Gleaming under the Keralan sun, the Spice Coast Cruise, a gem in the tranquil backwaters, unfurls its treasures one ripple at a time. Here, aboard the kettuvallam, time seems to dawdle, syncing with the gentle lull of the Vembanad Lake. The mornings burst with birdcalls and the evenings are a softly dimming pastiche of crimson hues.
As you sit cross-legged on the woven mat of my private deck, sipping on a ginger-infused chai, marvel at the seamless blend of tradition and comfort. The houseboats reshaped from erstwhile rice barges offer an authentic slice of Malayalee life, replete with freshly caught karimeen polished off with a tangy kokum curry while drifting past paddy fields green from monsoon gifts.
The symphony of looms at work in Chendamangalam village creates a soundtrack that’s both hypnotic and heartwarming. It is storytelling through weaves; each thread an echo of an age-old heritage that has survived the rush of modernity. The experience aboard this floating abode is intimate – a rendezvous with nature’s subtleties and Kerala’s culinary wizardry.
By nightfall, the stars sprinkle over the backwaters as the anchor drops quietly near an ancient fisherman’s chapel. In this hushed serenity, one can’t help but feel deeply anchored to this place – where every moment is a discovery veiled by mist and every breeze sings ballads of the Spice Coast.
