A house boat is about 60 to 70 feet in length and has a width of around 15 feet in the middle. The boat is made of wooden planks joined and stiched together using coconut fiber ropes. Usually the wood used will be 'Anjili', The roof covering is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. Outside of the boat is painted using cashew nut oil, which acts as a protective coating.

Nowdays, they are mainly used as houseboats for Kerala's ecotourism industry. Connected by artificial canals, the backwaters form an economical means of transit, and a large local trade is carried on by inland navigation. Fishing and fishcuring is an important industry. Houseboat in the backwaters are one of the best tourist attractions in Kerala.