Alappuzha

Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, is a town in Kerala located 70 kilometers south of Cochin ( India ) . It is often called the ”Venice of the East” because of the canals that connect it to the famous Kerala backwaters.

Only in the second half of the 18th century, the fishing village Alappuzha developed under the rule of the kings of Travancore to the city and one of the most important seaports of the empire. The economic importance of Alapuzzhas rose in the 19th century, so in 1859 the first coconut fiber factory Travancores was opened in the city. Thereafter, the development stagnated, however, so that Alappuzha seems rather tranquil and small-town until today.
Alappuzha is especially famous for the annual snake boat race in August for the Nehru Cup, which precedes the Hindu Onam festival. Numerous Chundan – long, narrow and artistically decorated boats with up to 120 oarsmen – vie for victory.

Called the “Venice of the East” for its canals, the city is a popular starting point for backwaters cruises,The Backwaters of Alappuzha are the most popular tourist attraction in Kerala today.

Access : Coordinates:9.49, 76.33 / By rail  : service Alappuzha from Kochi (Cochin), Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bengalooru (Bangalore), Coimbatore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Mangalore, and Kolkata. If you are coming from Hyderabad, you can take the Sabari Express./By bus :
There are bus services operating from Cochin (1:45 hours, ₹45 for KSRTC), Thiruvananthapuram (3.30 hours, ₹110 for KSRTC ), Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore (overnight luxury ?800), Mysore, Coimbatore (overnight ₹250) to Alappuzha./
By car : The entire Alappuzha district is connected by NH 66 , It goes via the Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha and Cherthala cities. Alappuzha is well connected to other major cities like..Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore,

Nearest airports : Cochin International Airport, about 85 km north of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 150 km towards the south.

Get around : By autorickshaw : A Cheaper alternative for transportation between attractions. / By bus : Alappuzha has a cheap and efficient local bus system / By boat : There are ferry services between places, widely used by the locals, which are a scenic way of getting around / By foot : some of the Alappuzha’s attractions are easily accessible by foot.
By taxi : There are car rental companies that offer cars with drivers or self-drive options. Rates often start at around ₹7

Attractions :

•  backwaters : The backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast , A town with canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, Alappuzha was described by Lord Curzon as the “Venice of the East.” Hence, it is known as the “Venetian Capital” of Kerala. In Alappuzha, Malayalam is the most spoken language.
• International Coir Museum , Open 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Mondays, the museum was small, it mainly had two main themes, coir production and stuff made from coir. lots of historical and geographical information in the displays.
• Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple , The temple was founded in 790 by the local Rajas. The temple is set for the worship of Krishna’s murti in the form of Parthasaratha (the chariot Arjuna on the battlefield of Kuruksetra). The deity holds the whip in his right hand, and the shankha in his left.
•  Alleppey Backwaters , The waterways run through a network of villages and palm trees which feels like a floating section of the mainland. Some points to note,Backwater tours generally will last for four hours or so as the boats will traverse across the narrow channels of water.They can make the occasional stops if you want to shop for fish or crabs for dinner and other snacks in one of the local villages. It helps out the local economy too.
•  Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple , Nh | 3 Km from Bus Station, Near Haripad, Alappuzha 688003, The famous Nagaraja temple “Mannarasala” is nestled in a forest glade, like most snake temples.The temple is entirely dedicated for snake God and the temple is filled with idols of snake
• Alappuzha Beach , The beach has a small park nearby. The Alappuzha lighthouse is located near the beach and is also a curiosity for tourists. The place is one of the best locations for local movies. Films like Thashan, Sura etc. were shot here in part.
•  Alappuzha Lighthouse , CCSB Road, Alappuzha, India ,Open : 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm , The Alappuzha Lighthouse is located in the coastal town of Cochin, in the state of Kerala, in India. It was built in 1862 and is an important tourist attraction
•  St. Mary’s Forane Church , Champakulam, Alappuzha, is one of the oldest Christian churches in India Believed to be established in AD 427, It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church under the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. It is a Forane church, with several parishes under it.The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church ating to AD 1151

•  Revi Karunakaran Museum , Revi Karunakaran Museum, XIII/990 A, | NH 47,Near Power House Bridge,private museum houses a huge part of antiques and other beautiful items collected by Revi Karunakaran and his wife.
•  Kathakali , Kathakali is a classical dance and make up session ,form which has its roots in Kerala. Everyday there are Kathakali shows to entertain tourists.
•  St. Andrew’s Basilica Arthunkal , Arthunkal, Alappuzha ,The largest shrine of St Sebastian in the world, the church known as Arthunkal St. Andrew’s Basilica and St. Sebastian’s International Shrine in Arthunkal, constructed by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. It was rebuilt in 1584 under the vicar Jacomo Fenicio.
• Sree Subramanya Swami Temple , Open : 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm , The Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple in Haripad is one of the oldest temples in Kerala, temple dedicated to Subrahmanya Swamy is known as Dakshina Palani , It is the largest Subrahmanya Swami Temple in Kerala
• Andhakaranazhi Beach , Alappuzha-Arthunkal-Chellanam-Thoppumpady Rd, Andhakaranaazhi Beach is located west of the city of Thuravur and is just 10 minutes by car from National Highway 47.Ample parking space, bathroom.Rows of restaurants.
•  Chakkulathukavu Temple , Neerettupuram Village | 12 Km From Thiruvalla, Alappuzha, Located on the banks of the holy Pampa River, this temple has attracted pilgrims all over Kerala and became one of the most popular pilgrim centre of the state.
•  Mullakkal Rajeshwari Temple , Centre Of The City, Alappuzha 688011, The temple is accessible for devotes from all castes and religions.The temple is estimated as almost 500 years old,Located in the middle of the market on the temple road.
•  Pathiramanal Beach , Pathiramanal is a small island in Muhamma panchayat of Alappuzha district , The island is an hour and half drive by motor boat or 30 minutes by speed boat from Alappuzha town, beyond the beach The island is a birdwatcher’s paradise
•  Thottappally Beach , Near Thottappally Spillway, Alappuzha 688561, Thottappally Beach is located in the South of Alleppey, the beach offers splendid views of palm trees and has black sand and the naturally formed land barrier (POZHI) that separates the backwater from the sea .
•  Kakkathuruthu Island (Crow Island), Alappuzha ,Open : 12:00 am – 11:59 pm , a tiny island in Kerala’s tangled backwaters which is accessed only by country boats,Kakkathuruthu island has been listed in National Geographic ‘Around the World in 24 Hours‘, a photographic tour of travel-worthy spots across the world.
•  Kayamkulam Lake , Near Kayamkulam Thermal Power Plant, Alappuzha, a lagoon between Karthikapilly and Panmana with the still water though connected with Arabian sea is a nice spot for boating ,National waterway 3 passes through Kayamkulam Kayal.Kayamkulam boat race is held in Kayamkulam kayal. The race track is 1,200 metres.
•  Edathua Church , Pamba River, Alappuzha, St. George Forane Church, Edathua is the major pilgrim centre of the area. Feast of St. George which is major festival. People from places including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana attend the feast.
•  Kidangamparambu Sree Bhuvaneswari Temple , Near District Court, Kidangamparambu
• Finishing Point Rd, Kidangamparamp, is one of the ancient and primordial shrines in Kerala. The presence of the mighty goddess Sree Bhuvaneeswari Devi makes the temple prominent radiant and lustrous.
•  Chammanad Devi Temple , Near Cherthala Town, Alappuzha, There are two sub temples: 1) Shasta Temple. It is near the E.C.E.K. Union High School. 2) Sri Krshna Temple. The temple belongs to a resident family known as the “Ettu veettil kartha family”, which is functionally now Eight families and their sub families only, along with their recommended members run the temple.
•  Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Temple,Near Cherthala Town, Alappuzha, It is about 1 kilometer west of the Arthungal bypass of NH 47 at Cherthala.Kuttikattu Sree Bhadra Kali Devi Temple is one of the Bhadrakali temples in Cherthala.
•  Kanichukulangara Devi Temple, Alappuzha 688552 , It is believed that this temple was consecrated by a Brahmin who happened to recognize Devi who had reached the shore.

• Thiruvanvandoor Pambanaiappan Temple , Kallissery Thiruvanvandoor Rd, Alappuzha Thiruvanvandoor, It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata.
•  Chavara Bhavan Shrine, East of Ambalapuzha, is the ancestral home of the blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. It is now a holy shrine and spiritual resort where thousands of devotees gather for prayer,
•  National Cartoon Museum and Art Gallery,National Cartoon Museum and Art Gallery dedicated to famous cartonist mr sankar is on nh 66 at krishnapuram near kayalamkulam.
•  Thuravoor Mahakshethram , Nh47, Alappuzha , Thuravoor Mahakshethram is one of the oldest monument temple is located in Chertala. There two shrines, one for Lord Narasimha and another for Lord Sudarshana. Its well connected by road and it’s located close to the national highway, Buses have got stop there
•  Jain Temple, Alleppey, Gujarathi Street | Sea View Ward, The Jain Temple in Alleppey is a place of worship for Jains in the southern Indian state of Kerala,The festival of their temple is called “Parva paryushana” and the same is conducted once every year,The festival lasts for eight days and it is usually celebrated in the month of August–September
•  Adichikkavu Sree Durga Devi Kshetram Temple,Pandanad Village | 4 Km From Mannar Town, The Adichikavu (Adichicavu) Devi temple is situated about 8 kms west of Chengannuru and 4 kms eastward of Mannar.Another great Durga temple situated in Chengannur Amazing architecture and a great place to worship for the devotees of goddess Durga.
•  Saras Exotic Birds Center , see and learn about lots of exotic birds ranging from friendly Macaws to finches…. Iguanas, black swans, emus, fishes add beauty to this place ,
•  St. Mary’s Forane Church Pulincunnoo, One of the best Catholic Syrian Churches in Alleppey district of Kerala, One of the most picturesque places in Alleppey. Used in the movie vinnaithandi varuvaya. Very quiet town in Alleppey. 30-minute drive from Alleppey.

Activities : Backwaters cruises -Venice of East Tours / visit the traditional cultures and events / Cochin tuk tuk tours / Private Guided tuk tuk tours with Pickup from Cruise Ships / Eco Trails Kerala / boating on small foam boat used by Kerala fishermen and even fishing expeditions /

/ Birdwatching in Pathiramanal island / Vijay Beach Park / Sea View Park / Houseboat Touring , houseboat cruise along the backwaters can be a great way to see and do all that is available in Alappuzha

Events : annual Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race,This is held every second Saturday of August. The competition is named after Jawaharlal Nehru, who founded it in 1952. /

Go next : Edathua / Explore : Central Kerala / kerala backwaters /  Central Travancore  / Cochin