Unexplored kerala- VI

Alumkadavu


Alumkadavu, a picturesque little village near Karunagapally, hardly 23 km north of Quilon (travel time: 30 min) along the Kayamkulam Lake, has become a hot spot of Kettuvallam building, with more than a hundred people involved.

These huge boats were traditionally used to move tonnes of goods across kingdoms, with a portion, covered with bamboo and coir, serving as a rest room and kitchen for the crew.

A familiar sight on the waters, these vessels are built with planks of jack wood joined together with coir rope and coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels.