Alleppey – The Venice of the East | Adventures of Frugal Mom

Alleppey – The Venice of the East from North Carolina Lifestyle Blogger Adventures of Frugal Mom

For most of us, Kerala symbolizes backwaters, houseboats, the Onam celebrations, and the snake boat races. Just to spill the beans for those who haven’t visited Kerala ever, Alleppey is the center for all of these things.

Alappuzha, better known by its former name Allepey, is rightly called the Venice of the East. The city has backwaters, canals, lagoons, and beaches all over, just like Venice in Italy. Water runs in this Kerala city as it does in Venice of Italy and like streets do in any other city. Hence, it was Lord Curzon who named Alappuzha as “the Venice of the East”.

Seven Things to do in Alleppey

Below is a list of actions that you can do while you’re in Alleppey. If you’re looking for Kerala tour packages for family, do not forget to include Alleppey to enjoy these things over there.

1.Enjoy the picturesque views – While you’re in Alleppey, you don’t really need to go anywhere to find a beautiful, picturesque location for that perfect Instagram story. You’re always surrounded by breathtaking views. Kerala is also known as God’s own country because people believe that Kerala, and especially Alleppey, is just a reflection of heaven. So all you need to do is turn around and keep capturing this heaven in the lens of your eyes and camera.

2. Houseboat Cruise – The modern-day houseboats are well furnished with all the modern facilities like an exquisite deck, lavish bedrooms, elaborate kitchens, and contemporary bathrooms. Generally, the Kerala tour packages for families are incomplete without a houseboat cruise. You can either choose to spend only your day in the houseboat and leave by the evening, or you can also stay here for a night. On the houseboats, you’re free to dance with your partner or family or just sit and relax while the boat sails through the serene backwaters.

3. Enjoy Boat Racing – The famous snake boat race of Kerala takes place during the Onam celebrations around August and September. Hence, if you want to witness the historical snake boat races, you will have to plan your Kerala trip around Onam. Known as Vallam Kali in Malayalam, four main boat races take place in and around Alleppey from July to September depending on the phases of the moon and the harvest festival of Onam. The four main races are the Nehru Trophy, the Champakkulam Moolam, the Payippad Jalotsavam, and the Aranmula Boat Race.

4. Backwater Kayaking – If you’re an adrenaline junkie and your trip remains imperfect without an adventurous activity, then this is certainly for you. Take a kayak and explore the backwaters yourself. Take a closer look at the city and its splendor. Enjoy the magnificence of the city while you can actually touch it.

5. Beach Activities – Just 16 km away from Alleppey is located the Marari beach. You can enjoy swimming or sunbathe on the beach. You can also choose to relax while the waves roar or take a romantic stroll with your partner, leaving behind your footprints on the seashore.

6. Kuttanad Visit – Situated just 11 km from Alleppey is Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala. It’s famous for its green paddy fields and for its lowest altitude in India. There are only a few places where farming is done beneath the sea level, and Kuttanad is one of them. Also known as the Netherlands of Kerala because it’s the granary of the state, Kuttanad is situated 7-10 feet below sea level. It’s a wonderful experience to visit this one-of-its-kind place.

7. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary – Popularly known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary, it’s situated around 30 km from Alleppey. It’s home to many native as well as migratory birds. This makes it the perfect destination for nature lovers and bird watchers. Also, the scenic beauty all around makes it an ideal place for photographers and picnic lovers.

It’s easy to reach Alapuzzha from Thiruvananthapuram by road. The distance between the two cities is around 150 km, and it takes approximately four hours to cover this distance. However, it’s easier to reach Alleppey from Kochi as it is just 53km away. Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram both have international airports and easy connectivity with the whole country. They are also easily accessible from many parts of the world through direct flights.

For people who find Venice far and costlier should visit Allepey, the Venice of the East. Not only will it have the Indian feel but also the people here are quite welcoming and friendly. So don’t forget to pay your visit to this absolutely stunning backwater city.