Udupi: Houseboats at Kemman-Hoode Herald New Chapter in Coastal Tourism
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Udupi, Apr 2: Coastal Karnataka will now be on the world tourist map with backwater tourism taking root at Paradise Lagoons. The spectacular yet uncharted backwaters of Coastal Karnataka were on the spotlight for the very first time with the launch of houseboats at Paradise Lagoons.
The Paradise Lagoon is situated in Kemman-Hoode area of the Udupi district. It is about an hour's drive from Mangalore. This awe-inspiring ridge of land is situated between the Arabian Sea and the River Swarna, bestowing a distinctive character, which is not seen in other backwater locations in India.
The houseboat is approximately 67-feet-long and 13 feet wide. It has a sun deck, spacious living-dining area and two private sleeping quarters. The boat is made of natural, eco friendly materials like bamboo poles, coir, coconut fiber, ropes, and bamboo mats. Solar powered fans, lights and bio-chemical toilets also make the boathouse environment-friendly.
A cruise on the Houseboat offers spectacular views of the swaying palms, glimpses of the Arabian Sea and beaches at certain points and fascinating visuals of the idyllic village life. The Kemman-Hoode area is an ecological wonder and home to numerous migratory birds on the sand reefs as well as shellfish habitats in the shallow waters near Thimman Kudru. The flocks of cormorant, egret, herons, four species of moorhens, water ducks, Siberian storks, purple herons, seagulls, teals, and the different types of kingfishers are a sight to watch.
The houseboat was inaugurated on Wednesday April 2 by Dr C Somasekhara, director of Department of Tourism and P Hemalatha district commissioner was present on this occasion. It was hosted by N D Tiwari, MD, Jungle Lodges and Resorts and Y R Manohar, MD of Paradise Club and Resorts.