KOCHI: Want to have a backwater cruise at reasonable rates? Come to Kumbalangi. The Kumbalangi Model Tourism Society is going to launch a houseboat of its own. In spite of being blessed with the vast stretches of serene backwaters which are ideal for a cruise, the locals never came up with the idea of launching a houseboat service.“Every year a large number of domestic and international tourists visit Kumbalangi and enjoy the beauty of the village. Most of them look forward to a backwater cruise as well,” said M P Sivadathan, president, Kumbalangi Model Tourism Society (KMTDS).“We have been getting inquiry on availability of houseboats ever since the tourists started arriving at Kumbalangi. This prompted the society to launch a houseboat of its own,” Sivadathan said. “Presently, tourists visiting Kochi including those who come by luxury cruise vessels, have to travel to Alappuzha to enjoy a backwater cruise. Most of the cruise line passengers visit Kumbalangi and ask for houseboat services. It would be better if we can provide the facility in Kumbalangi itself. We have been getting queries from the domestic tourists as well. We are focusing on cruise boat passengers and domestic tourists,” he said.Meanwhile, V J Michael, a member of KMTDS, who runs a homestay in Kumbalangi has already launched a one-bedroom houseboat which offers service at comparatively cheap rate. Our charge for 24 hours is `5,000 and this includes food as well. We are mainly focusing on honeymoon couples. The bedroom has bath attached and also boasts of a kitchen. The boat is available on hourly basis as well,” Michael said. However, he said that the boat will not be conducting service beyond Perumpadappu. ‘’The boat will be plying in backwater in and around Kumbalangi only,” he said.
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