Staying in a houseboat to explore the backwaters of Alleppey is indeed a unique experience.
It boggles the mind to know that the huge lake-like water bodies around the main canal will turn into paddy fields when the water will be pumped out from there to the main canal. This reclaiming of land for Paddy plantation is done twice a year. After the harvest the water is released back and the low- lying paddy field area again gets submerged in the water. Cruising on the main canal at the time when paddy is grown would look even more beautiful (not that it wasn't beautiful at this time). Road access to most of the villages surrounded by small canals and rivers is limited therefore, most of the local people are dependent on water transport and it seems as if every family there owns a boat. It could be a tiny canoe or a medium-sized boat, a big boat, or a Shikara with a motor or with paddles - A car boat, a scooty boat or a bicycle boat . You also see the villagers getting on or off to/from the govt-operated water buses at the jetties built on both sides of the canal almost every 100 m. Sometimes the houseboat or the canoe takes you very close to the houses of the villagers. It is great to see that instead of getting irritated by the stream of tourists almost invading their privacy, most villagers smilingly wave at them.
Blue Jelly Houseboat is indeed luxurious and it surely met or rather surpassed my expectations. Smiling staff, good traditional Kerala food, and the comfortable sitting space in the airconditioned deck made the journey enjoyable. The cruise moves from Noon till 0530 pm and then the next morning from 8 to 09 am. The docking bay has recreational facilities including spa, games room and a swimming pool and this is what makes Blue Jelly Cruises truly special.
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