Top reasons that make Alleppey Venice of the East

The list of places to visit in Alleppey is more like a buffet of the best, more than what a traveller can wish for. With attractions like the Alleppey Beach and Vemband Lake to woo nature lovers, the ancient town church and Mannarasala Temple for the culturally inclined, Alleppey is a traveller's delight. For the ones looking for offbeat in this rather famous place, the rice fields of Kuttanad are nothing less than delightful. And then, we have the world famous backwaters—the very sight of these is enough to evoke a sense of wonder and amazement. Capturing the beauty of this lagoon system is a photographer's delight. Perhaps once you're done with Alleppey, you will come to appreciate why Lord Curzon labelled these backwaters, "Venice of the East."

1. ALLEPPEY BEACH

Surrounded by the more famous beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, Alleppey beach is surprisingly solitary. At a drive of around 30 minutes from the town's centre, it is a beach bum's dream come true. A perfect place to watch a sunset, Alleppey beach also has a lighthouse for that bird's eye view. Remains of a 137 year old bridge still stand at the beach, reminders of the more glorious days of Alleppey, when it was a major sea port of Kerala. Half in shambles, this now corroded sea bridge looks quite haunting and calls for a few photographs in the least.

2. VEMBANAD LAKE

India’s longest and perhaps one of the most beautiful lakes, Vembanad also makes for the largest wetland system of India. The water body is so huge that it connects three districts—Kottayam, Ernakulam and Alleppey. Apart from its distinct geographical features, Vembanad Lake holds great fascination for photographers. Quite a surreal sight, it often has houseboats gliding on its waters, making for one of the many Kerala postcards that you would have seen. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary lies on the banks of this lake and is a major attraction for ornithologists. You can hire a houseboat for a tour that includes both the backwaters as well as the bird sanctuary. Do not forget to carry a pair of binoculars, for you might just go for endless sessions of birdwatching.

3. ST. MARY’S SYRO

This is one of the oldest churches in India. Built right by the side of the Periyar river, this church makes for a surreal sight. You can reach it by taking a ferry or a houseboat when you explore the backwaters. Most of the backwater itineraries cover it as a major attraction. Built in a style that is a mix of Persian, Portuguese and Indian architecture, it has some impressive frescos in the insides. This church also houses ancient sculptures and paintings, most made out of gold dust, rare plants’ leaves and fruit pulp. Don’t forget to read the rock inscriptions that can be found inside and around the church for interesting historical insights about the region.

4. PATHIRAMANAL ISLAND

Pathiramanal Island is like some treasure trove for birdwatchers. Surrounded by the stunning backwaters, it is home to thousands of migrating birds from all over the world. For those who are not into ardent birdwatching, the gorgeous settings of this lush green island is an added lure. A photographer’s delight, the island is a must visit if you have hopped on to a houseboat for a tour of Alleppey backwaters and Vembanad Lake.


5. KUTTANAD

Kuttanad, also known as the rice bowl of Kerala, is one of the more offbeat attractions in Alleppey. It is much loved for its lush green paddy fields, where you can watch the farmers practice ancient methods of farming, complete with bullock carts! Lined by tall coconut trees, most of the paddy fields see a lot of activity such as ploughing of fields and planting of seedlings during monsoons, making it one of the best times to visit the region.

6. ALLEPPEY BACKWATERS

If there is one place in the south of India that can come close to the word ‘heaven’, it would be the backwaters. A network of lagoons and lakes that run parallel to the Arabian Ocean, the backwaters are perhaps the most photographed attractions of Kerala. You can explore these in a houseboat or a speed boat and watch life go by in a wondrous delight from the villages built on its banks. Schools kids are often seen heading off to their respective schools in these boats, with bags slung across their shoulders, waving at you with all their innocence. Since no other mode of transportation is viable for the villages, a boat or two can be seen anchored in the water outside every house here. India’s Venice—that is what you might want to call the place.

7. MANNARASALA TEMPLE

Also known as Sree Nagaraja Temple, the Mannarasala Temple is much revered by the devotees of the serpent god. It is located in the middle of a forest glade and has more than 30,000 images of snakes. As per folklore, this temple is where Lord Nagaraja made an appearance after being prayed to by Parshurama, the fabled ascetic warrior from Mahabharat. He blessed the region with prosperity and declared it to be a pilgrimage point (tirthasthala). A steady trickle of devotees can often be seen thronging to the temple, with prayer beads in their hands and prayers and wishes on their lips. An interesting stopover if you want to explore a less talked about side of Alleppey.




Crossworld Holidays gives the best Kerala Group Tour from Mumbai 

To Know more about Crossworld Holidays, visit - www.crossworldholidays.com

Contact Details.

Crossworld Holidays Tours & Travels (IATA approved)

Address : Grounf Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,
Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747 
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427
E-mail: crossh@gmail.com