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| Beyond India Destinations >>Alleppey |
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Alleppey |
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Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha is a beach city located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kerala. Alleppey is famous for its beaches, canals, streams, backwaters and lagoons and is affectionately called the Venice of the East. Alleppey is one of the most important tourist destinations in Kerala as it is famous for its boat cruises, boat races, beach resorts, backwater resorts and lake resorts. Alleppey is also the center of coir industry in Kerala and boasts of having the largest number of coir factories in Kerala. Historical records show that Alleppey had one of the best ports in ancient times and trade relations existed with Greece and Rome. Alleppey, due to the presence of canals and backwaters has become the center of houseboat cruises and backwater tourism in Kerala and facilities are available for houseboat cruises along the Kerala backwaters. Alleppey has several ayurveda treatment centers and several hotels and resorts in Alleppey located close to the beach offer ayurveda treatments. |
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Fact Sheet |
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Area |
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1,414 Sq.Km. |
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Population |
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2,105,349 (2001) |
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Altitude |
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Sea Level |
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Language |
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Malayalam |
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Climate |
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Min 22c Max 35c |
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Rainfall |
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350cm annually |
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Season |
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Throughout the year |
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Clothing |
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Tropical |
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Access |
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Air: The nearest international airport is at Nedumbassery, Ernakulam, 86 km to North. Trivandrum International Airport is 159 kms to the south. Rail: Alappuzha is linked by rail to cities like Cochin, Chennai, Bokaro and Mumbai. Road: Alappuzha is on the NH 47 highway and is connected to all important towns in South India. Boat Services: Alappuzha is linked by boat service through the backwaters to Quilon, Changanassery, Kottayam, Cochin, Kumarakom, Kavalam and Chengannoor. Local Transport: Taxis, City Buses and Autorickshaws. |
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Alleppey at Glance |
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Alleppey has one of the best beaches in Kerala and every tourist visiting Alleppey spends several hours strolling along this clean beach in Kerala. Alleppey beach is also one of the most popular picnic spots in Kerala .A 137 year old pier that extends far in to the sea is also another famous tourist attraction in Alleppey. There is also a park called “Vijaya Park” located on the beach where children spend several hours and is a “must see place” for tourists. [Back] Kuttanad is famous for its inland waterways and is full of canals, streams and backwaters. Kuttanad is a favored tourist destination for tourists in Kerala as the place boasts of having several fully furnished houseboats and tourists are seen cruising along the backwaters in these house boats. Kuttanad is also called the rice bowel of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where cultivation is done below sea level. A visit to Kuttanad offers the tourists a chance to mingle with the local population and learn their customs and traditions. Kuttanad is home to some of the best fish delicacies in Kerala, especially the Karimeen (pearl spot fish) that are available in abundance. Fishing facilities along the Kerala backwaters are also available to the tourists during their houseboat cruises in the Kerala backwaters. [Back] Kerala Houseboats also called Kettuvalloms in Kerala are an important feature of Kerala tourism. These houseboats are on average over eighty feet in length and feature all the comforts of a modern day star hotel. A luxury house boat comes with clean and hygienic toilets, swimming pool on upper deck, a balcony for angling, open lounge, kitchenette, well furnished bedrooms, air conditioners, and a crew comprising of two oarsmen and a cook. The houseboats are made of Anjily, a hardwood available in Kerala. These house boats are luxuriously furnished and a houseboat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in one of these luxuriously furnished house boats is an experience of a life time. Some of these modern day houseboats, however, are powered by outboard engines. These house boats offer the best Kerala fish delicacies and fresh fish are caught straight from the backwaters. The pearl spot fish, also called Karimeen is one of the most important fish delicacies in Kerala and this forms a part of the menu in the houseboat apart from lobsters, crabs etc. Most of the hotels and resorts in Alleppey make arrangements for houseboat cruises for their guests. A house boat cruise along the Kerala backwaters in Alleppey is a must for all tourists visiting Kerala.and is an experience of a life time. [Back] Vijaya Beach Park is another well known tourist attraction in Alleppey situated on the Alleppey beach. Vijaya Park is also a favorite picnic spot in Alleppey and families can be seen taking their children along and spending leisure moments in this park. Vijaya park also offers boating facilities and the park is open from 1500 hours to 2000 hours. There is an entrance fee of Rupees. 2 per person and children below the age of 5 are given free admission to the park. Charges for boating facilities in the park are Rs. 10 for 10 minutes. [Back] Sea View Park is also another important tourist place in Alleppey to visit. The park offers boating facilities and a swimming pool and is also a one of the major picnic spots in Alleppey as it is located on the beach [Back] The Champakulam church is one of the oldest churches in Kerala and is dedicated to St. Mary. St. Mary’s church at Champakulam is one of the seven churches established by St. Thomas the apostle and is an important pilgrimage center in Kerala. The annual feast at the Champakulam church is held on the third Sunday of October every year. [Back] Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple The Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in Kerala and is built in the typical Kerala temple architectural style. The temple is located at a distance of 15 km from Alleppey and this Hindu temple in Alleppey is famous for the paintings that are on display in the inner walls of the temple. Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple is also famous for its Palpayasam, a deliciously sweet milk porridge. [Back] Alleppey is famous for its coir industry and there are several coir factories in Alleppey that manufacture coir for the domestic and international market. Many tourists arriving in Alleppey visit coir factories to learn about coir manufacturing process. Most coir factories allow free entrance to tourists. Coir factories are an important tourist attraction in Alleppey and a “must see” destination for all tourists visiting Alleppey. [Back] The boat races in Kerala are one of the most important tourist attractions. These boat races are held in several parts of Kerala and are a reflection of the team spirit and integration of the people living in this backwater country. All the boat races of Kerala draw large crowds and one can witness the excitement and jubilation of the people on this occasion. [Back] The Kerala snake boat races are held during the months of August- October to coincide with the Onam festival, the harvest festival in Kerala. Most of these snake boat races of Kerala are held in the Kerala backwaters and is a feast for the eye. The Kerala snake boat races are the largest team sport in the world and all these boat races are preceded by colorful water parades. Most of the snake boat races taking part in the boat race will have four helmsmen, twenty five singers, and one hundred to one hundred twenty five oarsmen. These oarsmen row in unison to the rhythm of the Vanchipattu (song of the oarsmen). Large numbers of people throng both sides of the backwaters to cheer their favorite snake boat as it slices through the backwaters to the finishing point. Each and every snake boat race in Kerala has a legend attached to it and most of the snake boat races are related to temple festivals. These boat races are held annually without fail. [Back] The Champakulam Moolam boat race is one of the important boat races in Kerala and the oldest snake boat race in Kerala and is held on the moolam day in the Malayalam month of Midhunam (June- July). This snake boat race, held on the Champakulam Lake is to commemorate the installation of a Hindu deity at the Sree Krishna temple at Ambalappuzha in Alleppey. There is a legend behind this Champakulam snake boat race and has to do with the carrying of the deity from Kurichi in Kottayam district to the temple at Ambalappuzha by the king himself. Devanarayana, the Chempakesseri king who built the Ambalappuzha temple wanted to install a deity and chose one to be installed. But the royal priests warned the king that the idol that he chose was not auspicious and he should choose to have another idol installed instead. The king was dejected; however, his minister in consultation with the royal priests suggested that another idol installed at the Kurichi temple be brought and installed at the Ambalappuzha temple. The king then went to Kurichi temple with his royal priests and demanded that the idol be handed over for installing at the newly constructed temple at Ambalappuzha. It was a rather tedious journey in those days and the king and his entourage stayed for the night at Champakulam and had a pooja performed at night. On the next morning the people of Champakulam learned that their king was in their midst and that he was carrying an idol of a deity to be installed at the Ambalappuzha temple.. It was then that all the boats of the area assembled and accompanied the king and the deity in a colorful procession along the Champakulam Lake up to the Ambalappuzha temple. This event is celebrated annually with much pomp and the annual Champakulam boat race is just the annual enactment of this very journey. The Champakulam boat race is held for various categories of boats and is not confined only to the snake boats. [Back] The Aranmula boat race is another famous boat race in Kerala and is held during the Onam season. It is more of a water fiesta and a festive occasion for the people than a boat race in the typical sense. It is spread over a period two days. This boat race has a legend attached to it. It is believed that a devout Brahmin (Hindu priest) used to feed one Sree Krishna devotee every day of the week as a mark of respect and offering to Sree Krishna. It was believed that one day the Lord, Sree Krishnan appeared before him and thanked him for his offering. The devout Brahmin was so overjoyed by the apparition that he vowed to offer 51 measures of rice to the Lord at the temple at Aranmula. When the villagers learned about the whole incident they accompanied him on 48 snake boats to the Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula. This act is enacted every year and the Aranmula Boat race is held annually to mark this very event. The event is marked by a colorful water carnival in which an idol of Sree Krishna is taken out in a procession accompanied by snake boats and children dressed as nymphs and princesses. On the second day, snake boats fully decorated and carrying several oarsmen and singers assemble near the temple and then turn back in pairs creating a magnificent feat for the eyes. After the competition of the pageantry and the water fiesta the snake boat race is held. Innumerable numbers of tourists throng to witness this snake boat race that is one of the most colorful snake boat races in Kerala. [Back] The Payippad boat race also held during the Onam season is held on the Payippad Lake. It is also one of the most important boat races in Kerala. This boat race is held to celebrate the installation of the deity at the Subramaniya Swamy temple in Harippad, 35 km from Alleppey. There is a religious belief attached to this boat race. It is believed that when the temple at Harippad was completed and the devotees were planning to install a deity of Sree Aiyyappa in the temple, there was an apparition and the devotees were told to go to the Kayamkulam Lake beneath which they would find the idol of Lord Subramaniya immersed in water. The devotees accompanied by expert divers went to the Kayamkulam Lake and found the idol of Lord Subraminya lying immersed in water. The divers then took the idol and had it installed in the temple at Harippad. This event is celebrated annually in the form of the famous Payippad boat race that is one of the most colorful boat races in Kerala. It is celebrated with much pomp and gaiety by the people in this backwater village. [Back] The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race is the most famous snake boat race in Kerala and is held every year on the second Saturday in the month of August. It is held in memory of the visit of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru traveled along the Kerala backwaters in a boat when he visited Kerala for the first time. He was enthralled by the beauty of Kerala backwaters and wanted a boat race to be held and instituted a trophy for the winners. He watched the boat race and wanted this boat race to be held annually. The Nehru Boat race is now held annually to commemorate this occasion. Over sixteen snake boats take part in the Nehru Trophy Boat race apart from scores of other boats in different categories. The winner of each category of boats is also awarded a trophy. The boat race is preceded by a colorful pageant and people of the Indian army and Navy are also seen performing aerial shows and acrobatics on this occasion. For the people of Kerala this is one greatest Kerala festivals and Keralites living in different parts of the country come to view this magnificent spectacle. The Nehru Trophy boat race is also the most highly publicized boat race in the country. There are also other prominent boat races like the Alappuzha Rajiv Gandhi boat race, Pulinkunnu Boat race, Kumarakom boat race, Kottayam boat race and the Indira Gandhi boat race in Ernakulam among others. [Back] |
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