One of the inceptive sites for backwater cruises, Alleppey also known as Alappuzha is a town in Kerala. A spectacular holiday destination, the city is dotted with cashew plantations, picturesque beaches, tall coconut palms, canals, backwaters and lagoons. All these beautiful features along with scenic tiny houses make Alleppey look like a landscape painted on a canvas.
One of the prime attractions of this place is houseboat cruise, a mesmerizing experience which this city is most popular for. These houseboats may look rough, rugged or unattractive from the outside but are actually quite complacent and pliable from inside. The dense green paddy fields showcase a panorama that never seems to end. Scintillatingly beautiful, Alleppey is a must visit holiday destination of Southern India. Your vacation spent at this place would surely be one of the most cherished ones!
Major Tourist Attractions in Alleppey
- Alleppey Beach – If you are the one who severely needs to unwind yourself and spend some good quality time in soothing surroundings to re-invigorate yourself, then Alleppey Beach is your place. The amazingly beautiful white sand beach has a pier which is believed to be about 137 years old. There is a lighthouse and also some good entertainment options at Vijaya Beach Park.
- Ambalappuzha Shri Krishna Temple – Located 15km south of Alleppey, this temple has gained popularity all over India for daily offering of the mouthwatering sweet milk porridge known as Palapayasam. Built in Kerala style of architecture, this is one of the three most important temples of Lord Shri Krishna in Kerala.
- Krishnapuram Palace – Commissioned by Marthanda Varma, a Travancore Monarch in 18th century, Krishnapuram Palace has typical Kerala style architecture. Narrow corridors, dormer windows, gabled roofs are also characteristics of Kerala style architecture which can be found here. Gajendra Moksham, one of the biggest mural paintings in Kerala is housed in this palace. Also there is a museum showcasing ancient paintings and sculptures.
- Kuttanad – Also known as rice bowl of Kerala, Kuttanad is famous for its extensive paddy fields. Another distinctiveness of this place is that this is the place of lowest altitude in India and farming here is done 4 to 10 feet below the sea level. Inland waterways flow above the level of land here which is a sight in itself. Also there are rich plantations of yam, banana and cassava in Kuttanad.
- Pathiramanal – A small island in the Vemabanad Lake at a distance of about 13km from the main city of Alleppey, Pathiramanal is accessible from Kumarakom and Muhamma only by boat. The scenic beauty of this place is simply spellbinding. Migratory birds from many different parts of the world can also be seen here.
Other important places of tourist interest in Alleppey and close to it include –
- Chettikulanagara Bhagavathy Temple
- Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple
- Arthunkal, Chavara Bhavan
- Edathua Church,
- Sea View Park,
- Vijaya Beach Park,
- Puunapra, Karumadi, etc.
Best time to visit
The months of October to February are the best time to be in Kerala and so is the case with Alleppey. This the time when the weather here is pleasant and wonderful. Tourists enjoy their vacation to the fullest during these months. The months of summers and monsoons should better be avoided if you are planning a trip to Alleppey and wish to make it an enduring one.
Festivals and Fairs
The Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race is a very popular event of Alleppey. Held during the mid of January for tourists, this boat race is an incredible sight in itself. Muscular Malayali men row long serpentine boats in a rhythm and compete for this precious trophy.
How to Reach
By Air – Kochi International Airport is the closest airport at a distance of 90kms from Alleppey. Remaining journey is of about a two hours drive.
By Train – Alleppey has its own railway station which is very well connected to all the major towns and cities of the country.
By Road – National Highway No. 47 connects Alleppey to rest of the country by road so reaching here by road is quite easy. Also there are state and private transport buses plying between Alleppey and other important cities of Southern India including Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Mysore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram etc.
