Alleppey or Alappuzha is a popular tourist destination in south India. The place is blessed with serene backwaters, lake, lagoon, canals, and thus is called the Venetian Capital of Kerala. Visit the city during next vacation to explore the numerous tourist attractions and allures and pick from the best hotels in Alleppey.
The beautiful backwater city of Alleppey is one of the most illustrated cities of Kerala. Located on the Malabar Coast of Indian mainland, Alleppey or Alappuzha is the sixth largest city in the state and a major revenue city. The city is regarded as the oldest planned city in the region and just often called the “Venice of the East” and “Venetian Capital of Kerala”. It is one of the most culturally rich cities of the state and hosts the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race which is perhaps the largest and most a dranaline filled boat race in the country. Hindi, Tamil, and English are widely spoken and the locals here are considered to be the patrons of art, culture, religion, dance, and literature. Coir is the prime commodity produced here and manufacturing coir based products is the prime industry of the city. In fact, the city has a Coir Research Institute operating at Kalavoor, a locality of the city.
The beautiful long beaches, tranquil backwaters, serene lagoons, canals, and unspoilt natural beauty of the city have been generating huge tourists attention since long. The good thing is that the city is sufficiently equipped with numerous hotels in Alleppey and boathouses that take care of the lodging needs of travellers. The city is home to multiple temples and deities. Some of the temples are built in the medieval era, thus giving them significant historical and religious significance. Some of the most revered temples of the city are: Mullakkal Temple, Mannarasala Temple, Harippad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, and Champakulam Valia Palli. Visiting the temples and worshiping the deities is a popular activity amongst the tourists. A visit to the temples is not just spiritually refreshing, but it also gives an opportunity to explore the medieval temple architectural style of south India.
The city got its name based on its geography. The meaning of Alappuzha is the place between the sea and net of rivers flowing into the sea. The place is majorly a sandy strip of land that is marked with lagoons, freshwater river, canals, and lakes. Due to closeness to the sea, the city has a large maritime industry. Kuttanad, a locality of the city is most suitable for cropping rice, and fondly called the Rice Bowl of Kerala. Tourism is also the chief industry here with the city generating billions of dollars every year with tourism industry. Amongst the most prominent places of interest, some include: Ambalapuzha, Alleppey Beach, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, Pathiramanal, Champakulam, Karumadikkuttan, Haripad, Arthunkal, St Sebastian’s Church, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Krishnapuram Palace, Edakkal caves, St. Andrew’s church, Champakulam Church, and Pandavan Rock.
The good thing is that the city is well-connected with transportation facilities of flights, rail, and road. There are a couple of deluxe and regular buses running between Alappuzha and nearby cities. The city’s railway station is linked with Cochin, Coimbatore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Quilon, and Bokaro. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport that connects the city to all major Indian cities as well as international destinations. Taxis and cabs are available from the outside of airport to be hired to reach the city. Besides, some budget hotels in Alleppey also offer airport pick and drop services.
Author Bio: Sandeep is an experienced travel writer and enthusiast blogger. He has explored many known and less-known places in India in the last 10 years. His experience adds to his expert knowledge on the best hotels, different travel routes through trains, flights, and road. He also specializes in off-beat places to eat and stay at. He also advises amateur tourists on travel tips.