It is nourished by 44 rivers and a chain of backwaters. Its physiography and its culture are unique. The verdant forests,
pristine rivulets and golden beaches are nature's priceless gifts to Kerala. The State, to a great extent, is still free from the scourges of industrialization . The people of Kerala are
highly conscious of the need to protect the environment. The Kettuvallom (House Boat in Ker
ala) is a large floating structure with high load carrying capacity was a part of Kerala's culture and heritage over the past years. Houseboats could sail harnessing wind energy. For centuries, Houseboat was an important mode of transportation in coastal Kerala just because of its accessibility to the most remote areas. Due to its sheer size and shape, houseboats can carry load, which is more than thrice that of a cargo truck. As time passed, motorized road, rail and air transportation scored over the slow and staid country boat, with people opting for speed over charm. „God‟s Own Country‟ has managed to capture the attention of the international tourism market. Kerala‟s tourism brand is listed among the top 100 brands of India and has been accorded the highly coveted „Super Brand‟ status. Kerala is cited as one of the 50 destinations of a lifetime by National Geographic Traveler, and is also a „partner state‟ to the Wo
rld Tourism and Travel Council. The tourist demand for an experience to get a feel of the Kerala shores brought the Houseboats back to the waters. They were attracted by the simplicity and the originality of the form,
relishing the traditional Kerala cuisine and dishes made out of local fishes, served by the crew members. The tourists
loved the slow and leisurely movement more than the monotonous motion of the mechanized ones.
