Houseboating in SL: Yathra by Jetwing

Posted by T

R usually lets me decide on holiday destinations and venues. I relish travel planning, and am always on the lookout for something unique and exciting. This is how I came across Yathra by Jetwing. It was evident after my first post about it on Facebook, that many people were curious/unaware of this gorgeous offering. So I decided to write about it.

Yathra is a houseboat on the Dedduwa river in Bentota, run by Jetwing. It is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, and is basically a boat docked to a (rather gaudy) boathouse, also owned by the company. The staff on the boat is sparse- just the captain and the butler, and they too are on board only when needed. A security guard sleeps on the boat at night. Intrusion is minimal, so there is a real feeling of privacy. But be warned. It is quiet there. PIN DROP SILENT. So you wouldn t want to, you know, drop any pins.

Its uniqueness contributes to an altogether lovely experience. Dining on the boat s stern, chilling out on the top deck, basking in the coziness of the wooden cabin that is your room, or chatting on the verandah just outside, and enjoying the cool breeze and birdwatching while on cruise in the mornings, you get the feeling of being totally alone. Which is good if you like being alone. Not so good if you run out of things to talk about, so save this for when your relationship is past that awkward stage :) I say relationships, because Yathra is best enjoyed as a couple. Or as a part of a group of four, which is possible as there is a second room on board. You needn t worry about needing to share this space with another couple though, as the boat is given to just one party at a time.