24 hours on a private houseboat : Alleppey's backwaters

It was in the quiet of the early morning, while the city still slept soundly, we (My sister, my kid & I ) finally embarked on our highly anticipated girls adventure to Alleppey (Alappuzha).  As I was getting ready for the take off, a mix of excitement and fear hung in the air. Being our first big trip together as a group of women, questions about safety and concerns played heavily on our minds. We reached Kochin airport that was logistically near (80-100kms) from Chennai and a young driver picked us up on time. Just 2 hours of road trip felt like 8 hours of long journey. Thanks to the driver, the air was filled with tamil songs.

After the long, green drive from Cochin, we finally arrived at Alleppey, the 'Venice of the East.' The excitement of our first girls' trip immediately focused on the majestic houseboat awaiting us. Stepping aboard, it truly felt like entering a cozy, wood-paneled home—except this one floated! This was similar to the houseboat named "IndraPrasta" that we stayed in at Kumarakom with our parents.

Our adventure began as the boat gently pulled away from the jetty, initiating the serene backwater cruising. This was the heart of Kerala, a maze of winding canals, shimmering lakes, and tranquil lagoons. The pace was instantly slow and restorative, a perfect contrast to the city hustle that we'd left behind. Our boat went through the coconut palms, and local children waved from the tiny, vibrant villages. Kumarakom was calm and queit with less houseboats but to my surprise, Alleppey was busy, noisy and the backwaters were filled with numerous houseboats.

The whole experience was mesmerizing, but no one was more delighted than my little travel companion. For my kid, the houseboat was pure magic. It wasn't just a boat; it was a "floating house" with bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining table and a balcony. For sometime, she was glued to the railing, constantly pointing out ducks, kingfishers, and the occasional water snake. Rest of the time, she was running from downstairs to the upper deck. We were offered with good food every now and then. The best part of the day was our tea time in the balcony watching the boat cruise. And the sheer joy of having her own room on the water was a pure joy. She was allowed to steer the boat and that made her feel like a captain. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the simplest adventures—like living on water for a day—create the biggest, most cherished memories. 

 Wrapping us inside the blankets, we, the girls whispered stories to sleep and  the gentle rocking of the boat was a lullaby. The next day started with dress ups and photoshoots. As we went with full board accomodation, the breakfast was also included and prepared by an onboard chef. Every meal included a local Kerala cuisine. This first trip was already proving to be worth every nervous concern, we started to our next stay at Vaikom, on our plan to Visit, Jatayu, Earth's centre - World's largest bird sculpture

Continue reading Day 2 & 3 under Destinations-> Varkala