Alleppey / Alappuzha (Kerala)

Hotels in Alleppey

Hotels & Resorts in Alleppy

Map of Kerala

Alleppey - Criss-crossed by interconnecting canals, Alleppey (the new name is Alappuzha) is a little market town in Kerala. It makes most of its money from coir making, toddy tapping, prawn farming and boat riding on its backwaters. The 'Venice of the East', as the canal town,  has been fondly named, is the gateway to the lovely church town of Kottayam and to Aranmula, famous for its historic Aranmula Snake Boat Race.

Alleppey is a quiet town where the rustle of wet palm fronds on the backwaters, are often the only indication of signs of life. But come August, there is a sense of urgency, a building up of noise, a roar and then entire villages standing up to shout, egging on the oarsmen as they row gustily on the Vembanad Lake. The Nehru Trophy (India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, inaugurated in 1952.) Snake boat Race in August is repeated during the tourist season, titled Tourism Snake boat Race around mid-January.

GETTING THERE :

Kochi (66 km) is the major airport & rail head.  Alappuzha is also linked by rail to Kochi. 

Alleppey is served by frequent ferries from Kumarakom (2 hrs), Kottayam (2 1/2 hrs), Quilon (8 hrs) and Kochi  (3 1/2 hrs).

A one and a half hour drive from Cochin along the national highway, close and parallel to the Arabian sea, also brings you to Alleppey.

Aqua tourism
With the Arabian sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers criss crossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from across the world, this backwater country is also home to diverse animal and bird life. By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today Alappuzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist center, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year. Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad. The rice bowl of Kerala, Kuttanad is perhaps the only place in the world where farming is done below sea level.

Pathiramanal (Backwater)
This little island on the backwaters is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world. The island is accessible only by boat.

Boat races
Alappuzha Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada (2nd Saturday of August) Alappuzha Tourism Boat Race (9th January) Pulinkunnu Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race (last Saturday of August) Champakulam Moolam Boat Race (Moolam day of Midhunam - July) Payippad Jalotsavam (4th Onam day - August/September) Neerettupuram Boat Race (Onam - August/September).