g from house boat, triggered me to write. Our whole trip was planned by Guruju Travels; contact was Kanika (8130638792). From the very start of the planning, she was extremely helpful and communicative in planning, accommodating my suggestions. She also involved her team to book flight tickets as well. My overall tour was fantastic, everyday check from this team's Rekha if all were fine, added more confidence. Hotels offered were quite good. At Munnar we were in Blu Haze, which I found clean and services were also good; except not allowed to use bath tub. View from room balcony was just awesome. At Thekkady, we were in Spingdale Heritage, a 5 star, hotel and services were very good, as expected from this kind of hotel. From there we moved to Allepey. Coming to this in later discussion. We had one car and driver from Cochin to Cochin. Driver was good and acted like a local guide. But car quality could have been better, specially seat covers need a change. But driving, professionalism and timeliness was at per. Coming to Allepey - we reached there at around 1:15 PM on 24-Jan. Boarded a very nice, cosy, clean Whiterose boat, having two ACs - one at bedroom and one at the drawing room. We had this boat booked for us only, not sharing. Stay on boat, roaming around lake, buying fish everything was fine, specially the cook "Siddhartha" Jeta was a very humble and nice person by heart. We had arrangement to stay in the boat that night. Both lunch and dinner were served just as expected, nice. But in the boat TV was not working, not even the music system - which is not good, but we managed. The boat driver, Ajay, left the boat after parking it to shore at 5 PM. Only the cook was with us. At around 11:30 PM we went to sleep in the boat. We slept in the room, locking it from inside and the cook slept in the drawing room. The worst, frightening and life-threatening experience starts at 6 AM next day morning, where we all including the cook was sleeping inside the boat. At around 6 AM in the morning, I was forced to awake by sound made by some people on the door of our room. When I opened the door, people were shouting, which at first glance I could not understand. One of them says "save your life", then I sensed something wrong. My wife and son (5 years old) were in deep sleep. I just called my wife and took my son and rushed to step out of the boat. There were lot of villagers outside and I handed over my son to them. Then came back to room to pack the bags, whatever I could, with the help of some other villagers, saved most of my luggage. But my wife got trapped and she was literally rescued by one villager and the cook. Thanks to the nearby villagers, who could sense from outside that our boat was sinking and they called other villagers to rescue us !! This event still annoys me after 2 weeks also, just thinking that if this incident happened at 4 AM instead of 6 AM in the morning, then there were no one to sense this issue from outside and rescue us. Then what would have happened to us !! Specially when my 5 years son was also inside the boat. We lost some of our important belongings, like Sony Camera Battery + Charger, Mobile Charger, Some dresses of my son, and some other small stuffs ! While these are something we surely did not want to loose, my concern is the safety ! We spent another 30 minutes there with the villagers, who were kind enough to console us, provide hot teas etc. Boat owner came there, but did not speak to us. We called the cab driver and started for Cochin, our next destination. On the way we called Rekha, the Guruji Travels contact and told about this incidence and requested her to talk to Cochin hotel, Elliot Pallazo, for the possibility of early check-in. Not sure whether she understood the life-thretnening experience we just passed through. She was checking whether we were offered any other boat to board, whether we were offered for breakfast etc - I know she was going by rule book, may be her duty. Anyway - after some time she called to confirm that hotel will give us one waiting room and then at scheduled time of check-in at 11 am, we will officially check-in. Unfortunately, when we reached the hotel, we were asked to wait in lobby and at 10 am they did official check-in and at the same time told us that as it was 1 hour early check-in we have to check-out 1 hour earlier next day at 10 am !! We checked-in and informed Rekha and asked if she can talk to hotel to allow check-out at 11 am next day, as our flight back to Kolkata was ar 3:30 PM next day. She in turn called me at night and said she could not manage yet and she will continue trying. Next morning, no call from her and we had to check-out at 10 am only. Then at around 10:40 am, Rekha called me to inform that we could stay till 11 am !! I encountered her that she could inform us earlier before our check-out, she said I did not pick up her call and she can send screen shot of her mobile. That's absurd !! [Sorry to use this word] After reaching Kolkata on 26-Mar night, next day morning Rekha again called me to ensure whether we have reached safely. Thanks for that. After 2 days she called me to inform two things, which raises question - 1- She got information from boat that there was a collission with one Govt boat and that's the reason of this mishap. I instantly replied saying that I stayed in the boat from 1 pm Saturday thru 6 am Sunday and there were no collission happened. Then is this collission happened earlier that we boarded? If so, why this was not checked ? Why people have not ensured that boat was in correct condition? If anything happened to us, who would have taken the responsibility ? Guruji Travels ? As they have suggested me for White Rose houseboat as the best boat in the lot !! 2- She also mentioned she have got information that after the incidence, we were offered for another boat and breakfast; which I already have mentioned earlier that even while boat owner was present there but did not bother to exchange a single word with us !! So, this information is complete false statement. After this discussion, I told Rekha that I would like to talk to Kanika, who was the person to whom I always communicated for planning this trip and she was very communicative. But of my surpise, even after 11 days of this incidence, Kanika did not bother to just make a call to my number !! This is completely unexpected. I want to end this writing with some questions - 1 - Guruji Travels, Kanika in specific, suggested White Rose boat - after this incidence, can I be helped to understand who was checking for our security and safety ? Is Guruji owning this responsibility ? 2 - This is an accident I agree. But what is the compensation of the mental shock, loosing of some important belongings? Even Guruji Travels could not arrange a room in Cochin hotel for us temporarily and we had to wait in lobby. They even could not extend our check-out time for 1 hour only. So, what is the compensation ? 3 - Travel Triangle being the main vendor, has Guruji Travels contacted Travel Triangle to inform about this incident, at all ?

we bought package with you .My husband also told me it was very good arrangement by mr. ashraf thanks ashraf for planned kerala tour for us I would defiantly recommend others

hraf all over trip was very good excellent will connect you with future trips .

was well strategized and memorable trip. Thank you travel triangle.

r Ashraf for giving me wonderfull service.

y excellent munnar hotel and houseboat stay was very good driver was very polite thanks Ashraf we will contact you in future

dirt and salt water .

ays in touch for any queries and support and overall it was nice summer

we have booked bus tickets at 9pm so very dissapointed with him again we Book a hotel for half day , it is extra expense for us So pls informed to driver has to show all sightseeing places

you

eautiful scenic stay at boat house. Neatly chaked itinary. Well organized trip. Highly recommend.

m J Square Holidays.

es related to cab driver timings and availability. That was a bad experience though. The person who have given the quotation should be available till the tour plan gets over. In our case another person came into existence who doesn’t respond like the before person who has promised for a good tour plan.