Alappuzha Travel Guide

 
by FlyingDutchmen
 
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    by FlyingDutchmen
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Explore Alappuzha

Things to Do  

Backwaters Part 1

Backwaters Part 1, Alappuzha

 Avieira67 Says:  Of course this depends on you, but if you wish to meet locals and to travel like a local don't hesitate to take a public boat. They go everywhere and are frequent. I arrived in Kottayam by train, and from there I took public boat to Alappuzha. I was informed this is the most... 

Backwaters Tour - Goddess of Light

Backwaters Tour - Goddess of Light, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  As we neared Kollam, and so neared the end of our Backwaters Tour, we passed by this rather surprising and revealing statue of the Goddess of Light on Ashtamudi Lake. She's bearing quite a lot to the world! 

Backwaters Tour - Fishermen

Backwaters Tour - Fishermen, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  We went past this group of fishermen on a boat who waved at us as we passed by. The Backwaters is big business for fishermen and you'll get to see a lot of them and fishing boats as part of your tour. 

Backwaters Tour - Chinese fishing nets

Backwaters Tour - Chinese fishing nets, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  I had seen these Chinese fishing nets in Kochi and thought they were only to be found there, so it was a big surprise to see them along the river in the Backwaters. We went past a whole load of them, in a line either side of us, as we passed by some kind of power station... 

Backwaters Tour

Backwaters Tour, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  I did my Backwaters Tour from Alappuzha (Alleppey) to Kollam and it was a fabulous day out. We left Alappuzha at about 10am and made our way south past lush vegetation of coconut trees and palm trees and people crossing the river on small ferries and coracles. Daily life all... 

Mullackal Rajarajeswari Temple

Mullackal Rajarajeswari Temple, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  This nice temple is located right in the middle of town. The presiding deity is Goddess Rajarajeswari who, according to legend, is believed to have appeared at the site many times to care for a jasmine plant. 

Canal

Canal, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  This is the main North Canal in Alappuzha and is where you can catch the Backwaters Tour boat to Kollam (Quilon). This is also where you can take the public ferry to Kottayam from (see transportation tips). 

Vembanad Lake

Vembanad Lake, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  Vembanad Lake is located about 1km east of the town and is where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race takes place. Every year during the second Saturday of August, thousands of people throng to this place to witness the breathtaking boat race. The lake is India's longest at... 

Hotels  

Punnamada Backwaters Resorts

 1 Review and 65 Opinions  I stayed in this resort for 1 day and a night. Apart from that I have been to this hotel 5 times.... 

Arcadia Regency Hotel Alleppey

 1 Review and 48 Opinions  I was not very impressed with my stay at this hotel. The initial impressions are very good - a very... 

Restaurants  

Backwaters Tour - lunch: Served on a banana leaf

Backwaters Tour - lunch: Served on a banana leaf, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  We stopped for lunch, on our Backwaters Tour, at a very simple looking place where we were served veg curry, rice, samosa and fish on a banana leaf. There was an palm oil factory nearby which we had a quick look around before we set off again. 

On my houseboat: Seafood

On my houseboat: Seafood, Alappuzha

 alycat Says:  With an overnight stay on the houseboat and a customised kitchen, had all the 3 meals of the day on the boat, didnt venture out in any of the restro's in town, and with a chef on call 24/7, I jus had exactly what I wanted. Pearl spot fish much recommended, deep fried and... 

Kream Korner: Disappointing

Kream Korner: Disappointing, Alappuzha

 PierreZA Says:  As this restaurant is mentioned in the South India Lonely Planet, I thought of giving it a try. I went there fro breakfast (about 10h00am). The waiter was very friendly and helpful, but unfortunately the food did not arrive after waiting for 30 - 40 minutes. There were no... 

Transportation  

Travel by bus

Travel by bus, Alappuzha

 PierreZA Says:  I traveled by bus from Trivandrum to Alleppey during October 2008. For as little as Rs300 you can travel with an AC bus, which is very comfortable. The trip took about 3 and a half hours. It is best to book a day or two in advance. I initially wanted to travel by train, but... 

Public ferry to Kottayam

Public ferry to Kottayam, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  There are 5 daily public ferries that go to Kottayam between 7.30am and 5.30pm. The one I took was at around 10.30am but check the times where you're staying. The ferry trip takes around 2.5hrs and costs just Rs10 so it's an absolute bargain as it's a cheaper alternative... 

Local Customs  

Backwaters Tour - Coracles

Backwaters Tour - Coracles, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  Coracles are flat basketlike craft used to ferry people & sheep (yes sheep!) and are about 6 feet in diameter. They are made of bamboo, cane, plastic sheets and a fine coating of bitumen to make it leak proof. They're used, here, for fishing as well as to get from one side... 

Kettuvallam

Kettuvallam, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  The Keralan name of the house boats you'll see all around Alappuzha and the Backwaters are known as Kettuvallam - in the Malayalam language "kettu" means tying and “vallam” means country boat. A kettuvallam is about 67 feet in length and has a width of around 13 feet in the... 

Life around water

Life around water, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  Alappuzha (Alleppey) is surrounded by water and so it figures predominately in local people’s lives. You'll see them fishing, washing and transporting goods on it and one of the best ways to see this up front is by taking the public ferry to Kottayam. 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Food poisoning

Food poisoning, Alappuzha

 englishchris Says:  If you decide to go on a houseboat then beware the food.We met two couples who went on separate houseboats and both got food poisoning.You are at most risk if the staff wash the utensils in the river / lake water, or use it in the cooking. 

Tourist Traps  

Think Carefully

Think Carefully, Alappuzha

 englishchris Says:  Houseboat Tours are the popular thing in Alleppey, and they are very popular. However there are significant drawbacks which you might want to consider.1) Houseboats are BIG - which means that they can only travel on the larger rivers and canals. This means that there are... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Kottayam

Kottayam, Alappuzha

 Willettsworld Says:  Kottayam is located about 30km (18 miles) east of Alappuzha (Alleppey), across Vembanad Lake, which is part of the Backwaters - a labyrinth of interconnected canals, rivers and lakes. I came here for a day trip on a public ferry from Alleppey in order to visit a couple of... 

Try cooking

Try cooking, Alappuzha

 alycat Says:  Try cooking some local stuff. While on our mad shopping spree in Alleppy, we were invited to the kitchen of the bakery to see for ourselves the miracle called banana chips!!Fish being the local delicacy in Aleppy, banana chips and home-made chocs is something you will find... 

 
Explore Deeper into Alappuzha

The Place

Plan a Alappuzha vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Alappuzha locals

Experience Alappuzha
  •   71 Tips and Reviews
  •  247 Photos
  •  1 Videos
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Map of Alappuzha
 

The People

21 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
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 There is daily backwater cruises to Alappuzha from Kollam (Quilon), Changanassery, Kottyam, Kochi, Kumarakom and Chengannur. The cruise thorugh backwaters with... 

21 members live in Alappuzha

 

Questions and Answers

vvsc profile photo

Q:  i am planning a trip to backwaters in feb with my family and plan to stay in houseboat for 1 night.i am apprehensive of the fact... 

samantha-india profile photo

A: Hi there! I have stayed with my husband in a houseboat in Alleppey last January. It was just wonderful. We are also vegetarians and don't eat chili, onions or garlic... 

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Top Alappuzha Writers

1

The Venice of the east -Alappuzha or Alleppey.....

ushar profile photo

 Alappuzha is one of the most important torurist centres in Kerala. This coastal town has long beach and surronded by number of canals and lakes. The largest Vembabanad Lake and Kayankulam Lake are... 

2

Alappuzha - Alleppey

PierreZA profile photo

 I only spent a day and a night in this pleasant town. The town is easy to negotiate. There are two main canals (north and south), which makes it easy to orientate yourself. Alleppey (as most people...... 

3

Of backwaters

alycat profile photo

 Allepy or alapphuza (spelt as allapuda), gives u the true essence of kerala backwaters. The shore side life of locals, the humidity, the sun, the boats and the smell of water, wow what can be said of... 

4

A great place

englishchris profile photo

 Alleppey is high up on my list of favourite Indian destinations. The reason everyone goes there is for the backwater trips that it offers. Consequently the town itself gets a bit neglected, which is a... 

5

alleppey

6aruna profile photo

 . Alleppey is 156 km from trivandrum.Once a thriving business center for trading with other countries through sea route now it has become a sleepy town where tourists land for a backwater cruise. ... 

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