Alappuzha ( Alleppey ) - Venice of the East

 Alleppey, the hub of Kerala backwaters was rightly proclaimed as the Venice of the East by Lord Curzon.

It is also one of oldest planned cities in the country along  with the distinction of being judged the cleanest town in the country by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in the year 2016. 

Teeming with hundreds of canals, lagoons, lakes and the backwaters, Alleppey ( Alappuzha ) is one of the most visited tourist destinations not only in the state but also the country. 

The uniqueness of the Backwaters is that they run parallel to the Arabian sea coast and its unparalleled and unmatched natural beauty lures millions of visitors every year. 

The Backwaters are what intice the visitors to partake in leisurely glides in a variety of houseboats ranging from the budget friendly ones to those having top class amenities that include beautiful and stately air conditioned bedrooms, living rooms, rooftops, kitchens for self cooking the local seafood fare, if so inclined. The tourism built around this place is mind boggling and includes every luxury imaginable and that too in what can rightly be described as nature's gift to a state that is already bursting with beauty in spades. 

 

Here is some more information to help the visitor while choosing Alleppey for a visit -

District - Alappuzha

State - Kerala 

When to visit - Winter months from October onwards till the month of February

How to reach - 

1. By road -

National Highway, both NH 47 and NH 66 which connect Panvel - Kanyakumari passes through the city. 

8 State Highways connect it to the rest of the state and the country.

2. By Railways - 

Ernakulam - Kayamkulam Coastal Railway Line connects Alleppey Railway Station to major cities in the state and the country such as Amritsar,Bangalore, Bokaro, Coimbatore, Cochin, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Kollam, Mangalore, Mumbai, Trivandrum among others

3. By Airways - 

1. Cochin International Airport, at a distance of 78 kms

2. Thiruvananthapuram Airport, at a distance of 159 kms

3. Calicut Airport, at a distance of 236 kms

4. By Waterways

SWTD boat jetty which connects the village to places that include Chengannur,

Changanassery, Kochi, Kolla m, Kumarakom, Kottayam 

Alleppey is Famous for - 

Alleppey Lighthouse and Museum

Backwater Cruises 

Houseboat Cruises 

137 year old pier 

Alleppey Beach

Marine products and Seafood

Largest lake in the country, Vembanad

Snake Boat Races that include the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race 

Places to stay - 

House boats, village home stays, budget hotels, high end resorts and hotels 

Things To Do -

Cycling,Trekking and Walking along the Marari Beach and the Backwaters

River Rafting 

Beach Combing 

Watching the Scenic Sunsets 

Photography

Climbing the 105 steps of the Lighthouse 

Visiting the Alleppey Museum 

Going for a One - day tour of the town

Ferry rides to the nearby places 

Houseboat Cruises

Ocean view meals 

Savor the village home lunches that include non veg, veg and fresh seafood options 

Drink Toddy, Coconut - Rum 

Cook seafood in the guest house and houseboat kitchens 

Leisurely walk to the village market and the village center

Partake in adventure sports like Kayaking, Canoeing, Camping, Boating 

Get the very famous Ayurvedic treatments for a number of ailments 

Relax and rejuvenate with authentic kerala massages

Picture sources - wikipedia 

www.keralatourism.org

Kovilakam Tharavadu

Kovilakam Tharavadu, a unique piece of Kerala architecture.

the typical Kerala Muslim -styled resort "Tharavadu" overlooks a 9 km stretch of famous Vembanad backwaters, dotted with houseboats and country canoes. Best place to relax and enjoy the silence except an occasional  motor boat.  As night settles in, the shimmering halos of petromax lamps blinking from the canoes of shrimp-catchers, and the soothing lullaby of the lapping waters add to a mesmerizing ambience.

Traditionally styled cottage stands closer to the lake and has open air bathrooms.

Ø All the rooms are provided with traditional Kerala furniture & are bath attached. Ø T.V., Fridge and Cable connections in all the rooms. Ø All rooms are air-conditioned  Ø Round the clock hot & cold water supply  Ø A private dining hall and living room for those who seek privacy Ø Ample Car parking facilities Ø Attendants on call KOVILAKAM lakesidevilla Muhamma, Alleppey, 688 525, Kerala Phone : 0478-2861275, 2861276 Mobile : 94471 51644, Reservation : 0477-2251643 Fax : 0477-2251543 E-mail : kovilakam_resorts@rediffmail.com

Pathimanal Islands , Kumarakom, Sands of Midnight

A small island located in the border of Kottayam-Alapuzha, Pathiramanal is named as "Sands of Night". The island is about 1.5km from the Muhamma boaty jet inside Vembanad Lake. The island is also known as Anatha Padmanabhan Thoppu and was a private island till the late seventies. It was then transferred to the Tourism Department. Though the island is uninhabited now, untill it was under private hands, worker families were residing in the land.

An eco friendly tourist centre, this island can be re3ached by Alappuzha by boat. Pathiramanal island is a bird watchers paradise. The 10 acre island is on the back waters and birds from different parts of the world migrate here. There are about 91 different local birds and 50 migratory birds.

Not just bird watchers but all those who visit this island need to carry camera to capture the different bird species and the scenic beauty of the island.

How to reach Pathiramanal Island:   The nearest airport is Cochin. Nearest Railway station is Alapuzha. One can reach from all the parts of Kerala by road enjoying the scenic beauty all along. One can reach Thanneermukkom or Kumarakom and then reach the island by boat.