppepy, and haggled away. I was told by an agent before my trip that "all the houseboats were booked" , which meant "you are going to be paying more than you thought" There was a veritable armada of houseboats in Aleppepy when we went to pick up ours. Do the trip that heads you south from Aleppepy towards Kollam: its more rural, quiet, etc.

Mar 1st, 2004, 21:54	#6
flo11 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 5	Thanks edsita...we are surely going there for a longer period but then this time with everything booked beforehand so that there are no problems when we are there. Have approached a few hotels and travel agents in Kerala for it. Is trichur a real nice place to visit...if so whats interesting for a couple of days there...Regards..

Mar 2nd, 2004, 11:28	#7
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	It has a number of temples.nice and peculiar architecture.The famous elephant temple festival(with hundreds of decorated eliphants in a competing display) is held at Trichur.

Mar 8th, 2004, 11:39	#8
flo11 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Paris Posts: 5	This time we are interested to visit Bekal and our travel agent says its a long way up north of Kerala. Is it really worth the long drive visiting the place..Please advise

Mar 8th, 2004, 14:00	#9
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	There is a old fort facing the sea.It's nice to see.Not a touristy place.Its an old historic town.A place with not much of fanfare and all. If that sound ok, you may try. Traveling is not a big problem as this is very close to the train and bus routs and connected.

Mar 8th, 2004, 14:19	#10
iqbal SFO JFK LHE DEL Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 36	We just returned (today) from a month in India. The one night on the houseboat from Kollam to Allepey (yes, we started in Kollam) was the most memorable experience we had. Keep in mind that the other nights were great as well. It is a bit of a luxury but we felt is was money well spent. It's important you have a good crew and remember to check the mosquito netting for holes before you sleep. I've got a ton of pictures I will post as soon as possible. Iqbal

Mar 9th, 2004, 12:14	#11
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 1,145	If you're interested, here are some pictures from our backwater trip: http://homepage.mac.com/edwardacosta/PhotoAlbum7.html I have yet to figure out how to make my files small enough to post them here on Indiamike!

Jun 23rd, 2004, 00:21	#15
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 689	natrah... It shouldn't be too busy - just get there an hour or so before and buy your ticket ( if it's the Government trip you're doing ? ) You can then grab a coffee at the ICH on the main Road.. or stock up on some fruit / food.. It's peanuts - about 100 rs for an all day trip to Quillon. You get to sit on the deck of a rather (ugly) boat under a conopy if you're lucky - but who cares - the scenery is fantastic ! They do stop half way for a lunch where you all pile into a restaurant & eat 'communally' ( and pretty well ). Not to be missed - although I kind of remember the accoms in Quillon being nothing great - although there's a great huge heaving dingy bar in the centre for a beer to end a long day..

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