Are you the type of person to sit in a rocking chair on a balcony with a lush green view surrounding you or someone who’d jump from a cliff right into the water, always looking for your next adventure? In either of these cases, Alleppey in Kerala is the best place for you. Spend a few moments away from your usual life and soak in the serenity of this beautiful place!
This land of waters will leave you wanting for more. Alleppey or Alappuzha is the kind of travel destination you can visit again and again and each time you visit, you leave with several new experiences and beautiful memories to hold on to! Confused as to what things to do in Alappuzha? We got you covered!
The fact that Alleppey is known as the Venice of the East isn’t any coincidence. The network of canals, backwaters, and lagoons are a testament to just that.
Perhaps the best thing about Alleppey is the opportunity to spend your days on an actual boat packed with all the essential facilities. These boats vary in size, so pick a comfortable one that suits you and your travel partners.
Alleppey is famous for its backwaters, canals, and houseboats. If you ever wondered what Venice in India would look like, this is the place for you.
These houseboats come with facilities like AC, Multiple bedding, dining areas, access to the deck, and much more! Most houseboats also provide fare-included lunches and dinners. This is surely a must-do if you ever decide to visit Alleppey.
Also read: Best Temples In Odisha.
Alleppey, like the rest of the South Indian cities, is jam-packed with spiritual places, temples, and monuments. These are some of the major temples in Alleppey that warrant a visit!
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple: Located in Ambalappuzha, this is one of the oldest and most famous temples in Kerala. Dating back to 790 CE, this beautiful temple stands surrounded by water. This temple is especially famous for its Palpayasam, a sweet porridge made of milk. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is famous amongst visitors for its immeasurable beauty and Palpayasam, the sweet Prasad (offering) provided to the devotees. Aaraattu, Moolam Water Festival, Pallipana are some of the famous festivals that are held here every year.
Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple: dedicated to the deity Bhagavathy, also called Jagadamba and Bhadrakli, is one of the most famous temples in Kerala, often frequented by devotees and travelers. The temple is famous for the tasty prasad provided to the devotees, known as 'Aravana Payasam' or 'Appams'.
Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple: This is one of the most famous snake temples in Kerala. Located almost 35 km from Alappuzha in Haripad, this temple is surrounded by the scenic beauty of vast, lush greenery and forests. The beautiful surroundings add up to the mystic beauty of this temple.
Also read: 7 Temples In Tamil Nadu To Visit For A Spiritual Experience
The famous snake boat race held on the second Saturday of August is one of the main tourist attractions in Alleppey. The race is held in Punnamada Lake where four snake boats go head-to-head at a time to get to the end of the 1,400-meter stretch.
Watching over 100 rowers in a boat, paddling furiously and rhythmically, is a sight to behold. Of course, when you’re also surrounded by thousands of onlookers wildly cheering on the contestants, the frenzied enthusiasm is sure to get you excited too!
Also known as the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the first prize of this race is a whopping INR 5.9 crores. The competitors can be seen preparing for the race year-long to bag the attractive first prize.
Also read: Visiting The Ranakpur Temple In Rajasthan.
If you visit Alappuzha and forget to get your hands on some really tasty local cuisines, have you visited Alappuzha at all? The answer is no. Even though you can find tasty food all over South India, our recommendation would be to try it out at the local shops or food prepared at the homes of locals living in Alappuzha.
Puttu and Kadala: Made with chickpeas, coconut, and steamed rice, this cylinder-shaped rice dish is the perfect blend of tastes that will leave your taste buds wanting more. The best place to try this at would be the Canal Bazaar.
Semiya Payasam: Also known as vermicelli rice, this is one of the most famous sweet dishes in Alleppey. This is a combination of milk, rice, nuts, jaggery and served in earthen (mud) pots which only adds up to the already amazing flavor of this dish.
Idiyappam: Idiyappam is a staple breakfast meal you can find in any local street shop of Alleppey. This rice dish, which resembles noodles, may be served with a roasted egg. The dish can be tried in a thick gravy or a thin gravy, any that you prefer. But most locals prefer a thick gravy to go along with this tasty blend of flavors.
Also read: Spending A Day At The Golden Temple In Amritsar.
You can explore many local arts of Kerala in Alleppey. From handicrafts to arts, Alleppey has been blessed with the best of them all. If you’re curious to learn more, why not visit the museums in Alleppey?
Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum: Built in the memory of the famous art enthusiast and the father of the modern coir industry in Kerala, this museum was built to showcase and present his art collection. The ivory and the crystal collections in this museum are the main attraction to tourists from all over India and the world.
International Coir Museum: You know Kerala is synonymous with coconuts, which can be used for a multitude of purposes! At the International Coir Museum, you can learn a lot about the coir (coconut fiber) and this industry. This is not just a visual experience as there’s a workshop within the museum. Here you can observe the workers going about their jobs, instead of just looking at the final artifacts and products stacked in the display.
Also read: A Guide To Visiting Jaipur.
Beaches in Alappuzha are a different experience altogether. Even though the district is famous for its rich and vast backwaters, visiting its beaches is a very different and beautiful experience.
Alappuzha Beach: Famous for its over 150-year-old pier, this beautiful beach is a crowd puller. With a beautiful old lighthouse nearby, this beach is the perfect place for you to unravel your worries and soak in the serenity of the beautiful scenery around you.
Marari Beach: This rather offbeat beach is the perfect place for you to spend your evening or afternoon if you like to gaze upon the sunset in relative serenity. Marari Beach is the perfect picnic spot for families and couples, with its palm trees and endless sand. There isn’t a lot to do at Marari, but make sure that you visit one of its many Ayurveda centers for a massage.
Punnapra Beach: Perfect place for the ones looking for a romantic getaway or a solo getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Punnapra beach is famous for its serenity and golden sand. This beach is especially famous for its Ayurvedic massages which will surely help you rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.
Also read: A Guide To Visiting Jaisalmer.
Who doesn't love a gigantic ball of love? Everyone loves elephants, and for a good reason – they’re adorable! Elephant training camp located near Punnamada Lake allows you to have a wonderful time with these beautiful animals. You can do several activities once there, from feeding the elephants, cleaning them, bathing them, or getting a trunk shower. This experience of a lifetime will surely make you fall in love with these kind, beautiful creatures all over again! These camps last for a duration of 30 minutes to 2 hours. These are very affordable as they come at a price range of INR 400 to 1,000.
Also read: A Guide To Exploring Agra.
With great water bodies come great biodiversity! From duck farms to paddy fields, everything adds up to the beauty of this wonderful place. One can enjoy several activities here such as fishing, swimming, sunbathing, bird watching, exploring the local flora and fauna, and much more!
Pathiramanal: Translating to ‘Sands of Midnight’, this island is as fascinating as its name. Pathiramanal is covered by dense vegetation, a perfect haven for beautiful flora and fauna. Don’t forget to carry a pair of binoculars to spot over 90 species of local birds and 50 migratory birds too!
Alleppey Backwaters: It’s impossible to not mention the backwaters when talking about things to do in Alleppey. After all, Alleppey is a land that has less land in it and more water. Go canoeing or kayaking through the brackish waters. And of course, keep your eyes peeled for the fascinating birds here.
Also read: 8 Islands In Kerala That You Must Visit For A Tranquil Trip
Alleppey is very famous for its rich collection of spices, coir carpets, and other artifacts and local cuisines. You can buy a number of souvenirs from local shops at very reasonable prices.
Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan: If you're a huge fan of Khadi clothing and apparel, this is just the right place for you. This one-stop destination offers a huge collection of Khadi clothing for all ages and genders. You can also buy other accessories such as bags and caps in the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan.
Pulickattil Handicrafts: This shop offers a very vast variety of fine artifacts and handicrafts items that will make for the best souvenirs for you to take back home! You can get pieces of various local art forms as well as explore other intricate art forms such as embroidery and various sculptures and paintings.
Canal Bazaar: This famous market of spices is the best place to buy a variety of freshly ground spices. Although the Canal Bazaar is famous for its spices, you can also buy a variety of chips and other food items here. The restaurants nearby the market serve the tastiest food that you can't miss out on!
Also read: A Guide To Exploring Pondicherry.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Alleppey?
Between the season of late winters and early summer, from January to March, and during the winter, from September to December. These are the best months to visit Alleppey.
What Are The Best Places To Stay In Alappuzha?
Being one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kerala, Alappuzha offers a wide range of lodges and hotels to choose from when it comes to choosing a place to stay. Apart from hotels and lodges, you can choose from a variety of houseboat options. These vary from one bedroom to three bedroom AC/Non-AC options. The fares for the same can range anywhere between INR 8,000/- INR to 15,000/- per day, depending on the facilities and the size of the boat.
Where Is Alappuzha Located?
The district of Alappuzha lies between the district of Kollam on the southern side, Ernakulam on the north, and Kottayam on the east.
How To Reach Alappuzha?
By Air: The nearest airport from Alappuzha is the Cochin International Airport, roughly 64 km away, and Trivandrum International Airport, roughly 160 km away.
By Road: Alappuzha is well connected by roads. NH 66 and SH 47 are the major roads that go through Alappuzha.
By Train: Alappuzha has a major railway station, so it’s well connected to all major cities in India.
By Boat: Alappuzha is also accessible by boat from cities like Quilon, Changanassery, Kovalam, Kottayam, Cochin, etc. by the backwaters.
What Are The Best Places To Eat In Alappuzha?
Filled with options from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, Alappuzha is the best place to experience any kind of food. Prawns, lobsters, crabs, oysters, clams, and other varieties of big sea fish, you can find many local shops and restaurants which sell the food of your liking. Canal Bazaar is considered to be one of the best places to experience South Indian cuisines in Alleppey.
Why Alleppey In Kerala Is Famous?
The Alleppey is famous for snake boat races, marine products, beaches, etc. Also it attracts the tourist all over India.
Who Is The King Of Alappuzha?
The King of Alappuzha is Raja Kesavadas.
How Many Cities Are There In Alappuzha?
There are around 6 municipal towns in Alappuzha.
