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Alappuzha, washed by
the silvery waves of
the
 Arabian Sea,
occupies a
significant place in
the tourist map of Kerala in South
India. Interlocked
with a large number
of canals and
bridges, this water
locked district has
immense untapped
potential for
backwater tourism.
Alappuzha is also a
major centre of coir
and carpet
industry.The 'Nehru
Cup' the largest
snake boat race in
the state is held
here.Alleppey or Alappuzha as it is
known popularly, is
one of the centrally
located districts in
the state of Kerala.
The district
headquarters and the
main part of this
city is situated on
the western
coastline of India,
with the Arabian Sea
surrounding the
western boundary.
The city is
connected with the
rest of the state
via roads and rails.
Alappuzha forms the
connecting link of
Kottayam-Kochi-Kollam
backwaters.
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Air
: The airport
nearest to Alleppey
is Kochi at a
distance of 64 km
north. The
Trivandrum airport
is located 159 km
south of Alleppey.
Road : National
Highway 47 goes
through Alleppey
connecting it with
almost all the
nearby places of
South India.
Alappuzha is also
well connected
through waterways.
Alappuzha is linked
by boat and ferry
services through the
scenic backwaters to
Cochin, Kottayam,
Kevalam,
Changanassery and
Chengannur. |
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Alappuzha Beach :
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Alappuzha beach is a
beautiful place with
a
 number of features
too. The beach area
features lush
garden, Vijaya Park
and Sea view Park
that host boat races
and other water
activities, a
century and half old
pier and an ancient
towering light
house.
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Backwater Cruises : |
Backwater cruises
are the most
important features
 of Alappuzha. The
cruise usually
starts from
Alappuzha and ends
at Jetty,
encompassing
monuments, temples,
churches and other
attractions located
within its premises. |
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Boat Races : |
The boat races at
Alappuzha attracts
people from
all
corners the world.
Some important boat
races held at Alappuzha include
Nehru Trophy boat
Race held at
Punnamada, the
Payippad held near
Haripad, the
Thiruvandoor,
Neerettupuram,
Karuvatta and
Thaikkoottam held at
different parts in
the month of August
and September. |
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Ambalapuzha Temple : |
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The temple is built
in a typical South
Indian (Kerala)
 architectural style
and is famous for
the performances of Pallapina
(sorcerers). These
performances are
held once and after
a gap of twelve
years. The temple
walls display
paintings of Lord
Vishnu. |
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Arthunkal Church : |
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The church is
located 22 kms from
Alappuzha and
 was
built by Portuguese
missionaries. The
church constitutes a
popular pilgrimage
centre of Christians. |
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Champakulam Church : |
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Champakalam Church
or St. Mary's Church
is one of the
oldest
church in Kerala.
The church has the
distinction of being
one of the seven
that were built by
St. Thomas. |
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Light House : |
Light house in
Alappuzha situated
about 4km away
from
the town is one of
the oldest light
houses in Kerala.
From the top of the
light house we can
see the whole
Alappuzha beach and
some part of the
Alappuzha Town. In
the initial stages
the light house was
worked using old
techniques but now
new equipments have
been installed. |
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Krishnapuram Palace
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Situated at 47km
from Alappuzha at
Kayamkulam
 on the
way to Kollam
(41kms), this palace
was built in the
18th century during
the regin of
Marthanda Varma. It
is noted with
typical Kerala
architecture with
gabled roof, dormer
windows and narrow
corridors. There is
a museum of antique
sculptures,
paintings and bronze
articles in the
palace. The mural
which kept on the
western end of the
ground floor called
' Gajendra Moksha'
is the largest mural
in Kerala. |
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Kuttanad : |
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Also called as the
'Rice Bowl of
Kerala', the place
has a reputation for
its cultivation. The
region is perhaps
the only place where
farming is done
below sea level. It
is very fertile and
provides for a
beautiful landscape. |
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Karumadi : |
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This village is
famous for its
Karumadi Kuttan, a
black
granite figure
of the Buddha said
to belong to the 9th
or 10th century.
This village is
situated near to Ambalapuzha, 14 km
from Alleppey. |
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Ambalapuzha : |
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The 'Sri Krishna
temple' at
Ambalapuzha, 14 km
south of Allapuzha,
is a pilgrim centre.
Lord Krishna (Kannan)
is the presiding
diety here. The 'Palpayasam'
(a sweet milk
porridge) offered to
the deity during the
temple festival in
March/April is very
famous in Kerala. |
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Pathiramanal
(Island) : |
This is a small
beautiful island in
the Vembanad Lake.
 This island lies
between Thaneermukkom and
Kumarakom is a
favourite haunt of
hundreds of rare
migratory birds from
different parts of
the land. This
island can be
accessed by boat
from Kumarakom or
Muhamma. |
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Mannarsala :
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One of the most
important centre of
snake worship in
 Kerala, Sree
Nagaraja temple is
situated at
Mannarsala 35 Km
away from Alappuzha
near Haripad on the
Alappuzha-Kollam
route. The temple is
surrounded by about
16 acres of thick
green forest. The
King of Serpents is
the diety. On the
asterism, 'Ayillam'
of each Malayalam
month, the 'Sarpakalam
Pattu' is conducted.
This ritual involves
drawing the figure
of the Serpent God
on the floor using
vegetable colours. |
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