Alleppey

Get a holiday expert for this place

Destination Theme
Ayurvedic Centers, Backwaters, Beaches,
Best Suited For
Families and Honeymoon Couples.
Recommended Duration
Two to Three days.

Quick Info

Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha is a significant tourist destination in Kerala famous for its well-poised backwaters. It is popularly known as "Venice of the East". The Houseboat cruise in the backwaters of Alleppey is very popular. The nearest airport to Alleppey is Cochin International Airport which at a distance of 80 Kilometres.

Rankings & Ratings

Most popular backwater destination in Kerala.

Editor's Rankings

#3 in 33 Destinations in & around Kerala
#1 in 5 Backwaters in & around Kerala
#4 in 13 Beaches in & around Kerala
#4 in 9 Cities & Urban Areas in & around Kerala

Editor's Review

Alleppey is undoubtedly a fantastic backwater destination, a delight for honeymoon couples. Houseboat cruise, the most special activity at Alleppey, is a really good experience. The ever-delicious food compensates for the humid weather you find in Alleppey.

PROS

  • Houseboat cruise is a lifetime experience.
  • The place has many delicious local dishes.
  • Kerala Kayaking is good fun.
  • Great atmosphere for Honeymoon couples.

CONS

  • The weather is mostly humid.
  • The houseboat stops cruising by sunset.
  • The backwaters are not very clean because of the many tourists. 

Itinerary Tips

  • The Houseboat cruise is a must-try experience in Alleppey.
  • Carry light and loose cotton clothes since the weather is not very pleasant or cold.
  • Along with the houseboat cruise, you can also try small boat sailing during the evenings.
  • You could also try fishing and traditional cooking in the houseboats.
  • Nehru Trophy Snake boat race happens on the second Saturday of August every year. It is a treat to watch.

Detailed Info

Alleppey is the oldest planned city in Kerala. Lord Curzon described this place as "Venice of the East" because of its vast and tranquil backwaters. Apart from the backwaters, it also has canals, lagoons and a beach. The place is also the centre for Coir carpet industries and Prawn farming. The features of Alleppey make it ideal for backwater tourism as well as visiting the several churches in the area.  

The Houseboat cruise in the backwaters of Alleppey is the most popular thing-to-do here. On the second Saturday of August every year, tourists get a chance to see the breathtaking snake-boat races which were inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister in 1952. Each snake-boat is manned by about 100 oarsmen who are incredibly passionate about the race. There are other tourist attractions in Alleppey like Karumadikkuttan statue, Ambalapuzha temple and Champakulam village.

Altitude

The average elevation of Alleppey is only 1 m(3 ft) above mean sea level.

Weather

The winters are pleasant, but it gets quite hot and humid in the summer and there are heavy rains during the rainy season.

Best Time to Visit?

During the pleasant months between September and March.

How to Get There?

By Air

The nearest Airport to Alleppey is Cochin International Airport which is 83 kilometres away. The airport is well-connected to major cities in India and abroad. You can book or hire a taxi from the airport to reach Alleppey.

By Train

Alleppey has a railway station of its own which is well-connected to Cochin and Trivandrum railway station. So you can travel on a train to Cochin or Trivandrum and take the train from these stations to Allepey. From the station, you can take a taxi, a bus or an auto.. 

By Road

Kerala State Run Transport Corporation buses connect Alleppey to most major cities in Kerala. Luxury air-conditioned buses also operate from cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mysore to Alleppey. If you're driving yourself, Alleppey is accessible by National Highway-47, which goes through Ambalapuzha and Cherthala cities. Alleppey is well connected to other cities such as Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore by road.

Local Cuisines

Freshwater fishes, prawns, squids and shrimps are cooked in different styles. Tapioca with Alleppey fish curry, Fish Molly, Fish Peera and Varutharacha Kozhi curry which is semi-fried chicken toasted with coconut and chilly are some of the famous delicacies of Alleppey.