Kerala's main backwater town, known for houseboat cruises, canals, paddy fields and a long beach.
FamousBackwatersBeachLakeHeritage
People come to Alleppey to cruise the backwaters of Vembanad Lake and Kuttanad, where rice is grown on reclaimed land below sea level. The town also has a beach with an old pier and lighthouse, and temples, churches and a palace museum within a short drive. It suits couples, families and groups who want a slow trip, and it is only about an hour by road or rail from Kochi.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
The backwaters at AlleppeyA houseboat at AlleppeyA traditional Kerala houseboatBoat on the water at Alappuzha
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to February
The main season. Days are about 20 to 32 C and mostly dry, which is best for houseboats and sightseeing. Crowds and prices are highest, and some houseboat operators double their rates from about 20 December to 5 January.
March to May
Hot and humid, about 27 to 36 C. Fewer visitors and lower prices; houseboat operators advertise discounts.
June to September
Monsoon, about 24 to 30 C with frequent heavy rain that can spoil outdoor plans. The landscape is green and rates are lower. The Nehru Trophy snake boat race is held on Punnamada Lake on the second Saturday of August.
Sights and activities
1
Backwater cruise on Punnamada Lake and Kuttanad
The main reason to visit. Houseboats, small shikara boats and canoes take visitors along Vembanad Lake and the canals of Kuttanad, past paddy fields that lie below sea level.
Distance
Boats start from the town jetty and Punnamada, in town
Entry
No entry fee; shikara about 1000 to 1500 per hour, kayaking about 750 per person for 2 hours, overnight houseboat for two from about 7000 to 10500
Timings
Day cruises usually run about 11 am to 5 pm; overnight houseboats check in at 12 noon and check out about 9.30 am
An 18th-century palace in Kerala style, now a museum. It holds the Gajendra Moksham mural, one of the largest in Kerala, with sculptures, paintings and bronzes.
Distance
About 49 km south of town, near Kayamkulam
Entry
10 adults, 5 children; camera 25
Timings
About 9 am to 4.30 or 5 pm with a lunch break around 1 to 2 pm, closed Mondays
Alappuzha is on NH 66, about 62 km south of Kochi and about 155 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. KSRTC and private buses run along the highway, and the KSRTC stand is next to the boat jetty.
By train
Alappuzha railway station is in the town, about 3 to 4 km from the centre and boat jetty. Trains from Ernakulam Junction take about 1 hour.
By air
Cochin International Airport, about 83 km (about 2 hours by NH 66). Trivandrum International Airport is about 149 km.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Alappuzha town near the boat jetty and Punnamada for houseboats and canal trips, or near the beach; Marari Beach to the north is a quieter resort area.
Getting around
Auto-rickshaws cover the town; the ride from the railway station to the boat jetty costs about 70.
Local buses and taxis are easy to find; the KSRTC bus stand is about a minute's walk from the main boat jetty.
Public ferries leave the main jetty on Vadai Canal for Kottayam and backwater villages such as Champakulam.
Shikara boats cost about 1000 to 1500 per hour, and guided kayaking about 750 per person for 2 hours.
Scooters can be hired through hotels.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Top beach resorts at Marari, or a private overnight houseboat with meals
₹10,500 to ₹23,500
Food
Restaurants cluster around Beach Road and Mullakkal Street. Seafood with coconut is the local staple, and Kerala set meals and fish thalis are widely served. Houseboat stays include lunch, tea, dinner and breakfast cooked on board. Toddy, a fermented palm drink, is sold at local toddy shops.
Try these
Karimeen (pearl spot fish, usually fried or cooked in spices)
Fish curry with rice (coconut-based curry served as a set meal)
Puttu and kadala (steamed rice cakes with chickpea curry)
Appam (soft rice pancakes eaten with curry)
Kerala parotta (layered flatbread)
Pal payasam (sweet milk and rice pudding, famous at Ambalapuzha temple)
Vegetarian Kerala meals, dosa, idli, puttu and appam are easy to find, for example at Indian Coffee House.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,200
₹400
₹150 per person
Mid-range
₹5,000
₹900
₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury
₹15,000
₹2,000
₹3,000 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit requirement was found for Indian visitors. Carry a photo ID for hotel and houseboat check-in.
Safety
By day
A busy, well-visited tourist town. On the water, check that the boat carries life jackets and that the houseboat is registered and its crew licensed.
At night
Houseboats stop cruising in the evening and stay moored overnight.
Roads
NH 66 links Alappuzha with Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Heavy monsoon rain from June to September can disrupt travel and outdoor plans.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are easy to find in town.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town.
Medical
Hospitals are easy to find across the city. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states.
