Alappuzha (Alleppey) is known as
‘the Venice of the East’. Offering the best tourist places in Alleppey, this
charming place is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters and is home to a huge network
of backwaters and more than thousand houseboats. The houseboats you find in the
backwaters of Alappuzha are in fact a reworked version of the Kettuvallams of
olden times. Kettuvallam is a Malayalam word, ‘Kettu’, means living structures
and ‘Vallom’ means boat. In the olden days, kettuvallam or boat with a thatched
roof that covers over wooden hulls was used to carry tons of rice and spices.
The winters (September to March)
and monsoon (June to August) are mild with temperatures rarely crossing 35
degree Celsius are the best months to visit Alleppey. The rustic houseboats that bob on the water here, and the green paddies and rows of palms that surround the urban area, come together to form one of the most memorable and striking scenes in the state.
The 10 day temple festivals in
the month of March are also a very good time to visit. In the month of August,
the famous Nehru Boat Race is held with great vigor and excitement and could
provide a very unique yet spectacular view of Kerala.
Alleppey is 75 km from Kochi
(Cochin) and 155 km from Trivandrum. It is well connected by air, train, and
road.
By Air: Cochin International
Airport is the nearest airport at a distance of 75 km. It is well connected to
all major cities in India and abroad.
By Train: The Alleppey Railway
Station lies within the city limits and is well connected to Cochin and
Trivandrum.
By Road: It is accessible by
National Highway 47 via Ambalapuzha and Cherthala cities. Kerala State
Transport Corporation runs daily buses connecting it to all cities in Kerala.
