Alleppey Hotels

Alleppey, in the southern state of Kerala, India, is nestled amidst charming beaches, rivers and lakes. Known for its natural splendour and many waterways, Alleppey, called the Venice of the East, attracts tourists from all over the world. It offers birds and animals in their natural habitation, historical and religious sites, distinctive houseboat vacations and race boat festivals unique to Kerala. The popular Vembanad Lake and Kayamkulam Lake are perfect for backwater cruises. Hire a houseboat or kettuvallam to celebrate a lazy holiday along the waterways. The town is famous for its coir industry and prawn farming. Shops selling coir products such as carpets, mats and other souvenirs along with other spice shops can be found on the backwaters.

The Payippad Boat Race is a remarkable race that begins Onam, Kerala’s trademark festival, and continues for three days. The snake boat races are also a highly anticipated event, with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race held annually during the second week of August on the Champakulam and Punnamada lakes. Some of the must-see religious and historical sites include St. Andrews Church, St. Mary’s Church, Edathua Church, Pandavan Rock, Karumadi, Krishnapuram Palace and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

When To Go

Being a coastal area, Alleppey is humid throughout the year. The peak time for tourists is during the cooler months of October through February, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F). Summer months are hot and sticky with temperatures reaching 37°C (99°F). Monsoon season in Alleppey includes heavy downpours and is the least popular time of the year for tourism. Avoid travel during this season due to flooded roads. Various festivals and celebrations are held between August and November, and can be an exciting time to experience the merriment. Following are average yearly temperatures:

• October through February: 25°C (77°F); March: 29°C (84°F)

• April through June: 37°C (99°F)

• July through September (Monsoon): 31°C (88°F)

Getting There

Kerala provides an extensive public transportation network throughout the state. Popular modes of transport include flights, trains, buses, taxis and car rentals. The nearest airports to Alleppey are the Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin International Airport and Ernakulam Airport.

Taxis are readily available at the airports. Buses travel between Alleppey and other local regions at a low cost. The Alleppey train station has railway connections to the cities within Kerala as well as to other states of India. The majority of natives speak sufficient English, making travelling easier. Malayalam is their native language.

• International flights are mainly connected to the UAE, Dubai and Kuwait, but also to several other countries.

• KSRTC government buses between Alleppey and Trivandrum cost less than Rs 100; buses between Alleppey and Cochin cost less than Rs 50.

• If travelling from Kottayam, you can take the local ferry or the tourist ferry from Kollam.

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