Alumkadavu

Alumkadavu is a quiet backwater village located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake in Karunagappally, Kollam district. It is renowned as the birthplace of Kerala's traditional Kettuvallam houseboats, where craftsmen continue to build these vessels using age-old techniques without nails. The village offers visitors a glimpse into traditional boat-building heritage and serene backwater landscapes.

Visitors can witness traditional houseboat construction at local boat-building yards, observing craftsmen assemble wooden hulls using jack wood and coir ropes. The village features calm backwater scenery with coconut-lined canals, paddy fields, and fishing villages. Visitors can take canoe rides or short boat tours through the waterways, experiencing the laid-back rural lifestyle of the region.

Alumkadavu is historically significant as the place where the first Kettuvallam houseboats in India were crafted. Traditional boat-building techniques using wooden planks tied with coir ropes without nails have been practiced here for centuries.

The village represents Kerala's traditional boat-building heritage and coir manufacturing culture. It showcases the craftsmanship involved in constructing Kettuvallams, which were originally used for transporting rice and spices before being adapted for tourism.