Alleppey is a quaint little town situated in the south Indian state of Kerala. The city is officially known as the Alappuzha. The city lies on the coast of the Laccadive Sea. There is a widespread network of interlinked canals, backwaters, and lagoons. There are a plethora of Alleppey tourist attractions among which backwaters are the most popular among travelers. The city is dotted with the refreshing Ayurvedic resorts and palm-fringed beaches which lure a large number of tourists from all over the world.
There is a huge list of things to do in Alleppey among which the most famous one is to enjoy the renowned houseboat cruises that sail through the tranquil backwaters, where you can enjoy the beautiful sight of the green paddy fields, choir making activity, avifauna and experience how the locals lead their life in Kerala. The Alleppey beach is just on the shore of the Arabian Sea. It is a lovely sight of the glistening waters, as you pass along the Malabar Coast. The allure of this beach is only enhanced by the history involved with it, and also there is the 137-year old pier which makes it a must-visit place. In August and September, there is an enthralling snake boat race event that takes place which is organized rather traditionally. You can also drink some toddy, which is palm wine. This will add a little reality to your Alleppey tour guide.
Alleppey is one of the cleanest cities in India and the design of the town is one of the oldest. This idyllic little town is a scenic coastal pleasure, with the backwaters, ponds, seaways, beaches uniquely adorning the city. It’s because of these fascinating features, Alleppey was nicknamed as the 'Venice of the East', by the then viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The backwaters in Alleppey makes it one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Kerala. Other places on the Alleppey travel guide are the Alleppey Beach, offering a splendid sight of the Laccadive Sea, the Krishnapuram Palace, St. Andrew's Basilica, and the Hari Pada Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple.
Alleppey history is somewhat closely related to the 1st century AD when St Thomas, who was one of the twelve devotees of Jesus Christ, had come here and preached Christianity in South India. Many years later the Portuguese and the Dutch visited and dominated the Kerala region. They further had a strong foothold of the Christian religion in the region. During their reign, they built the renowned St. Andrews Basilica in the 17th century. Maharaja Marthanda Varma, who is known as the ‘Maker of modern Travancore’ also had a greater political influence on Alleppey. The town gave birth to revolts against the feud of the British Rule and hence it played a vital role in the struggle of Indian Independence. The well-known Social rebellion, in which more than a thousand freedom fighters were killed during the struggle period namely Punnapra Vayalur took place here.
Kuttanad, which is quite often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of India” is located in the backwaters of Alleppey. The area offers a beautiful green display of rich paddy fields, as you cross on the houseboat these paddy fields are scattered with coconut trees. The paddy is grown on vast fields of agricultural land from the Vembanad Lake. These domestic areas are known as Padsekharam. Primarily, the reclaiming was made by hand with water wheels, and afterward, the steam engines were used. The 4 major rivers namely the Manimala, Achankovil, Meenachil, and Pampa provides water to the paddy fields of Alleppey. It is said that it is the only region in the world where farming is done up to 3 meters below sea level. Kuttanad is the lowest altitude place in India.
This is the Alappuzha tourist guide, we hope you get all the necessary information from here and it will help you to plan your tour.