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Backwaters of kerala
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The backwaters of Kerala are like a web of rivers and inlets, lakes and canals that are connected to each other and run parallel to the Arabian Sea. They are the crowd pulling asset of Kerala and are an ecosystem so supple that they boost the economy substantially. Life around the backwaters is colorful, lively, community driven and dependent on an amalgamation of both natural and manmade wonders. As your houseboat passes through the seemingly untouched waters decorated with water lilies, time stops, Kerala backwaters put a charm on you!


Alleppey, the sixth largest city in Kerala and one of the main backwater regions, is where nature is in its most gracious form, decorating the entire landscape with greenery and life. It is famous all over the world for its backwaters and is fondly called as the ‘Venice of the East’. Being one of the cities of the state that is called as God’s Own Country, Alleppey has more than one reason to be on the top of the lists of tourists visiting Kerala.


Alleppey is also called as Alappuzha, because of its geographical significance. Alleppey is the land between the Arabian Sea and a large network of rivers flowing into it. Alappuzha was formed from the districts of Kottayam and Quilon in 1957. Today, it remains the centre of political activity and crucially influences the development of the entire state.


Intercepted by mirror still lagoons and breathtaking beaches here and there, Alleppey is a sandy strip of land, made by the Almighty just for pleasing the eyes. The best time to savor the natural beauty is the winter for the summers are too humid and the rainy are too wet. Due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea, Alleppey experiences sandbank shift after every monsoon. The monsoons are very dominant and strong here. The shore of Alleppey is stalked with fishes, prawn and exotic marine life including migrant ducks and birds like cormorants. The economy surges following this abundant influx and the town reverberates in celebration. 


Basically, the economy of Alleppey is solely dependent on agriculture and marine yield. Another major business that runs here since decades is coir manufacturing. Coir is a natural fiber that is extracted from husk of coconuts. It is used in making floor mats, brushes and mattresses. The district is known as the traditional home of the coir industry owing to its constant contribution to the coir business. Handlooms, marine products, toddy (palm wine) and handicrafts dominate the market.


The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in the Punnamuda Lake which is very near to Allappuzha. It is Vallam Kadi which literally means a boat game. This race is conducted on the second Saturday of August and is one of the most popular events conducted in Kerala. It is an eye catching event for a tourist, as snake like boats are rowed through the lake at breathtaking speed and the competition is cut throat. The atmosphere is thrilling and it is a great pride for the winning boat as the competition is an integral part of the community life in Kerala. Most of the population is either Hindu or Christian and speak Malayalam.

 
The backwaters of Alleppey offer impeccable view of the natural beauty that is not only gripping but also pristine and unparalleled. The backwaters connect Alleppey to Kumarakom and Kottayam towards north and Quilon towards south. Stunning views of the Arabian Sea are provided by the Alappuzha Beach and other worth visiting sites are Edathua Church, Ambalapuzzha Sri Krishna Temple and the Krishnapuram Palace.


Beautiful houseboats are available from Alleppey, Kumarakom as well as Kottayam. Tourists love to have a stay in the houseboats and enjoy being close to nature. Also, the seafood served here is sumptuous.


Kumarakom and Alleppey are similar tourist destinations and are categorized as backwater tourist destinations of Kerala. Their amazing backwater beauty and spacious, affordable and satisfying stay have earned them both popularity and relevance.

 
Situated just 38 kilometers away from Alleppey, Kumarakom is yet another destination that personifies Kerala’s natural beauty. Kumarakom shot to fame as a tourist destination after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Kumarakom for a yearend holiday. Since then, the tourist influx in Kumarakom has been considerably high. The Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest fresh water lake wounds Kumarakom and its eastern coast is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. This bird sanctuary is listed as bird watchers’ paradise because it attracts different species of migratory birds. This bird sanctuary was established by an Englishman, Alfred George Baker. Birds like cuckoos, owls, ducks and Brahminy kites are found here including migratory birds like Siberian cranes, flycatchers and teals. Dawn is the best time to watch these birds as they fly over the lake. Yachting, boating and fishing are popular facilities provided by both luxury and affordable resorts at the shore of the lake.

 
In her book ‘The God of Small Things’ Man Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy has described the village Aymanam which lies adjacent to Kumarakom.  The impressive success of her debut novel on an international level also gave an impetus to tourism in this part of Kerala. Declared as a Special Tourism Zone by the Government of Kerala, Kumarakom attracts tourists with its own range of houseboats, a private sailing club at the shore of the Vembanad Lake, exotic Ayurveda treatments at most of its resorts and its own boat race.


The other backwater regions include Kollam, Kuttanad, Munroe Island, Kasargod, Thiruvallam and Kozhikode. Kollam is known as the gateway to the backwaters due to the Ashtamudi Lake. The longest backwater cruise (8 hours) from Kollam to Alappuzha can be engaging. Kuttanad region is also known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Kerala. Here, green paddy fields are all that meet the eye apart from the active rural life. Scenic views are never lost.  Thiruvallam is slowly gaining popularity as a backwater destination. It is known for its canoe rides and it is very close to the Veli Lagoon that offers boating cruises and a park for children. However, Alleppey and Kumarkom rule the roost as backwater tourist destinations.


As your eyes feast on the Vembanad Lake and the breathtaking beaches, you are smitten by these voracious destinations that desire praise by being simple yet attractive. The silent beauty of the backwaters of Kerala is proof that sometimes you just need to contemplate the elegance of nature around you, which otherwise goes unnoticed.



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Quick Reference

Alleppey and Kumarakom are the most popular backwater tourist destinations in India and define the natural beauty that Kerala possesses. Houseboats, boat races, delicious seafood, handicrafts, handlooms and palm wine are the few reasons that make them top notch destinations. The winter season is the best season to visit the backwaters because both summer and monsoon are harsh. Accessible by rail, air and road, these backwater destinations are engaging.

 

Destination Grade: A (What is this?)
Rating: 9/10
Population: 2105349
5 Star Hotels: Punamada Lake Resort,Arcadia Regency
Luxury Hotels: Club Mahindra Backwater retreat,Lake Palace
Airport: Kochi airport 54 km,Trivandrum airport 154 km
Railway Station: Allepy Railwaystation,Ernakulam Railwaystation
Nearest Major City(s): Cochin, Kottayam, Changanassery and Chengannur
How to reach: KSRTC buses are plenty which are connecting all the major cities in Kerala. Trivandrum to Alleppey costs less than Rs 100 and Cochin to Alleppey costs less than Rs 50. Private luxury coach buses are available to interstate destinations like Bangalore, Chennai and Managlore.
Major Tourist Attraction: st.Andrews church,Nehru trophy snake boat race,Krishnapuram palace,Backwater Kumarakom,Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom
Speciality(Famous for): Backwaters,Houseboat stay
Food speciality: Pal Payasam (Milk Kheer)
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Rating:
60.0
68 votes
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Total Reviews : 9
 
 
Reviews by users : (9)
Avenue from Allepey - by Sopan Patil Dated : 2012-02-15
There is a ferry from Allepey to Kottayam. I recommend this ferry to people who want to get a quick feel of the Kerala backwaters. The only other way to visit and spend a longer amount of time in the Kerala backwaters is by hiring an expensive house boat.

When I was at the Allepey beach, I visited the lighthouse near the beach. This lighthouse was built by Captain Hugh Crawford in 1862. There are also remains of an old go down near the Allepey beach.

I took the ferry from Allepey beach to Kottayam. After covering a considerable amount of distance in the Kerala backwaters, comes a water road. This water road is so beautiful that you are just amazed at its beauty. There is only water and there are coconut trees that you can see and it actually soothes your senses and relaxes you.

If you go further into the backwaters by this ferry, you will reach a water canal and the houses at either side of this canal are closer to each other. There are also some over bridges in this area.

If you want to book a houseboat in the Kerala backwaters, I would suggest that you should book the houseboat after you visit the backwaters. This is because some of the houseboats there are very old and outdated. There will be hundreds of houseboats there, and you will have to pick one.
Allepey, a Relaxing Place - by Radhika Dayal Dated : 2012-02-09
The Allepey beach was an important trade centre in the past. Now there are ruins of old go downs at the beach. At the Allepey beach, you will also find remains of a temple facing the beach and Bishop’s house. You will also get to see the St. Xavier’s chapel at the Allepey beach.
Allepey is also called Alappuzha. Visitors to the Allepey beach can also have a look at the old lighthouse, which was built by Captain Hugh Crawford. This lighthouse was built, way back in 1862 and is located close to the Allepey beach. Camel riding and horse riding is also available at the Allepey beach.
I was also fortunate to visit the Kerala backwaters. After a certain point, there are only water and coconut trees that you can see in the Kerala backwaters. The water road is so beautiful that you want to just keep looking at it. As you proceed towards Kottayam from Allepey beach, you will get to see a smaller water road. This is similar to a water canal. The houses on either side of the water road are close to each other. There were small over bridges on this water canal. The person at the bridge has to lift the over bridge, so that our ferry can go under it. Overall the experience was very good and enjoyable.
Allepey, a Nice Getaway - by Emiley Drew Dated : 2011-12-22
I am sure that you have heard a lot about the Kerala backwaters. It is one of the best and most expensive holiday destinations in India. But you will be surprised if I tell you that you can enjoy the same Kerala backwaters at a reasonable price.
This is possible if you go to Allepey beach. I am a foreign tourist and my budget for visiting Kerala was not high. But all the same, I wanted to experience the Kerala backwaters. Some locals helped me in fulfilling my desire to visit the backwaters.

They told me that I should take a ferry from Allepey beach to Kottayam. In this way, I could visit the Kerala backwaters at a price of Rs. 10. Most of the people on the ferry were locals, who had gone to buy stuff from Allepey. They were now on their way back to the backwaters.

On either side of the backwaters, there were grocery shops, houses, post offices and temples. I saw some of the houseboats which were built for commercial purposes. These houseboats are offered to tourists when they come to Kerala.
I also spent a considerable amount of time at the Allepey beach, before getting on to the ferry. The beach itself was beautiful, although the jetty on the beach was not in good shape.

Anyway, the whole experience was wonderful.
Allepey, A Cool Place - by Rogger Costa Dated : 2011-11-21
I went to Allepey, on my way from Trivandrum to Cochin. I have to tell you that if you want to experience the Kerala backwaters at a cheap price, going to Allepey is the best option. I remember that I bought a ticket on the ferry, which would giver me feel of the Kerala backwaters. The ferry ticket was from Allepey to Kottayam.

The ferry ticket was just Rs. 10. Most on the people on the ferry were locals. There were just a few tourists on the ferry. Looking at the locals, I could sense that they had been to Allepey to buy some stuff and now were on their way back to Kottayam.

As we approached the Kerala backwater, I was awestruck by its beauty. I saw a number of houseboats which were afloat at the sides of the backwaters. These are the same houseboats, for which people pay exorbitant prices to visit the Kerala backwaters.

The houseboats were resting, as it was off-season. On either side of the water stream, there were houses, grocery shops, post offices and temples or churches. The ferry stopped at about 15 to 20 places.

The commuters easily got in and out of the ferry, as they were used to it. The ferry had left the jetty at Allepey beach at 11.30 am.

Thus you can see how you can enjoy the backwaters at a reasonable price.
Beach at Allepey - by Jasmit Kaur Dated : 2011-11-19
The beach at Allepey is gorgeous because it is located on a thin strip of land. This thin strip of land is located between the Arabian Sea and the Kerala backwaters. The Arabian Sea has crystal clear water and even the Kerala backwaters are very clean.

The sunrise and sunset at the Allepey beach is mesmerizing, so if you go to this beach, you should not miss the sunrise and the sunset.

The Alllepey beach is perfect for a weekend holiday, as it has clear water and white sand. It is not only the water which is clean, even the beaches are very clean. The main reason behind the beach being clean is that it is not very populated. There are even fresh water lakes near the beach.

There is an open air stage near the beach, where cultural programmes are held. There are 2 parks near the Allepey beach. One is Vijaya Park and the other is Sea view Park. Both these parks have boating facilities.

The charges for boating are nominal. The boat rentals are for 10 minutes. The rental for the round boat is Rs.10 and for the pedal boat is Rs.15. if you want to take a camera with you, while boating, you have to pay Rs.100 and if you want a video permit, you have to pay Rs.15.

Thus you can see that the Allepey beach is fun, as it has many activities.
Allepey, an Enjoyable Place - by Ricky Edward Dated : 2011-11-18
The Allepey beach has a walkway near it. The walkway is wonderful, as it is lined with trees. There are benches provided near the walkway, where people can sit and enjoy the sea breeze and the gorgeous view.

Once on the Allepey beach, you can enjoy the wonderful sunrise and sunset. There is a jetty built on the beach, it is 1000 feet long and is 137 years old. The jetty was built in 1862 and was used for loading and unloading of material in the past. This was because; trading was prevalent in those days.

The jetty is in ruins now. On the southern side of the beach is an entertainment park for families, called Vijaya Park. This park was built by the District tourism promotion council (DTPC). Vijaya Park has a swimming pool, bicycle riding and toy train.

Vijaya Park built by the DTPC, is open from 3 pm to 8 pm. The entry fee is nominal. For adults, the entry fee is Rs.5 and for children, it is Rs.3. For children under 5 years of age, the entry into Vijaya Park is free.

If you want to carry a camera into Vijaya Park, you have to pay Rs.5 for the permit and if you want to carry a video camera, you have to pay Rs.25.
All in all, Allepey beach is a cool place.
Allepey Beach - by Mangal Arora Dated : 2011-11-17
Allepey beach is also known as Alappuzha beach. The Allepey beach is beautiful, as it is located on a thin strip of land. This thin strip of land has the Arabian Sea on the west and the Kerala, backwaters on the east. The Kerala backwaters are called Punnamada.

The beach here is gorgeous because it has white sand and freshwater lakes. There are a few buildings near the beach. All in all, the Allepey beach is a perfect place for a vacation. Once on the Allepey beach, you can experience magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

I went to Allepey with my relatives. In all we were 2 families. We reached the Alappuzha railway station and headed towards our hotel. After resting in the hotel, we went to the Allepey beach. The Allepey beach is just 2 kilometres away from the Alappuzha railway station.

There is ample parking space near the Allepey beach. The beach also has an open air stage, where cultural events are held. There is also walkway near the beach, which has been built nicely.

There are trees lined on the edge of the walkway and there are benches, where people can sit and enjoy the sea breeze. On e can also enjoy the view, sitting on these benches. There is a 137 year old jetty built on the Allepey beach. The jetty was built by Captain Hugh Crawford in the year 1862.
Allepey, A Wonder - by Eric Antia Dated : 2011-11-16
There is a place called Marari which is adjacent to Allepey. There are various activities which you can carry out in Marari, as there are miles of beaches in Marari. The beaches have palms, which adds even more beauty to the place.

The beaches in Marari are clean and serene as Marari is a small village in Kerala. You can experience the Kerala hospitality in this place. You can swim in the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Sea and can also sun bathe on the shores.

There are various activities that you can carry out in Marari. Some of these activities are parasailing, snorkelling and surfing. You can also play beach volleyball and build castles in the sand and feel like a kid again.

Marari is also called Mararikulam and it is a local fishing village. Marrai is just 60 kilometres away from Cochin. When you are in Marari, you can also visit the Kerala backwaters.

I went to Marari with a group of friends and enjoyed the place to the fullest. We hadn’t expected a lot from Marari, as it is a small place, but to our surprise, the place was gorgeous. The actual beauty of the place, laid in the fact that it is small place.

Marari has a hot and humid climate all year round. As Marai has such a climate, people in India can escape Indian winters by visiting this place.

Palm Beach in Kerala - by Vitthal Kawate Dated : 2011-11-16
I am single and I have always wanted to go on a vacation all alone, before I get married. This is because I want to enjoy my freedom to the fullest. Some of my friends had told me about Allepey in Kerala, and eventually I decided to go there for my vacation.

I work in the corporate sector and badly needed a break, so I went to Allepey. There is a place called Marari beach which is adjacent to Allepey and it is one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen. Marari is also called Mararikulam.

Marari is one of the local fishing villages in Kerala. Because it’s a village, most of village charm is still prevalent in Marari. You can experience the virgin territory of this place. The beaches in Marari have miles of sand and palms swaying in the background.

You can experience the Kerala hospitality at its best in Marari. When in Marari, you can visit the Kerala backwaters. Marari is one of India’s best kept secrets. I reached Cochin and headed towards Marai by car, as Marari is 60 kilometres away from Cochin.

Marari has a hot and humid climate, all year round, as the Arabian sea is just on its shores. There are various activities that you can do on the Marari beach. Some of these activities are sun bathing and swimming in the crystal clear waters on the beach.