It is a floating vessel equipped with all living amenities including food, safe shelter and protection from all vagaries of weather. The present form of boat is derived from crued form of carved single log of light wood for transportation and navigation in the water logged villages throughout Kerala especially in kuttanad, ored by people in the olden days, Later it was modified and undergone many interesting changes using planks ,joined with copper rivets, coco fibre and coir. Since the size of the boat has increased and more strength required for pushing the boat against the tide ,people started using bamboo poles to push it from the rear end(Amaram)and another bamboo pole with hook to pull from the nose of the boat (Aniyam). Again changes came in the form of roof covered with bamboo mat and bamboo sticks in curved shape, which is called “valavara”. Once upon a time these Valavara Boats were the prestigious, possession of rich and traditional families in Kuttanad.
Not satisfied with this people started making Big Boats (Kettuvallams) for goods transportation Alleppey, Cochin, Cranganous and Baypore ports were very busy and famous for exporting spices coir and coir products, Cashew nuts, wood and wood products etc,. When the road transportation was very limited, all the commodities were transported only through these Boats (Kettuvallams). When the road transport was established in full swing the importance of these vallams diminished and idled. People started thinking to make good use of these vallams in different ways, in the beginning these boats were converted and provided with the living rooms and parlours for use of pleasure seekers. When the timbers become coastly, steel took over its place and vessels like palaces started floating over the back waters of kuttanad, which attracts pleasure seekers over the world. What is more in the anvil is only a guess. Let us wait for innovations.
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