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| Canals, lagoons, lakes, rivers, rice paddies, and coconut plantations comprise an area known as Kerala's backwaters. It's a dream place for tourists. They hire houseboats that cruise thru narrow coconut-fringed canals and cross shallow lily-covered lakes. Tourists can cruise anywhere along the backwaters, which stretch along the Kerala coast. It's best to hire a boat from Alleppey because the biggest selection of boats dock there. As usual for India, the costs are always negotiable but a decent rate seems to be 3000 rupees per day (approx $60 US) all inclusive, which is very expensive by backpacker standards yet there's no better way to relax in hectic India. | |||
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| Every tourist has his place and in Kerala it's on a houseboat. | |||
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Hire a private boat, with
cook and driver, and relax in simple luxury on a double bed, bamboo thatch apartment,
in a long canal boat. | |||
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These
tourist houseboats are converted kettuvallams, or rice barges. In place of the
baskets of rice and coconuts, the crew puts down mattresses and wicker furniture. | |||
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| Long, low slung canoes, called chundan vallams
or snake boats, compete in races. A hundred rowers paddle the boat while sitting
under silk umbrellas. | |||