Alleppey Tourism

"Backwaters, Beaches and Lagoons - Venice of the East" Alleppey Tourism Extremely famous for its beautiful backwaters, the city of Alleppey in Kerala is also known for its beaches, temples and traditional boat races. This popular tourist destination also has some very well reputed Ayurvedic spas and wellness centres. Dotting the coastline of the Arabian Sea, Alleppey (also known as Alappuzha) is the oldest planned backwater town of Kerala. This place is famous for its numerous rivers crisscrossing the Sea and is home to many canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons. Alleppey is often referred to as the Venice of India. The backwaters coupled with houseboats and the tropical village life makes Alleppey worth a visit. Download Alleppey PDF Guide > What's Great? A refreshing retreat from the harsh winters. Home to the famous Snake Boat Race. What's not so Great? Congested in winters. For Whom Ideal for tourists of every kind. Suitable for backpackers from places like Trivandrum, Kochi, etc.

Venice of the East One of the cleanest and the oldest planned towns in India, Alleppey is a picturesque coastal delight, with backwaters, lagoons, canals, beaches festooning the city like nothing else. No wonder why Alleppey was nicknamed 'Venice of the East', ironically by the most notorious Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. Besides this, Alleppey is extremely famous for its snake boat races, which occur in the monsoon season. Alleppey's backwaters are the most popular destination in Kerala. Other places of interest in Alleppey are Alleppey Beach, which offers a breathtaking view of Laccadive Sea, Krishnapuram Palace, St. Andrew's Basilica, and Haripada Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple. History of Alleppey Alleppey's history can be traced back to as early as the 1st century AD --- when St Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, arrived here and introduced Christianity in South India. The foothold of the Christian religion was further strengthened by the Portuguese and the Dutch forces who arrived many centuries later and established their dominance in this region. The famous St. Andrews Basilica was constructed by the Portuguese in around the 17th century. Alleppey was also under the political influence of Maharaja Marthanda Varma, who is known as the ?Maker of modern Travancore?. The town played a critical role in the independence struggle of the country, birthing revolts against the feudal British Raj. The famous Communist uprising - Punnapra Vayalur took place here, where more than a 1000 people lost their lives during the struggle period. Paddy Cultivation in Backwaters The backwaters of Alleppey is home to Kuttanad, often called The Rice Bowl of Kerala. Traversing through a houseboat in this region offers a beautiful green kaleidoscope of rich paddy fields, interspersed with coconut trees. The paddy is cultivated on huge areas of reclaimed land from the Vembanad lake. The reclamation took place over three phases, starting from 1865 to 1940. These reclaimed areas are called Padsekharam. Initially, the reclaiming was done manually with water wheels, and later with steam engines. The paddy fields are drained by 4 major rivers - Pampa, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala. Speculations have claimed that it is the only area in the world where farming is done up to 2 metres below sea level.

Itinerary Day 1 -Reach Alleppey, preferably by noon, and take some rest. In the evening, you can go for a stroll in the famous markets of Alleppey, primarily Mulakkal, where you can get some souvenirs, especially stuff like coir bags, rugs etc. apart from the native spices for yourself.Day 2 -The next day should be earmarked for a visit to the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race, if the visiting time is in monsoon, or else, go for the glorious Krishnapuram Palace. Thereon, you can take a cruiser or houseboat to the backwaters of Alleppey.Day 3 -The final day can start with a lovely view of the sea at Alleppey beach. Located about an hour away, is the Kumarakoram Bird Sanctuary, which has an exquisite range of birds.

Jun-Maris the best time to visit Alleppey With idyllic temperate weather that rarely crosses 35 degree Celsius, winters (from September to March) and monsoons (June-August) are the best time to visit Alleppey. The 10 day temple festivals in the month of March is 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. Weather in Alleppey Loading... Alleppey in Summer (April - June) This is the least advisable time for a trip to Alleppey. The days are scorching hot; the temperatures going as high as 39 degrees Celcius. However, being the least crowded season, you can get heavy discounts on the conveyance and the hotel tariffs at Alleppey. Alleppey in Monsoon (July - September) The monsoon season lasts till September. This is not exactly the best time to visit Alleppey, though the famous Snake Boat Race occurs in this very season. However being an offseason, there is a chance that you can avail great deals on hotel tariffs. Alleppey in Winter (October - March) This is an ideal season for a visit to Alleppey, with pleasant climate and royal ambience waiting for your arrival. The temperature range is between 17 & 32 degrees Celcius. This is the ideal time to go on a houseboat ride or explore the backwaters of Alleppey. Monthly Weather in Alleppey Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 23 31 February 23 33 March 25 34 April 27 36 May 26 34 June 25 33 July 25 33 August 25 31 September 25 31 October 25 32 November 24 31 December 23 31

Events in Alleppey Nehru Trophy Boat Race 11th August The most popular event is the Snake Boat Race, which is why it is often called the Nehru Snake Boat Race. A famous tourist attraction, the winner of the race is celebrated for months to come.