Alleppey – Venice of the East

Alleppey also known as Alappuzha as its winding waterways, lush paddy fields, and palm-shaded streets are a sight to behold… and it’s no secret! Cruising the Alleppey backwaters is one of the most popular ways to explore Kerala, God’s Own Country a southern state in India.

Alleppey is the hotbed for a huge network of backwater canals and those amazing houseboats. With its fair share of some of Kerala’s finest beaches, ‘beach hopping’ is one of the best ways to enjoy the shores here.

Memorable experience of staying in a houseboat is when it is moving through the beautiful canals and rivers of Alleppey . During the trip tourist can see local villages on the banks of Alleppey canals, traditional Kerala homes, local people travel by small country boats who use these mode of transport to sell ethnic items or they used to travel from one place to another place, paddy fields, fleet of ducks, birds like eagle, king fisher etc – all combination of these experience make the houseboat trip memorable one. You will also experience shrimp farms, ancient churches and heritage homes line the outskirts of town.

Vallam Kali, also known as Kerala Boat Race, is one of the most picturesque and traditional festivals in southern India. Every year the Vallam Kali festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam, which generally falls in the calendar months of August and September. These snake boats or ‘chundanvallam’ are up to 100 feet long and bring the serene backwaters to life. These are spectacles that need to be experienced in person to know their true beauty.

Alleppey have many small and big canals, big rivers, remote villages and small lakes. Each of these canals and rivers have its own importance, like when you move in a narrow canal, you can see local villages on the both sides, but some canals one can experience only paddy fields. Some rivers are too big in width, tripping more time in this river make you boring. Always small and narrow canals are more scenic beauty than big rivers and lakes.

Below are the best canals in Alleppey one can have a memorable trip, in case your houseboat is making a trip in these canals or rivers.

1. Akkathara Canal
The Akkathara Canal is on number one position due to three reasons. It has just 22-25ft in width, both sides one can experience local villages and paddy fields. This is the best narrow canal where small houseboats i.e. 1 bed room or two bed room which have a width of max 13ft can make a trip. A house boat takes approximately 30-35mins to complete the trip through this canal. During the trip through this canal, tourist have a chance to experience Kerala traditional villages on the both sides, locals traveling by country boats, birds like kingfishers – all these makes this canal more attractive than other canals.

2. Venattukadu Canal
This is second best canal having a width of 25-28ft in width. Houseboats have one or two bed room which has a width of max 14ft and less in height can make a trip through this canal. During the trip, tourist have a chance to experience Kerala traditional villages on the both sides, locals traveling by country boats, birds like kingfishers – all these makes this canal more attractive. Total approximate cruise time through this canal is 20mins

3. Kainakary Thod Canal
Third best canal after Akkathara and Venatukadu canal where small houseboats i.e. 1 bed room or two bed room which have a width of max 14ft can make a trip. Having a width of 25-30 ft, this canal is very famous of local settlers. One can also experience paddy field mixed with local village homes. Total approximate cruise time through this canal is 15mins.

4. Irumpanam Thod Canal
Irumpanam thod (canal) is one of the best canals in Alleppey. It is approx 50-60ft in width and it takes almost 20 minutes to cross the canal by houseboat. Main attraction of this canal is one side of the canal is paddy field and other side, local is settled with their homes giving tourists a chance to see local village and paddy fields.

5. Muttethod canal
Muttethod canal is approx 35-40ft in width and most of houseboats irrespective of its size and top floor can make a trip. The canal looks beautiful with its coconut palm trees and a couple of local homes on the both sides. It takes approx 10 minute to cross the canal.

6. SNDP Thod Canal
This canal is located near famous houseboat boarding point like Finishing Point and Punnamada Jetty. All the houseboats, irrespective of its size, top floor or width, can make a trip in this canal as the canals is approx 75ft in width. During the trip through this canal, one can see both side villages and local homes. One can also see one hindu temple on the banks of this canal. It takes approx 25 – 30mins to cover this canal.

7. Poleppadam Canal – Thayamkary Canal
Those who like peace environment, remove village, no man land areas or less crowded place, birds around you – all these available in this canal. No houseboat generally cover this canal as its not nearby to central Alleppey. This canal can be covered by those houseboats which make trip to Thottappally, Alumkadavu, Thakazi route. It takes approx 45mins to cover this canal.

8. Kanjippadam – Thottappally Canal
This Kanjippadam – Thottappally Canal is a very beautiful having approx 35ft in width in some place and in some area approx 50-60ft with. No houseboat usually make a trip through this route as its not located nearby central Alleppey backwaters. Since this canal does not have usual traffic of houseboats or water transport as in central Alleppey canals, tourist those who like to have a peaceful trip with not so much houseboat or motor boats. The famous Karumadi Kutten Budha temple is also located on the banks of this canal.

Those who are travelling from Kochi/Munnar/Thekkedy (periyar) to Kovalam, we advise them to take a houseboat trip boarding at Alleppey and drop at Pallathuruthy. Though its little bit costlier than usual houseboat charges, this trip gives you a different experience.

9. Achankovil River
Achankovil River is located in between Thottappally and Thyamakari Canal. This canal is very beautiful to see as both sides round the year one can see paddy field and its harvesting.

This place is paradise for nature lovers with greenery, birds and specially a no man land area. Hardly one can see any local village or home. It takes approx 45mins to cover this canal. One needs to hire a private shikkara to experience this canal. This place is located very close to Thakazhi town.

There are other tourist places in Alleppey that you should not miss which can be covered while being on Houseboat like Kuttanad, Pathiramanal, Karumadi Temple (Bhuddha Temple), Mannarasala (Sree Naga Raja Temple), and Ambalapuzha Temple devoted to Lord Krishna. Marari beach which is around 12 kms away from Alleppey is popular for sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, and if you’re looking for some water-sports then you must visit this beach.

Alleppey is not just the place popular for beaches, temples, shops, churches or other tourist spots. Rather it is one of the tourist destinations that can offer some delicious food items like The Kerala Sadya, Puttu and Kadala, Malabar Biryani, Kerala Fish Curry, Idiyappam, Ela Ada, Shappu Meen Curry, Thalassery Biryani, Semiya Payasam, Karimeen Pollichathu, Illanur and Kallu and Pulissery.