After the color and crowds of Rajasthan, Kerala's backwaters feel like someone pressed mute on India. You hear water against the hull, birds in the palms and the low hum of your houseboat's motor.
Is a Kerala houseboat worth it? Yes, for one or two nights. The best boats have air-conditioned bedrooms, an open deck and a crew who cook fresh Kerala food on board. Start near Alleppey (Alappuzha) or Kumarakom, then add a few days of Ayurveda or a tea estate stay in the hills.
Key facts
- Where to start: Alleppey (Alappuzha) or Kumarakom.
- How long: one or two nights on the houseboat is perfect.
- What to eat on board: fish curry, appam and thoran.
- Pair it with: Ayurveda at CGH Earth SwaSwara or Vaidyagrama, tea country around Munnar, and Fort Kochi.
Kerala calls itself "God's Own Country," and out on the water you understand why.
The Houseboat Experience
Photo: Kunal Kalra / Unsplash
Houseboats (kettuvallam) range from simple to very comfortable. The best have air-conditioned bedrooms, an open deck for long afternoons and a crew who cook fresh Kerala food on board: fish curry, appam, thoran. One or two nights is perfect. Most trips start near Alleppey (Alappuzha) or Kumarakom.
Ayurveda: India's Traditional Wellness
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
Kerala is closely tied to Ayurveda, India's traditional system of medicine. At a serious center, treatment is planned around your constitution (your dosha) by trained Ayurvedic doctors, and it's quieter and more structured than a resort spa.
- CGH Earth SwaSwara: yoga and Ayurveda above Om Beach, just over the border in Gokarna, Karnataka
- Vaidyagrama: a dedicated Ayurveda healing village near Coimbatore, just over the border in Tamil Nadu, for travelers who want a real program
Ayurveda is a traditional practice. If you have a health condition, talk to your own doctor before a treatment program.
Other Kerala Experiences
Photo: Justin John / Unsplash
- A tea plantation stay in the hills around Munnar
- A Kathakali dance performance in Kochi
- A spice garden walk in the Thekkady area
- Fort Kochi's old streets, churches and Chinese fishing nets
Kerala is the soft half of an India trip. For the grand half, read my guide to Rajasthan's palace hotels, or see why India's luxury humbles you. Our India Experience covers Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and Kerala pairs beautifully with it if you have extra days. You deserve a few slow days on the water.
Book a free consultation to explore Kerala.
Destination Guide
Destination Guide
Destination Guide