Kerala - Alappuzha   

Monsoon showers business on houseboats

PLEASURE TRIP: A designer houseboat for tourists cruises on Vembanad Lake.

Alappuzha: Stay in a houseboat and listen to the music of raindrops falling on the backwaters of Kerala.

The aggressive monsoon tourism campaign launched by the State Government has given a boost to houseboat tourism, turning the off-season into a period of brisk business.

"There was only 35 per cent occupancy in houseboats during the last monsoon, always viewed as off-season. However, bookings are above 50 per cent during this season, already," said the managing director of a resort that has six houseboats.

With the State aggressively marketing the monsoon, and hotels in all prominent destinations offering special packages, the season has turned into boom time for the backwater tourism industry this year.

Even during the peak season, from November to March, the average booking for houseboats was 60 per cent.

With the 10-year-old industry witnessing a boom in the last five years, there are around 300 houseboats operating in the backwaters of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.

With various innovations, the houseboats have come of age to extend star-luxury aboard. Business conferences, honeymoon, marriages, film shooting, writing and even important talks are scheduled in houseboats now.

Compared to three-star lodging in a resort, stay in a good houseboat comes cheaper, prompting visitors to stay afloat up to a month sometimes.

Everyday, the industry reaps about Rs.20 lakhs during the high season, it is pointed out.

"For those who want to enjoy the fury of monsoon, a ride in the rain aboard a houseboat should be an unforgettable experience," says C.N. Sreekumar, professor at S.D. College here who has been studying backwater tourism closely for long.

Vembanadu and Punnamada lakes may look a bit furious in heavy rain coupled with storms as houseboats cut their way through the high tides, but they can indeed present one of the rarest views to the visitors, he said.

Be it a light shower or a downpour, the lakes and rivers have varied looks. The palms on the shores add to the panoramic views of `God's Own Country.'

"Marvellous," remarked Ravikant from Mumbai summing up his feelings after a ride on a rainy day.

However, he said he was a bit nervous in the beginning as the tides were high. But, as the travel progressed, he calmed down and enjoyed it.

The boat operators hope for a better season next time, as this time tourists came without any special promotion by the operators.

However, the State Government has mounted a massive campaign to sell the monsoon with different concepts such as rain walks and Ayurveda treatment. — UNI

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