The most important tourist attraction in Alleppey is the leisurely boatcruise through the stretch of backwaters fringed by coconut palms. Alleppey, one of the exotic sites of backwater tourism in the state of Kerala is better known as the "Venice of the East" for its labyrinth of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers crisscrossing it. This tiny town in Kerala attracts tourists especially during the time of the annual boat race.

For tourists Alleppey is the pivotal point for boat cruises into Kerala's famed backwaters and the state's lush rice bowl, Kuttanad. The boat cruise along the backwaters of Alleppey give one a first hand experience of the simple life style of the people which is a far cry form the bustle and ratrace of people in the cities in India. One of the most popular cruise routes are from Alleppey south to Kollam (Quilon) for about 8 hours including stops for lunch, chai (tea), a temple visit and a kathakali (dance drama) apart from enjoying the most entrancing scenery of palm-lined banks, quiet water-bound villages, Chinese fishing nets, prawn farming and coir manufacture.

There are several tourist attractions in and around Alleppey. Mullackal Bhagavathi Temple in the heart of town dedicated to Goddess Rajarajeshwari gives the feel of a typical KeralaTemple.Alleppey Beach has a long stretch of sandy beach with a lighthouse and a pier jutting out into the sea, a reminder of its age-old maritime importance.

The not-to-be-missed spectacle in Alleppey is, of course, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which began in 1952 on the occasion of the visit of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to Alleppey, It is now a major event held in August on Punnamada Lake and features the gigantic snake-boats of Kerala, the chundans, once the battleships of the Malayalee kings of ancient times. Today the Boat Race has grown into Alleppey's single most important tourist event, with each boat being sponsored by a different village. Competition is severe as the boats, with over 100 rowers in each, race to the finish to the accompaniment of rousing music. Alleppey offers glimpses of the coir manufacturing process-from the coconut husk tot the final rope/coir yarn stage. There are also several shops selling coir matting and carpets.

Excursions from Alleppey

A tourist can make excursions from Alleppey to nearby historic places and scenic spots. Pathiramanal, a beautiful little island in the Vembanad Lake, which can be reached only by boat, is set to be developed as a major tourist spot. The Sri Krishna temple at Ambalapuzha, 14 km from Alleppey, is among Kerala's most famous temples with the typical temple architectural style of the state. It is equally famed for its palpayasam, sweet milk porridge offered to the diet. Close to Ambalapuzha, the village of Karumadi is famous for its Karumadi Kuttan a black granite figure of Buddha, said to belong to the 9th or 10th Century. During his visit to Kerala in 1965, the Dalai Lama worshipped at this shrine. Arthinkal, known for the St. Andrews Church established by Portuguese missionaries in 1951, is near Sherthallai, 22 km north of Alleppey. The feast of St. Sebastian is held here every January. On the Pamba river is Chambakulam, the site for the famous boat regatta held during August/September, which has traditionally involved the participation of all communities. The 18th Century Krishnapuram Palace, built during the reign of the Travancore monarch, Marthanda Varma, houses one of the largest mural paintings in Kerala, called the Gajendra Moksham. A short distance from Alleppey, is Punnapra, a village which has gone down in history as the scene of a battle between the Communists and the Travancore State Police in the Punnapra-Vayalar Communist Uprising of 1946.Mannarasala, 32 km from Alleppey, is a very important center of serpent worship in Kerala, Built in a cool grove of trees and shrubs, this temple is said to contain 30,000 images of snake-gods, which line the path to the temple.

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