Alappuzha Destination Guide

Its criss- crossing canals, which were once busy waterways, evoked comparisons with Venice. Once a booming trading centre from where coir products were exported to different parts of the world, Alappuzha in Kerala relinquished its premier commercial position to other places, notably Kochi.

Alappuzha in Kerala has been gifted with richest bounties, exclaimed Lord Curzon, British viceroy of India, while on visit to Alappuzha. Adding ‘Alleppey, the Venice of East’. Situated at the south-western tip of Vembanad Lake, Alappuzha Kerala has its heyday as a commercial hub when Raja Keshavadas, in 1775-76, built it to be a major port of the erstwhile Travancore State. Time and other developments have robbed Alappuzha of some of its early charm, but even today, that old description doesn’t appear too far fetched. Alappuzha’s other charm is its beach. However, these new developments have not marred history’s indelible mark left on the town.

Best time to visit

Summers are very severe, but with the onslaught of the southwest monsoon, from June to August, rains lash the area. August to march is the best time to travel to Alappuzha. If you want a monsoon holiday, June and July would be the ideal time travel to Alappuzha.

Getting There

By Air
The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport that is 90 km away or Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 160 km away.

By Rail
Alappuzha station is well connected to Ernakulam in the north and Thiruvananthapuram in the south. It is also linked by train to Mumbai and Chennai through Netravati Express and the Chennai Express.

By Road
Alappuzha is on NH 47 connecting Salem to Kanyakumari. The KRTC bus stand is 5 km from the railway station and has frequent services to Ernakulam, Kottayam and Kollam.

Sights and Attractions

Krishnapuram Palace Museum
This palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma and is a miniature model of the Padmanabhapuram Palace, near Thiruvananthapura. Built in traditional style, this spectacular 16 block building covers an area of 1.87 acres. Now an archeological museum, the restored two-storied palace houses paintings, antique furniture and sculptures.

The museum showcases the Megalithic period with burial urns, stone sculptures (including a seated Buddha), bronze antiquities, swords, ancient vessels, used for measuring grains, weights, cannon balls and models of the umbrellas from the late medieval period. Attractions include a Sanskrit Bible, puja ceremony utensils and oil lamps and a Buddha mandapam in the garden.

Mannarassala snake Temple

Traditionally, Hindu naga (serpent) worshippers had the temples in serpent groves. Of these, Mannarassala is the largest with 30,000 images of snake gods along the path and among the trees, and many snakes living around the temple. Childless women came for blessings and return for a thanksgiving ceremony afterwards when the child born to a couple is placed on special scales and gifts in kind, equaling the weight, are donated.

Alappuzha Beach

This cannot be compared to its counterparts-Kovalam or Varkala or even Cherai. Alappuzha beach is sedate and rather plebian, echoing the sp irit of the town. But there is a charm in the prosaic and the main beach is well kept.

The southern part of the beach has a large statue of a fisherwoman cradling a baby in her arms, while at the northern end the century pier extends into the sea. The lighthouse, in bands of red and white soars into the sky just behind the beachfront buildings, unchanged since its construction in 1862. Even the high compound wall around it and the domed entrance, streaked with grime and tinged black with age, remain the same. There is also the Thykkal beach near Cherathala dotted with fishing boats and famous for the relics of an old wooden boat at Kadakkarapally excavated couple of years back. The site is enclosed and the protected boat is on view only during the summer.

Activities

Village Walk

A leisurely walk through the myriad villages and hamlets surroundings Alappuzha Kerala is the best way to see life in these traditional settlements when on a tours to Alappuzha.

On an Alleppey Tours you will see vistas of paddy fields and if in time for the sowing season or harvesting, also get the chance to watch these activities. You can observe how people make coir out of coconut fibre in their backyards or how doormats are crafted out of tufts of the stuff in small cottage industries. If you go further inland you can peep into the lives of the locals-how they work, how they eat, what they do. Other interesting things you will see? Fishmongers selling the day’s catch, men tending to their fishing nets, toddy-tappers shimmying up palms with a sickle and pot dangling from their hips, gaggles of duck wading in the waters.

There are different options available for cruising in the Alappuzha backwaters. Hire a private motorboat at Rs 200 and hour and traverse the lake, viewing the vast paddy fields on reclaimed blocks that form part of the Kuttanand region. Or choose a houseboat moored along the banks for a long sojourn and an intimate experience of life on the lake for around Rs 3, 000 per day, which includes all meals.

Cruising along the Alappuzha backwaters is a great experience for bird watchers. Cormorants, egrets and heroine skim the placid waters and perch on floating clumps of water hyacinth looking for prey, while eagles, kites and gulls soar overhead.

Discover Alleppey

Part of the project to preserve Alappuzha, this is meant for those who want to delve into the rich heritage of the town. Observe its historical areas and architectural marvels through volunteer guides of the Lion Ladies Club of Alappuzha. You can walk through an 18th century market and see coir mats being woven, as also goldsmiths at work, and visit the serene Jain Temples of the Gujarati community. Stop at small Ayurveda shop selling herbs and special portions. Relax with a cup of tea and local delicacies at home, giving you an opportunity to meet a local family. One notable feature of the walk is the visit to Haveli, an old heritage building in the Gujarati quarter of the town. Lectures and slide shows are also conducted here. The Discover Alleppey Tours is personalized, imaginative and educative.

What to buy

Alappuzha is the ‘umbrella capital’ of Kerala and umbrella shops here are flooded with a colorful range and a variety of umbrellas like the five-fold umbrella, the ultra-light umbrella-weighing just 28 gm, the umbrella-cum-walking stick and other fancy ones for the tourist on a tours to Alappuzha. The best and the most popular brands are Popy and John’s umbrella Showroom and Popy umbrella Mart.

You could also buy ethnic and contemporary gold jewellery from the leading jewelers like Alukka’s or splurge on some cashew nuts and banana chips from Mullekal Street. Coir products are a must buy. There are many shops selling these on the highway to Kochi. Alappuzha is also known for its thriving paper trade. Some of the oldest stationers in Kerala originate from here such as the PA George Company.

Where to eat

Restaurants attached to the numerous resorts and midtown hotels offer a delectable variety of seafood and traditional Kerala dishes. Small eateries, especially near the bus stand and boat jetty, are ideal for snacks and vegetarian delicacies. A few restaurants just inland from the beach are good for non- vegetarian food. Prince Hotel is known for its biryani.