Houseboats are essentially hotels or houses on boats. Tourists can experience living on the water with the same luxury of a hotel on land. Life on a houseboat helps people slow down from the fast pace of city life. The first two destinations that come to mind when talking about houseboats are Srinagar in Kashmir and the backwaters of Kerala. However, there are many lesser-known tourist destinations such as the Sunderbans, Goa, and backwaters of Maharashtra where you can experience living on a houseboat as well.
What does a houseboat look like?
Houseboats in India have two or more rooms with verandas and kitchen space. Most rooms have attached bathrooms and round-the-clock water and electricity supply. They have a wooden roof and the flooring is also wooden. The interior varies and is generally designed like a traditional home of that State.
Destinations where you can find houseboats
1. Sunderbans
The West Bengal Tourism Corporation recently introduced the world’s first wildlife safari on a houseboat in the largest mangrove forest of India. The air-conditioned houseboats cruise through the southernmost part of the Ganga River with mangrove forests on both sides of the river and watchtowers for sighting animals. It’s a unique experience you would not want to miss.
2. Backwaters of Maharashtra
The backwaters of Tarkarli in the Konkan region of Maharashtra have recently introduced houseboat travel. You can enjoy Kerala style overnight stay on the houseboat cruising through the Karli river with palm trees on both sides.
3. Assam
Known for the river Brahmaputra and its tea gardens, Assam also has beautiful houseboats that let tourists witness the beauty of the river. Cruising along the river, tourists will be able to sight the main activities here. Many important tourist destinations fall on the river route.
4. Goa | Houseboat
If you are bored of the beaches in Goa, check out the houseboats of Chapora and Mandovi river. A day cruise in the backwaters and an evening party on the boat is the most sought-after houseboat itinerary. You can also choose private small houseboats. Goan food remains the highlight of the stay. The cruise will take you along fishermen’s villages, monuments, forts, and also enjoy water activities.
5. Udupi
The only backwaters here to be experienced with a houseboat is the Swarna river. This houseboat experience in Karnataka is just like the traditional houseboats of Kerala. The route covers visuals painted by coconut farms, scenic villages, and fields.
Apart from the above, the Ministry of Tourism has identified 8 tourist cruise routes on NW1 and NW2 waterways. These are as follows:
6. Ganga River (NW1)
Major attractions along this route include Kumbh Mela at Triveni, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ghats of Varanasi, Patna city, Sultanganj, Deoghar, and Ganga Sagar.
7. River Brahmaputra
This includes the Guwahati, Tezpur, and Neamati Circuit, with major tourist attractions Kamakhya Temple, Bhuvaneswari Temple, Bishwanath Ghat, and Majuli Island.
Difference between houseboat tourism of Kerala and Kashmir
Dal Lake in Srinagar and the backwaters of Kerala are the two most sought-after destinations for tourists wanting to experience living on a houseboat. However, there are some major differences between the two.
The main difference between houseboat travel in these two states is that luxury traditional houseboats in Kashmir tend to be stationary and docked at the lake. The dal lake is a world of its own. Visitors staying on the houseboat take the beautiful smaller boats called Shikaras to move around the lake. The houseboats in Kerala on the other hand, cruise the area’s lush backwaters and lagoons, offering visitors mesmerizing journeys through historic and remote locations.
Both have a single bed and double bedrooms with kitchen space and a sun deck. The interiors are furnished with traditional wooden furniture of Kashmir and Kerala.
The houseboats of Kashmir will serve guests authentic Kashmiri food such as the mutton rogan josh, yakhni pulao, and famous Kashmiri tea called Kahwa. The houseboats of Kerala serve Keralite cuisine Most houseboats serve complimentary breakfasts, lunches, and snacks through local chains. You can also buy fish locally and get it prepared by the chef on board.
So, the next time you plan a cruise trip does consider these houseboat destinations.
