Alleppey Travel Guide
Alleppy is one of the major destination spot in Kerala and also known as Alappuzha, it is the oldest planned town in the region. The main attraction of the place is the famous backwaters of Kerala created by a large number of inland canals. Canals are the lifeline of Alleppy and view of the silvery waves of Arabian Sea are mesmerizing. The local language spoken here is Malayalam and Tamil. Every year the famous boat race takes place here. Alleppy also has a long sandy beach. This place is also known as Venice of East. This place was founded by Raja Keshawadasan.
It is the sixth largest city in Kerala. The houseboat cruise here in the backwaters is an wonderful experience for almost all tourists. While cruising on the boats, one can get very good idea of the local lifestyle, fishing, paddy farming and coir making. The beauty of Alleppy is god gifted. Nature has bestowed all its beauty here. On the west is the Arabian sea. There are some vast lakes, fresh water lakes and lagoons here in Alleppy. It is also famous for the coir industry.
Festivals play an important role here. Cheruppu is celebrated in the month of January in the Mulakkal Devi temple with procession of elephants, music and fireworks. Champakulam Boat Race takes place with a 16 km ferry ride on The Moolam Day. The Snake Boat race takes place in the month of August under the Nehru Cup that was originally inaugurated in 1952. The boats are highly decorated and carved rows are rowed by several oarsmen before huge crowds.
How to Reach Alleppey
- Air – Nearest airport is the Cochin international airport. It is connected to major Indian cities and also many international destinations through frequent flights throughout the day. You need to take a car/bus from here to Alleppey (82 km from Kochi airport and 53 km from Kochi town).
- Rail – Allepey is connected to all major cities of India via train through the Alappuzha railway Station.
- Road – It is well connected to adjacent cities by state highways and other cities through National highways. NH 47 connects Alleppey to all major cities of India
Distance of Alleppey from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kochi (Town) |
53 |
|
Thiruvananthapuram |
155 |
|
Bengaluru |
595 |
|
Chennai |
740 |
|
Madurai |
275 |
Weather
Alleppey Temperature
- Summer (Mar to May) – Temperatures are very high and range between (26°C) to (33°C)
- Monsoon – (Jun to Sep) – With heavy rainfall happening at regular basis, this is not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are mild and range between (23°C) to (32°C). Occasional rainfall happens
- Best Time to Visit – Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Alleppey
It is a beautiful beach which has been serving as a prime overseas trading point for Tamil Nadu. Presently it is known for marine products and its coir industry. It is also a well known destination for boat racing. Families wishing to spend nice holiday can have great time availing the various facilities like water cruising and staying in the house boats. Some of the modern day houseboats are equipped with all amenities that make a comfortable and interesting holiday.
Karumadikkutam is famous for the finely designed statue of Lord Buddha. It is carved out of black granite. The place is situated in a village known as Karumadikkuttan. It is believed that this statue belongs to the era 9th to 14th century. Robert Bristow, an Engineer from England discovered the idol.
Alleppy is the starting point of backwater boat trips to Kollam, Changancherry, Kottyam and Kochi. It is one of the most important tourist attractions. Houseboat cruise in the backwaters is one of the most beautiful experience. The backwaters here make the place to be called as Venice of East.
Mullakkal Bhagavathy Temple is one of the most well known temples of Alleppey. It is also known as Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple. The temple is a good exemple of Keralite architecture. Statue of Goddess Durga has four arms and in regional parlance referred to as ‘Mullakkal Devi’ or ‘Mullakkal Amma’. A robust wall surrounds the temple. There is a lily pond in the vicinity. The garden around the temple has many green trees and fragrant flowers like jasmine. This makes the atmosphere quite salubrious. The temple is open to people of all religion and caste.
Located about 11 km from Alleppey, Marari Beach is situated in a small town called Maraikulam. The surroundings are beautiful and serene. One can spend hours just gazing at the vast ocean. Sunrise and sunset views from the beach are ecstatic. Water is clean and safe favoring a refreshing swimming experience.
It is one of the largest lakes in India. It is a cherished spot to provide the wonderful experience of being in close proximity with the nature. Boat ride facilities are availed at hourly or diurnal basis. For those who wish to have some backside cum lakeside experience, it is advisable to book an overnight cruise
It is a very ancient temple, globally acclaimed as a place of pilgrimage especially for the worshippers of serpent gods. It finds reference in the Sanskrit poem Mandara Salodayam by Namboodiri. It has the distinct identity of being one of the very few places where main deities are snake Gods. The ambience is ecofriendly, welcoming and salubrious.
Krishnapuram Palace is a major tourist attraction of Alleppey and the Archaeology department has the responsibility of taking utmost care of this edifice. Originally the palace was built for serving as the residence of the Travancore monarchs in the 18th century . Its rooms, corridors and windows have a characteristic touch of Keralite architecture. Presently, the palace has been modified to form a museum. It houses the holy Gajendra Moksam which is the largest mural of Kerala, that portrays an elephant in a saluting position before Lord Vishnu. The museum has several other beautiful paintings, antique pieces, brass coins, sculptures, artifacts. The palace complex has a nicely landscaped garden, with many floral species indigenous to the lands of Kerala. Recently, a Buddha mandapam has also been made to enshrine a recently discovered statue of Lord Buddha.
Other Details
What to Do
- Boat rides — Short boat rides for few hours. Double-decked Shikara’s can also be a good option.
- Night stay on house boat — House boats are available on rent across Aleppey. They are fully-furnished and can be rented for days. You can stop to shop for groceries or just stop by someplace you like. It is one of the most famous spots of Aleppey’s tourism.
- If you are traveling in the month of August make sure you do not miss out on the snake boat race on the second Saturday of August. The competition was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952 and is considered to be very prestigious throughout the state.
Where to Eat
Chakara Restaurant —Beach Road. The best Restaurant at Allepey, it is situated on a rooftop to be climbed by a spiral staircase. You’ll be greeted with Keralan and European cuisine made of locally caught fish.
Thaff– SH – 40, Alappuzha, India — Indian bites with an Arabic flavor. Roast-spit chicken and Shawarma are the specialties. The ice-cream is sure to blow you off.
Kream Korner — Mullackal Rd, Alappuzha. This is the most colorful place in town with the food being delicious.
What to Buy
Traditional Keralian jewellery, clothes, bronzeware, fibre crafts and locally popular handicrafts are the things to buy in Allepey.
Get Around
You have lot of options depending on the journey. While you may always avail a bus, there are options like auto-rickshaw and taxi. Alternately, use your foot for moving around the nearby attractions.
Top Destinations - Kerala
– Alleppey
– Kochi
– Kovalam
– Munnar
– Periyar Sanctuary
Popular Tour Plans - Kerala
1-3 Days
1. Munnar (2N/3D)
2. Alleppey (2N/3D)
4-6 Days
1. Ooty-Kodaikanal-Munnar (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Kochi-Munnar-Alleppey-Kovalam-Thiruvanathapuram (8N/9D)
2. Munnar-Alleppey-Periyar Sanctuary-Kovalam-Kanyakumari (10N/11D)
3. Alleppey-Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram (7N/8D)
>10 Days
1. Chennai-Pondicherry-Madurai-Rameswaram-Kanyakumari-Kovalam (12N/13D)