Alleppey is one the most sought after tourist destinations in Kerala. Popularly called the 'Venice of the East' Alleppey is now called Alappuzha. Visitors are greeted with the scenic sight of crisscross canals and lagoons and the inviting houseboats cruising through the calm waters.

 A lot of tourists head towards Alappuzha to see the world famous snake boat race which is held on the second Saturday of August every year. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race had started back in 1952. Alleppey is also a major trade centre for trading in Coconut oil, Ayurvedic Products, Copra-the dried coconut meat and Coir products. With the benefit of a long stretch of coast, Alleppey also is a host to trading of fishing and marine product's business. With Alleppey as the base, one can plan excursions to a lot of places nearby. Besides sight seeing there are lot of activities like trekking, hiking, boat cruises etc.that one can engage in. A cruise on an elegant houseboat offers a rare chance to view the picturesque dense palm groves. Alleppey can without a doubt be termed as one of the best Backwater tourism destinations in God's Own Country.

	Houseboat, Alleppey
	Image By Flickr User marc-staub Used under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License

Alleppey is the hub for backwater tourism in Kerala. House boats locally called "kettuvallam" are available on hire on a daily basis as well as for longer duration to take visitors on the old waterways. These house boats in general have 2 bed rooms and attached bath rooms. Some of the boats have the bedrooms fitted with airconditioners. A routine trip includes food cooked on board in the traditional Kuttanad style. The leisurely cruises show a microcosm of life on the water side with breath taking views of the water, land, birds and human habitations.

Carved out of erstwhile Kottayam and Kollam (Quilon) districts, Alleppey district was formed on 17th of August 1957. The name of the district Alleppey, in the anglicized form was changed as Alappuzha

Best For:

The Backwater Cruise  
A backwater cruise in Alleppey is a unique experience. Most of the backwater destinations in Kerala is connected through the network formed by the crisscrossing lakes and water bodies.

The climate in Alleppey is usually humid and temperate. However the climate is pleasant during the winters.  The temperature ranges between 22 to 35 degree C during the summer and between 20 to 32 degree C in Winters. However it's best to plan a visit to Alleppey during the months from August to September and February-March.

No permits are required to travel to Alleppey, other than a valid visa for India.

Houseboat Boat / Motorboat: Alleppey is linked by boat services through the backwaters to  Kumarakom, Quilon and  Changanassery,   Kottayam, Chengannur Cochin, Kavalam and Kuttanad.

Pathiramanal: Located near Kumarakom, it is a beautiful little island in the Vembanad Lake which is the largest lake in Asia. Pathiramanal lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom and is accessible only by boat. Starting from Alleppey, it takes an hour and half to reach here by motorboat. Alternately, speed boat can also be availed to save on time. The speed boat takes only half an hour to commute.

Sri Krishna temple:  To reach the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple,  one would have to travel 15 km south of Alappuzha. The temple is built in traditional Kerala style architecture. It is indeed a memorable experience to travel in a boat through the typical temple architectural style of the Kerala. This temple is also known for a sweet milk porridge 'payasam' offered as Prasad.

Karumadi Kuttanm : The village of Karumadi is famous for its Karumadi Kuttanm a black granite figure of Buddha, said to belong to the 9th or 10th Century.

St. Andrews Church, Arthinkal: At a distance of about 25km is Arthinkal, famous for an ancient church which was established by the Portuguese missionaries way back in  1951. The locals usually gather here for the feast of St. Sebastian which is held every January.

Champakulam church:
This ancient church was established by St. Thomas, who had established 6 more churches in Kerala. On every 3rd Sunday of October there is an annual feast at this church.

Krishnapuram Palace ; This 18th Century  Palace is a popular tourist attraction. It is 45 km away from Alleppey. This Palace was built during the reign of the Travancore King, Marthanda Varma.

Mannarasala: 32 km away from Alleppey (Alappuzha), Mannarasala is usually thronged by devotees for serpent worship. It is said that this temple contains 30,000 images of snake-gods lining the path to the temple.

The Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple : A lot of devotees visit the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple  as they believe that the temple has powers to grant wishes and also cure diseases.

Kottamkulangara Mahavishnu Temple and Devi Temple: It is usually during the festivals that a lot of devotees visit these temples.

Where To Eat:

The authentic Kerala dishes comprising of rice, fish and spicy curries is usually served in the traditional style on a plantain leaf. There is both Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food to choose from. Most of the restaurants serve traditional Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine. However, do not forget to gulp as much Coconut water as you can to quench your thirst and you can always carry along the Banana chips and Jackfruit chips back home. 

Where To Stay:

With various options available for accommodation in Alleppey one can choose a hotel depending on ones budget. Ideally, it is suggested that one makes reservation well in advance(online). Some of the Hotels in Alleppey include Grand Nirvana Lake resort , Lake Palace Resort , Coir Village Resort , Marari Beach Alleppey , Hotel Arcadia Regency ,Keraleeyam Heritage Resort, Lake Palace Alleppey, Alleppey Prince...A room overlooking the lush scenery would be an icing on the cake. You can also consider resorts which offer Ayurvedic treatment to add to your relaxing holiday experience.