Alleppey

Location : Kerala
Tourist Attractions : Karumadikkuttan, Krishnapuram Palace, St. Mary's Church
Local Tongue : Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English
STD Code : (91) - 477
Best time to Visit : August to March


About Alleppey
Alleppey or Alappuzha is a pleasant little market town consisting of a number of islands surrounded by a network of lakes, lagoons and water bodies, thus making it one of the most bewitching backwater destinations in Kerala. Housing silvery beaches lined with swaying palm trees, this tiny heaven is packed with umpteen tourist attractions that make it hard to forget even after your dream vacation is over. Alleppey is also home to a varied species of plant and animal life. 

Alleppey has always occupied an important place in the maritime history of Kerala owing to its proximity to the sea which makes it easily accessible to merchants and traders from across the world through the sea route. The place subsequently became the hub of coir making industry with the establishment of the first coir factory by a British captain. 

Climate & Best time to Visit
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid with not much difference in temperature during the summer (22 to 35 degrees) and winter (18 to 32 degrees) seasons. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the winters, it can be visited anytime between August and March. 

Tourist Attractions in Alleppey
Karumadikkuttan
Just 3 km outside Alleppey, Karumadikkuttan is a tiny village and an important Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The place houses a large centuries old black granite statue of Lord Buddha. 

Krishnapuram Palace
The 18th century palace of the Travancore kings is situated 47 km from Alleppey. Built in a unique Keralan style of architecture, the palace houses a collection of miniature paintings, bronze statues, antique furniture and beautiful sculptures. The most famous is the statue Gajendra Moksham, which is the largest of its kind in the state. 

Ambalapuzha Temple
Ambalapuzha, situated 12 km south of Alleppey is known for its religious shrines including the famous temple dedicated to Lord Krishna which is known for the milk porridge 'prasadam' served here. An ancient image of Lord Buddha is situated near by, from the times when Buddhism was at its peak in the region. 

St. Mary's Church
One of the oldest churches in India, the St. Mary's Church is believed to have been set up by St. Thomas. Situated in Champakulam, the church is known for its annual fest which falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. 

Things to Do
Backwater Cruise
Alleppey is known for its enchanting backwaters concentrated around the Vembanad Lake. Luxury houseboats are available to take the tourists on a journey of a lifetime through the enchanting backwaters. Gently sail in a houseboat and witness the laid back lifestyle in God's own country, flocks of ducks swimming, colorful birds painting the skies and golden sands reflecting the rays of the sun...paradise could not be any closer. And once you are done with the backwater experience, more repose awaits you at the beach where you can lie down and feel the velvety sand press behind your back as we serve you a cold glass of your favourite beverage. 

Shopping
While Alleppey promises a unique experience in each aspect, shopping through its bazaars is also a completely different experience. Amongst the things most in demand are the coir products, which being locally produced also have the advantage of cheap price tags on them. Besides, shopping in Alleppey is also a great place to interact with the locals and get to know the local culture. 

Eat Out
South Indian cuisine is probably most different from that available in any other part of the world. Dishes like dosa and sambar are a must try as also coconut water, which besides being an excellent thirst quencher is also a great energy booster. Freshly fried banana chips in different flavours are also available. Some of the good places to eat in Alleppey are Indian Coffee House (Mullakal Road), Hotel Aryas for vegetarian food, Hotel Rajas for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, Sree Durga Bhawan for dosas and the Vembanad Restaurant for excellent veg and non-veg food. 

Stay At
A place blessed with immense natural beauty, Alleppey or Alappuzha draws thousands of tourist every year to its pristine locales. Alleppey boasts of numerous tourist attractions that include enchanting backwaters, sun kissed beaches, ancient churches and charming colonial structures. Being one of the most important tourist hot spots of Kerala Alleppey houses a number of excellent hotels such as Punnamada (4 star, situated 4 km from boat jetty, 8 km from railway station and 4 km from bus stand), Keraleeyam Home and Ayurvedic Resort (3 star, situated at Thathampally), Vaikudam House Boat (3 star), Kayaloram Lake Resort (3 star, situated at Punnamada, 85 km from airport, 10 km from railway station & 4 km from bus stand), Sauver Nigam House Boat (3 star, situated close to the beach), The Marari Beach Resort (3 star, situated at Mararikulam, 15 km from railway station & 12 km from bus stand), Rainbow Cruises (4 star, situated at V.C.N.B. Road), Alleppey Beach Resorts (3 star equivalent), Coir Village Lake Resort (4 star, situated at Thirkunnapuzha 10 km from railway station and bus stand) and Alleppey Prince Hotel (3 star equivalent, situated on A.S. Road 4 km from railway station and bus stand).

Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is located at Kochi (Cochin) which is well connected to other parts of the country through regular flights. From Kochi, you can hire a taxi or board a bus to reach Alleppey. Another airport is located at Trivandrum.

By Rail : Alleppey is connected to rest of the cities by trains, which is also an excellent way to experience the natural beauty of the state. 

By Road : A good network of roads link Alleppey with other cities in Kerala and neighbouring cities. Buses operate regularly between Alleppey and other major Indian cities. 

Ferry Boats : This is probably the most interesting form of transport that you may not find in most of the other parts of the world. Alleppey is connected by ferry services to other cities in Kerala including Kottayam, Kollam, Kumarakom and Changanasseri. 

Local Transport : Local transport in Alleppey mainly consists of Buses, Taxis and auto-rickshaws. Taxis can also be hired to take you to various attractions inside the city. 

Distance from Major Cities

• Kochi : 64 Km
• Trivandrum : 150 Km
• Kottayam : 23 Km
• Kollam : 229 Km
• Kozhikode : 206 Km
• Delhi : 2145 Km

Kerala Backwaters

Location : Kerala, South India
Best time to Visit : Throughout the Year
Made of : A network of lakes, lagoons and 44 rivers

About the Backwaters
Kerala is often sobriquet God's Own Country and that's not for nothing as it is home to some of the most exotic locales on the planet replete with breathtaking natural beauty and amazing features. One such tourist magnet is the captivating beauty of the backwaters. Imagine yourself in a houseboat replete with all the luxury facilities that enhance your experience of feasting your eyes on the enchanting surroundings. Gently sway past lush fields and sandy beaches lined with palm trees as you witness a world that is totally unlike what you would have seen before. 


The backwaters are a network of lakes, lagoons, estuaries and over 44 lakes surrounding the coast of Kerala. The backwaters spread to thousands of kilometers with over 900 of that being navigable, serving as important trade routes for traders and navigators since centuries. The backwaters stretch almost to the entire length of the state from Cochin in the north to Kollamin the south. Kettuvallom, a traditional type of houseboat is a popular means of navigating the waters while modern constructions meant for tourists are replete with the most modern amenities such as rooms with attached bath, a living room, platform etc. An interesting thing about the boats is that these are constructed without using even a single nail. 

Do Not Miss
The backwaters are believed to have been formed in 1866 AD when floods from the neighbouring sea engulfed the area. The backwaters since then became an important means connecting the scattered areas and are still the only means of local transport. Several cities in Kerala offer exciting backwater cruise options. Lake Vembanand is the largest of them measuring around 83 km in length. Ashtamudi Lake and the backwaters of Allapuzha, also known as the 'Venice of the East' are other popular backwater destinations in Kerala. 

Other Attractions in Kerala
Kerala Beaches
The beaches of Kerala can compete with the best in the world, especially when talking of a laid back and relaxed atmosphere. The beach resorts are fine heavens of peace and tranquility that take you into another completely different world of easiness. Witness the breathtaking natural beauty, take a gentle stroll or just stretch your legs and sip on a cool coconut water drink.

Ayurveda Resorts
Ayurveda is the ancient art of wellness, practiced in India since the ancient times. The art has lived on through the times and exercised with absolute dedication at Kerala, perhaps more so than anywhere else on the planet. Numerous ayurveda resorts all over the state offer special ayurveda holiday packages for the tourists. Experience the rejuvenating and revitalising effects of Ayurveda at Kerala. 

Stay At
From heritage hotels to tree houses, you can experience it all at Kerala. Some of the best accommodation options at Kerala include Golden Water Retreat (Heritage hotel at Kumarakom), Hotel Taj Malabar (Deluxe hotel at Kochi), Coconut Lagoon (Ayurveda resort at Kumarakom), B-Six Holiday Resort (Tree houses at Munnar) and The South Park Hotel at Thiruvananthapuram. 

Getting There
By Air : Kerala is well connected to other cities in India and the world through its three airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Cochin, with the one at Thiruvananthapuram also being an international airport receives flights from overseas as Colombo, Maldives, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Singapore etc. Domestic flights are available to and from major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai etc. 

By Rail : Railway stations are located at nearly all the big and small cities of Kerala connecting it to other major cities in and outside the state. Trains are also available to and from destinations as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. 

By Road : An extensive network of well built roads criss cross the entire state connecting it with the rest of the country. Major national highways passing through the state are NH 47, 17 and 49.