The backwaters are the most popular thing for tourists to see in Alappuzha (Alleppy). Alappuzha has beaches, shrines, and monuments, but its big lakes and small canals are what make it special.
Backwater tours
People who go on house boat trips to Alappuzha find it funny that backwaters are almost everywhere.
One nice thing about Alappuzha is that you can rent houseboats right in the town. The boat yard near the KSRTC bus stand is a good place to be. Several boats are waiting for customers on the canal there.
If you don’t like the price or what’s being offered, you can rent a boat from a number of other places.
A place that deserves mention is Punnamada Lakes boat dock. They have a huge number of boats that are all lined up and ready to serve.
There are different sizes and shapes of boats. Houseboats, Kashmiri boats (called Shikaras), motorboats, and canoes are all good ways to get to a peaceful place.
Houseboats are like cottages on the water, or even better. They have a captain and a cook. Get the most out of your trip by making it fit your needs.
Do you want to spend the night on a houseboat? Do you like going to monuments and shrines? Do you like how big the Vembanad Lake is? How about going to the Kuttanad canals?
Kuttanad is a beautiful place with canals, rice fields, and lots of green grass and trees. Huge rice fields are surrounded by canals. Since the land is lower than the water, there are dykes next to the canals. The dykes are pretty big, and some of them even have houses on them.
When you’re floating along such a beautiful landscape, you might be distracted by the interesting sights of village life. Most tourists like going to Kuttanad, which is one of Alappuzha’s top tourist spots.
In this area, canals are an important part of life. In some villages, canals are the main way to get around. People use small country boats not only to go shopping and to school but also to visit churches along the water.
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Pathiramanal Island
Backwater tours stop at the small island in the middle of Vembanad Lake. The 20-hectare island is a safe place for birds.
Pathiramanal is only 4 km away from Kumarakom, which is a major port for boats. From Alappuzha, it takes about 40 minutes by boat to get to the island.
Even though it is close to the border with Kottayam, Pathirmanal is still on the list of places to visit in Alappuzha.
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Alappuzha beach
You can spend a few hours or an evening at the town’s popular beach swimming, surfing, or doing other water sports. Even though the tides can be strong sometimes, it is still a popular place to swim.
A 140-year-old pier’s broken pieces reach out into the water. A lighthouse on the beach is open to visitors in the afternoons (3–5 PM).
Vijaya Park, one of the two parks by the beach, has a play area for kids. It also has places to go boating. From 3 to 8 PM, the park is open.
There are also boats for rent at Sea View Park, which is nearby. They also have a place to swim.
Marari beach
Marari Beach is the place to go if you want to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. This beach is only 14 kilometres from the town of Alappuzha. It is close to the fishing village of Mararikkulam.
The beach is great, but you might have to stick to the cleaner parts because not all of it is as clean as we would like.
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Krishnapuram Palace
The largest single-panel mural painting in Kerala is in this old palace that has been turned into a museum. The painting by Gajendra Moksham shows a story from the ancient Hindu text Sri Mahabhaagavatham.
Most of the things in the museum belonged to the Travancore Kings, who ruled this area before 1947, when India became independent. The paintings, sculptures, antiques, and coins in the museum are very interesting. The building is just as impressive with its Kerala-style architecture.
One of the interesting things to see in Alappuzha is the Krishnapuram Palace, which is 47 km from town and a few km from Kayamkulam.
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Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple
Why not visit a temple while you’re in Alappuzha town?
The fact that Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple is in Alappuzha town is a plus. The courtyard is open to people who are not Hindu.
If you’re going to visit, make sure you know how to dress for the temple and what to do inside. It’s better to have someone from the area show you around.
The god is Goddess Rajeshwari. There are two festivals at the temple: Navaratri, which lasts for nine days, and Thaipooyakavadi.
The morning is the best time to go to the temple.
Karumadikuttan
A small monument in the village of Karumadi holds a statue of Buddha named Karumadikuttan. The statue is made of black granite and is older than a thousand years.
The statue that is half broken is strange and interesting. Most people think that an elephant broke it in the way that it is now.
Near the backwaters of Punnamada is a shrine called Karumadikuttan. It is one of the things that brings people to Alappuzha, and the Archaeological Survey of India is taking care of it right now.
The village of Karumadi is about 15 km from the town of Alleppy and 3 km from the town of Ambalapuzha.
Champakulam Church
The village of Champakulam is in the beautiful backwater belt of Kuttanad.
The church in Champakulam has been there for about sixteen hundred years. The church was very important to the spread of Christianity in the area.
Champakulam is also known for the boat race that takes place there every year in June. Large snake boats can be seen all year in the backwaters nearby.
There are a few good craft shops in Champakulam Market that cater to tourists who want to buy souvenirs made in the area.
The town of Alappuzha is 26 kilometres from Champakulam.
Chavara Bhavan
Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born in the village of Kainakari in the year 1805. He was a priest.
The saint’s family home is a popular place for tourists and followers to visit. A chapel built here holds mass and Novena prayers every week. For many religious people, coming here is important on a spiritual level.
Chavara Bhavan is 6 km from the town of Alappuzha, and you can get there by boat.
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Shrines and other tourist attractions in Alappuzha
There are a number of well-known shrines in the district for people who want to visit them.
The most famous Hindu temples are the Chettikulangara Bhagavathy temple, the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple, and the Sree Nagaraja temple in Mannarsala.
The churches at Edathua and Arthunkal are places of worship that have been around for hundreds of years. Both of these churches have a lot of followers.
