Welcome to Alappuzha

Alappuzha was once called the Venice of the East

Alappuzha is a Land Mark between the broad Arabian sea and a net work of rivers flowing into it. In the early first decade of the 20 th Century the then Viceroy of the Indian Empire, Lord Curzon made a visit in the State to Alleppey now Alappuzha. Fascinated by the Scenic beauty of the place, in joy and amazement, he said, “Here nature has spent up on the land her richest bounties”. In his exhilaration, it is said, he exclaimed, “Alleppey, the Venice of the East”. Thus the sobriquet fou n d its place in the world Tourism Map. The presence of a port and a pier, criss -cross roads and numerous bridges across them, a long and unbroken sea coast might have motivated him to make this comparison. Alleppey has a wonderful past. Though the present town owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Rajakesavadas in the second half of 18 th century, District of Alappuzha figures in classified Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms , was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in B.C and in the Middle Ages. For more historic details please see the page History . Water carnivals using the gigantic snake boats and the country canoes of varying strata have an important role in the community life of the people of the district. As the district has got a vast spread of lakes and canals, there is wide potential for lake side tourism and inland fisheries. Alappuzha is already one of the major spots in the tourism map of Kerala. Alappuzha beach is one of the most popular spots in the district of Alappuzha. Its beautiful garden on the shore gives an exclusive sight. Imposing buildings of a colonial past overlook the shore. The pier, which extends into the sea is more than 140 years old and is a rare sight. Dense Palm groves at one end and an ancient towering light house at the other, Vijay Park and Sea view park are all spectacular sights one should never miss. Boating Facility is available in both Parks.Facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park: Boating, a children’s park with toy train and bicycles. Open from 1500 - 2000 hours.

Backwater Cruise
View the landscape beauty , monuments, temples,churches and industries of Alappuzha by cruising through its rivers,canals and backwaters.The starting point is from Alleppey and the finishing point is at Jetty .

House Boats Cruises

Traditionally, the houseboat was called Kettuvallam, which means a boat made by tying together pieces of wood. Unbelievable as it may sound, not a single nail is used in the making of a Kettuvallam. Jack wood planks are joined together with coir rope and then coated with black resin made from boiled cashew nut shells. The materials that go into the making are all local and Eco friendly bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, coir carpets etc These traditional country boats were used as the mode of transport in the early times from the isolated interior villages to the towns. But these boat services have been laid off with the developments taken place in the transport services in the recent past. Today these giant 80-foot long crafts have been adapted into luxuriously furnished houseboats. A Kettuvallam usually has one or two bath attached rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising two oarsmen and a cook. Traditional lanterns are used as lights. Your holiday in this tranquil world is the comfortably furnished houseboats. Come, check into a houseboat for a memorable cruise along the backwaters of Kerala.

A cruise along the palm-fringed waterways of Kerala in a luxury houseboat is the most enchanting holiday experience in India today. In this world of simple pleasures, you will skim past ancient Chinese fishing nets, water lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples and coconut groves. A guided tour down the backwaters would provide you with a complete and most enchanting experience on the back waters of Kerala and will also reveal to you some interesting facts about the life of local village people. There is a Kerala that lives along these backwaters throbbing with its own unique culture .For you, as a visitor to Kerala it can be incredibly different experience just floating this backwaters in a country craft and absorbing unusual representation.

The Houseboats / Kettuvallams of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from being lost to the State altogether. Once these houseboats / Kettuvallams ruled the backwaters, poled along by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities. But in the recent times, the Kettuvallams or rice-barges have been replaced by more and modern modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay

Alappuzha district is proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy boat Race at Punnamada, the Payippad near Haripad, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races are held at different parts of the district during August-September . Thousands of people from all parts of the world come and witness these races.

Aranmula Uthruttathy Vallamkali

The annual boat races held at Aranmula, and Champakulam in old Central Travancore, are the pre-eminent and most typical of the Boat Festivals in Kerala. On the river front of the Vaishnava Temple at Aranmula, ninety miles to the north of Trivandrum, idyllically situated on the left bank of River Pampa, with which sacred memories are associated, the famous Aranmula Boat Race is held every year on the UTHRITTATHI, the fourth day after the THIRU ONAM. The Aranmula Boat Race is, in fact, a part of the ONAM festival. A health and bathing resort during summer months, Aranmula is famous for its Temple , Boat Race and Aranmula Metal Mirror. On the UTHRITTATHI, asterism, the colorful Regatta is held at Aranmula, amidst all pervading mirth and nature's splendor.
Tradition says that the Boat Race at Aranmula is held every year, in commemoration of the crossing of the Pampa River by Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers. The story goes that, following a long period of penance and austerity, Arjuna was on his way back to his native city with the image of Sri Krishna. When he reached the northern bank of the river Pamba, he found it in high floods. The great warrior stood aghast. A low caste, poverty stricken, Hindu offered to ferry Arjun across the swelling river in a fragile canoe. Arjuna was all joy and thankfulness. On crossing the river Arjuna installed the image of Sri Krishna (Sri Parthasarathi) he was carrying, at the sport where the present temple stands. To honor the timely service rendered to Arjuna by the lowly boatman, boat races have ever since been conducted on the river, in front of the temple. The truly national character of the Boat Race is witnessed in the joy-imparting fact, that though the Aranmula Regatta, organised as a purely Hindu Festival, is associated with the Temple, the participants in the Regatta include members of all classes and communities inhabiting the neighbourhood of Aranmula. A healthy and loving exists between the different communities towards making the Boat Race an unprecedented success, every time. Here is the finest flowering of co-operative enterprise, actuated not by profit-making motives, but solely inspired by warm human understanding, and love of sport. During the Aranmula Boat Race, the banks of the river, for a distance of about three miles, would be one seething mass of humanity. Visitors, who have come in small canoes and boats, will be clustering round the Race Boats. The Boat Race at Aranmula is not conducted for any prize or reward but the crews consider the Regattas as a fitting and also as an act of adoration to THIRU ARANMULA APPAN, the presiding deity in the temple. All the rowers of the different varieties of Boats are sumptuously fed by the temple authorities, before the commencement of the race. At the finish of the Race handsome rewards are also awarded. The Race commences in the afternoon popular belief is that the Deity Himself graces all the participating Boats with His presence, at the time of the beginning of the Race. The People, at and near about Aranmula, have such implicit faith in the infallible efficacy of taking part in the Regatta, as a means of conferment of health and wealth for the rest of the year, that no one dares to belittle the importance of the festival. The pious folk believe that the God never fails to inflict condign punishment on doubters and detractors, who ridicule the religious significance of the Boat Race.
Associated with an act of gratitude and divine worship, sanctified by national custom adored by popular will, and lovingly fostered by successive generations, the Aranmula Boat Race, the most spectacular Boat Festival in Kerala, forms the subject-matter of two outstanding poetical works in the Malayalam language namely, Vilavattathu Raghavan Nambiyar's ARANMULA VILASM, and perumpara Vasudeva Bhattathiri's UTTARITTATHI CHARITHAM. Kunchan Nambiyar, the greatest poetic wit of Kerala, has put it tersely that the charm and majesty of the Boat Race at Aranmula, on the lovely Pampa River defy description. Rev.W.J.Richards, one of the earliest Westerners to witness the Aranmula Boat Race, has described the scene as follows in his book 'NATIVE LIFE IN TRAVANCORE'. “Aranmula, 18th August, 5.A.M., finds us opposite the great temple steps, on which an immense and exited crowd stands, some holding long lighted cressets which are reflected in the water, making a weird appearance in the grey night of morning. The river is alive with canoes, big and little, which are objects of great interest, to those on the bank. There goes a stately racing boat with its prow nine feet out of the water and manned by a hundred rowers, besides a large number of singers, standing up and keeping time with hands and feet to the plash of the oars. These boats are reported when full to contain 200 persons, each. How proudly they stand, how exultingly they sing, how gracefully they sway to and fro Mark the feathering of the oars, and the musical motion of the paddles, stretched far from the boats and brought to the water, at the end of a circular sweep. How fine the boat looks ornamented at head and stern, by plates of burnished brass and large silver-head nails, which they call 'Buddles'! This is ONAM, the great festival season of Travancore, and these are high caste people performing their national boat game. These five great boats abreast, make the air ring with their songs as they glide in state, down the river. If we could but wait till next Monday, the 23rd, we should see, twenty five, together”. Few individuals, only the wealthiest landlords, own Snake Boats for they are very expensive, costing are owned by Karas (part of a village), the cost of construction and maintenance of the Boats being met by the Karakkars, people of the locality. In the Regattas, the different Kara owning Race Boats enter, and with determination, inspired by local patriotism, strive their best to knock off the prize. The competition is austere and keen, in spite of the mirth and revelry enveloping it.

Krishnapuram Palace

Located at a distance of 47 km from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam, this palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Marthanda Varma. This palace is noted for its typical Kerala architecture, with gabled roof, dormer windows and narrow corridors. Here you will find the famous mural kept in the western end of the ground floor, called ‘Gajendra Moksham’ which is the largest mural in Kerala. There is also a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronze articles in the palace.

Kuttanad Region

The region is known as the 'Rice Bowl of Kerala'. It is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done below sea level. The boat trip to Changanacherry passes through this beautiful and fertile region.
Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple

It is dedicated to the Goddess Rajarajeswari. The nine day 'Navarathri' festival is celebrated twice a year and is of special significance to the people of Alappuzha. Another important festival of the temple is 'Thaipooyakavadi'.
Pathiramanal

This is a small captivating island in the Vembanad Lake. Situated between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, this island is the favourite spot for hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world.
Ambalapuzha Temple

Constructed in the typical Kerala architectural style, this temple is famous all over India, and is renowned for the Palpayasam, the daily offering of sweet milk porridge. This temple witnesses the performance of Pallipana by Velans (sorcerers) once every twelve years. Paintings of the Dasavatharam (the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) are displayed on the inner walls of the temple. The ‘ Ottanthullal’, a satiric art form based on social themes was the brain child of the poet Kunchan Nambiar who performed it for the first time in the premises of this temple.
Arthunkal Church

This christian Pilgrim centre near Sherthalai is 22 km. north of alappuzha. The St. Andrews Church here was built by Portuguese missionaries. The annual feast of St. Sebastian is held here in the month of January.
Champakulam Church

The St. Mary's Church is one of the oldest church in Kerala. It is said to be one of the seven churches established by St.Thomas. Tha annual feast is held on the 3rd Sunday of October. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.
Chavara Bhavan

The ancestral home of the blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, lies 6 km. from Alappuzha. Thousands of devotees gather at this shrine. It can be reached only by boat from Alappuzha.
Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple, Mavelikkara

The shrine is known for the Kettukazhcha festival, which attracts a large number of devotees. The festival is held in Feb./Mar. and colourful procession is taken out.
Edathua Church

This church, dedicated to St. George is of special significance as it is believed that prayers and offerings here help in healing all kinds of mental disorders and other ailments. The annual feast is held from 5th - 7th May and attracts devotees from all parts of south India. The Church is just 24 kms. from Alappuzha.
Karumadikuttan

The small village near Ambalapuzha is known for the black granite idol of Lord Buddha known as Karumadikuttan. The idol dates back to 9th or 10th century.

Mannarsala

It is 32 kms. from Alappuzha near Haripad and is famous for the ancient temple of Sree Nagaraja, the King of Serpents. Pilgrims from all over the country assemble here during the two day annual festival.

Q S T and R Block Kayal

These regions are famous for farming over reclaimed land from the backwaters. The area is protected by dikes built all around and reminds visitors of the famous dikes of Netherlands. A cruise along the canals here is quite a memorable experience.

Punnapra

A short distance from Alappuzha is Punnapra, a village which has gone down in history as the scene of a bitter and heroic fighting between the communists and Travancore State Police during the Punnapra Vayalar Communist uprising of 1946. Mararikulam Situated on the coast south of Alappuzha,12 Kms. from Alappuzha, it houses a quiet beach and has an adjoining fishing village. Pool, tennis, water sports and Ayurvedic treatments are the leisure time activities one can avail of.

Kuttanad

Kuttanad Stretches for 75 km sandwiched between the sea & the hills. The bewildering labyrinth of shimmering waterways composed of lakes, canals, rivers & rivulets, is lined with dense tropical greenery, and preserves rural Kerala life styles that are completely hidden from the road. The views change from narrow canals and dense vegetation to open vistas and dazzling green paddy fields

The sweeping Network of canals honey-combing the town of Alappuzha haas earned for the place itssobriquet, "THE VENICE OF THE EAST". Do not miss out on a ride into Kuttanad through shimmering, green paddy fields and tail-waging, head-bobbing groups of ducks. The Coir workers too present an interesting sight. Alleppey becomes the cynosure of theeyas of the world on August-September, every year, a water regatta unique to Kerala