Also known as Alappuzha, Alleppey features the rich coastal splendour of God’s own country, Kerala. The queen of houseboat cruises tagged with tranquil backwaters and sprawling lagoons is the Venice of the East, a bespoke carnival of culture and nature. By Ishani Singh
Alappuzha Beach
The Alappuzha beach is a beautiful place to enjoy sunsets and experience the mighty waves of the Arabian sea. The Alappuzha beach festival is an event annually organised as part of the new year celebration. It also has an old pier, which is immersed in the sea and is over 150 years old.
Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
Built in 15th-17th AD, this Hindu temple has a magnificent display of paintings which depict the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. The payasam offering, a sweet pudding made of rice and milk, is served here and is very popular among devotees.
Alleppey Lighthouse
Built in 1862, it is the oldest lighthouse in Kerala and happens to be a major tourist attraction. Visitors are allowed between 3 pm to 4:30 pm on weekdays at an entry fee of INR 20 for Indian citizens and INR 50 for foreigners.
Kathakali and Kalaripayattu
Kathakali is a traditional Indian dance native to the southern state of Kerala. Tourists can watch a splendid Kathakali performance at ‘Kathakali’, an arts centre which hosts performances showcasing the stylised dance-drama and the famous ‘Kalaripayattu’, which is an Indian martial art and fighting system with its origin in Kerala.
St. Andrew’s Basilica Arthunkal
This tourist attraction is the largest shrine of St. Sebastian in the world. It is also the most famous Christian pilgrim centre in Kerala. The church is open between 5 am and 9:30 pm.
Backwaters
Backwaters are an iconic feature of Kerala’s sprawling tourism and widely spread across Alleppey. Tourists can go for a ride or spend a day in the houseboat to enjoy the scenic imagery of the majestic backwaters.
Getting There
The Cochin airport is located 64 km (north) from Alleppey and the Thiruvananthapuram International airport at a distance of 159 km (south). Buses are available from cities like Bangalore and Coimbatore and rail routes are linked to cities including Cochin, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Bokaro. The Alapphuza railway station is nearest to the city. Boat services through the backwaters to Quilon, Kottayam and Cochin are also available. Tourists can also board the ferry from Kottayam or Nedumudy.
Stay
Cheravally Houseboat
The luxury houseboat is an exemplary choice to experience the tranquil backwaters with a comfortable stay. It offers free Wi-Fi and breakfast along with airport pick-and-drop service and can accommodate up to 12 people. The houseboat is approximately 1 km from the Alappuzha bus stand.
Price starting at INR 17,000 per night
Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere Resort
Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere is a scenic resort located on the backwaters of Vayalar. It also features a luxury Spa, which offers ancient Ayurvedic and modern therapies in a luxurious environment.
Prices starting at INR 10,950 per night
Climate
The climate in the region is moist and hot in summer season and dry in winter months between December to February. The average monthly temperature is 25 degrees Celsius.
For more information related to your travel, you can visit the Kerala Tourism website.
Most popular
Most popular
