ATDC Houseboat, navigating Alleppey's backwaters

ATDC Houseboat belongs to Kerala Backwaters, a river operator founded in 1995 and based in Alleppey, in the heart of Kerala. The company operates a fleet of 15 boats moored on the city's canals, including the Sanchari cruiser, the fleet's largest vessel with a capacity of 40 passengers, which runs daily shuttles between Alleppey and Quilon during the season. It's an option for those seeking to spend one or more nights on Kerala's calm waters, in a format inherited from kettuvallam, the ancient rice barges converted into floating accommodation.

Why choose this houseboat

The format is above all a living experience on the water, rather than a conventional hotel. You follow the boat's rhythm: departure in late morning, slow navigation between rice paddies and villages, mooring at the canal's edge for the night. It's a formula suited to those wanting to understand the river lifestyle of the backwaters without complex logistics: meals, crew and itinerary are all included in the package.

The historic operator, present in Alleppey for nearly three decades, runs a fleet large enough to handle peak season (November to February), when daily departures to Quilon operate at full capacity.

Ambiance and onboard facilities

The boats preserve the codes of traditional houseboats: wooden floors, classic furnishings, elegant curtains. The woven bamboo structure covering the wooden framework gives the cabins a hushed atmosphere, away from the standardized aesthetic of hotels. Itineraries unfold along canals lined with coconut palms, with stops in riverside villages to observe net fishing or rice paddy work.

Onboard services

• Full crew: pilot, sailor and chef present throughout the cruise
• Cuisine prepared onboard by the chef: Kerala specialties featuring locally caught fish and shrimp
• Daily Alleppey-Quilon shuttles during season aboard the Sanchari cruiser (40 seats)
• One night or multi-night options depending on itineraries
• Covered lounges to view the landscape sheltered from the sun

Location

Boats depart from Alleppey (Alappuzha) port, the pivotal city of the backwaters in southern Kerala. Alleppey railway station is just a few minutes away by tuk-tuk from the embarkation point, and Cochin international airport is accessible in 1.5 to 2 hours by road. The city itself deserves a half-day before or after boarding, for its spice market and urban canals.

What to see in the region

The backwaters network extends far beyond Alleppey. To the south, Quilon (Kollam) marks the other end of the major navigable axis. To the north, Vembanad Lake and Kumarakom Island are renowned for birdwatching. Further inland, the tea plantations of Munnar and Periyar Reserve complete a classic Kerala loop.

Preparing your trip to India

Kerala is ideally visited between November and March, outside the monsoon season. A night on a houseboat fits well into a broader itinerary combining the Malabar coast, plantations and southern Indian heritage. To craft your bespoke journey, consult our circuits in India or explore other addresses such as Woodville Palace Hotel for a heritage stopover, or Ranthambore Heritage Haveli to extend the experience northward.