Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey is a district in the south Indian state of Kerala. As Alappuzha is gifted with great natural beauty it is the main attraction of Kerala tourism. Alappuzha was named the “Venice of the East” by the British Viceroy Lord Curzon. The best tourist places to visit in Alappuzha are given below:
Kuttanad Backwaters
Kuttanad, also known as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala” is one of the main attractions in Alappuzha. It is rich with its scenic view of paddy fields and backwaters. The ducks that swim through the water bodies, the birds flying around them, the coconut trees along the sides of the canals, the rich toddy from those coconut trees, houseboats and the gentle breeze makes Kuttanad one of the places to visit in Alappuzha.
Best time to visit Kuttanad Backwaters is August to March
Krishnapuram Palace
Krishnapuram Palace is a heritage site in Kayamkulam, a city in Alappuzha which was built by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma after he conquered Kayamkulam and made it a part of Travancore. The palace which is one of the places to visit in Alappuzha is a typical example of Kerala style architecture.
The main attractions of Krishnapuram Palace which is an Alappuzha tourist place are given below:
- “Gajendra Moksham” mural which depicts the story of Lord Vishnu coming down to earth to save his elephant devotee
- A double-edged sword called “Kayamkulam Vaal”
- Stone inscriptions
- Panchaloha figurines and other ceremonial utensils
Time to visit: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (except Mondays and national holidays)
Pathiramanal Island
Pathiramanal is a small island in Alappuzha which is surrounded by Vembanad lake. This island is famous for its richness in birdlife. Pathiramanal is a bird watcher’s heaven. Different local species of birds and migratory birds like Pintail Ducks, Common Teal, Night Heron can be seen here. Night stay is not possible in Pathiramanal, an Alappuzha tourist place as there are no accommodation facilities.
Time to visit: 6 AM to 6 PM
Revi Karunakaran Museum
Revi Karunakaran Museum is a museum built in honour of Revi Karunakaran, a pioneer of the coir industry in Kerala. This museum displays beautiful artefacts, Swarovski crystals, precious and semi-precious stones, furniture and silverware. Revi Karunakaran museum is one of the major attractions among the places to visit in Alappuzha due to its diversity in the display.
Time to visit: 9 AM to 2 PM (Except Mondays and national holidays)
International Coir Museum
The International Coir Museum is built with the aim of showcasing the history and advancement of the coir industry. The display here includes the processes in the coir industry such a retting and fibre extraction. A souvenir shop with a wide range of coir handicrafts, doormats, ornaments are also present in the museum which is one of the places to visit in Alappuzha.
Time to visit: 9 30 AM to 5 PM (Except Mondays and national holidays)
Karumadi Kuttan
Karumadi Kuttan is a half-broken, black granite statue of Lord Buddha that dates back to the 10th century AD. This is situated in the Karumadi village and is a place to visit in Alappuzha. Tourists from all over the nation visit this place seeking blessings from Lord Budha.
Time to visit: Preferably 8 AM to 6 PM
Beaches in Alappuzha
Alappuzha is a land blessed with a number of beautiful beaches. All these beaches offer an awesome scenic view of the sea and mesmerizing sunsets. The list of the beaches in Alappuzha is given below: Alappuzha Beach
Alappuzha Beach
Alappuzha beach is one of the major tourist attractions in Alappuzha. Apart from the sunset and the view of the sea, the Alappuzha Light House is also a reason to visit this beach. The nearby Vijaya Beach Park adds to the amusement facilities on the beach. Alappuzha beach is a place to visit in Alappuzha.
Mararikulam Beach
Mararikulam beach or Marari beach is one of Alappuzha tourist places and is famous for its beauty and beach resorts. There are a number of resorts that offer good food and accommodation plus a bonus of slow sea breezes and sunsets.
Punnapra Beach
Punnapra beach is a beach in the Alappuzha district and is famous for its serene beauty and calmness. As the beach is away from the city rush it is mostly preferred by couples. If you plan to spend an evening with your partner this is a place to visit in Alappuzha.
Thottapally Beach
Thottapally beach is another among the beautiful beaches of Alleppey with a calm atmosphere and rich view. It is actually a confluence of lake and sea. Thottapally beach is one of the places to visit in Alappuzha.
The other beaches which add to the beauty of Alappuzha are Arrthunkal Beach and Thumboly Beach.
Temples in Alappuzha
Temples are sites of religious importance for the Hindus. Alappuzha has many temples which are visited by people from the whole nation. The list of temples in Alappuzha is given below:
Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Ambalappuzha
The Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple is one of the places to visit in Alappuzha. This temple is one of the seven great Vaishnava temples in Kerala. It is believed to be built by Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan Thampuraan, ruler of the Chembakassery kingdom. Lord Krishna as the charioteer of Arjuna from the epic Mahabharatha is the deity here. The “Ambalappuzha Palpayasam”, the main offering also adds to the uniqueness of this temple.
Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple
Chettikulangara Devi Temple is a well known Devi temple in Kerala and is a place to visit in Alappuzha. The temple is famous for its Chettikulangara Bharani festival during the months of February-March. “Kuthiyottam” is another famous ritual in this temple.
Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple
Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva and is a place to visit in Alappuzha. It is situated on the banks of the Achankovil river. The temple has puranic inscriptions and its compound wall is made in the style of Gajaprishta(Back of the elephant) architecture.
The other temples worth visiting are
- Thuravoor Sree Narasimha Moorthy Temple
- Sree Subramanya Swami Temple, Harippad
- Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple, Mannar
- Chengannur Mahadeva Temple
- Thakazhi Sree Dharmasatha Temple
- Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple
Churches in Alappuzha
Christianity is a major religion in Alappuzha. So there are a number of churches which are places to visit in Alappuzha.
Arthunkal Church
St. Andrews Church, Arthunkal is one of the places to visit in Alappuzha. The ten-day annual festival called Arthunkal Perunnal in the month of January adds to the fame of this church.
St. Mary’s Forane Church
St. Mary’s Forane Church is a place to visit in Alappuzha and is one of the oldest Syrian Catholic churches in all of Indian. Not only the presence of the river Pamba besides but also the influence of Portuguese architecture adds to the beauty of this church.
Conclusion
Alappuzha is a land of extreme beauty and diverse culture. It has been able to satisfy the type of tourists at any period of time. The wide variety of food items available here also adds to the fame. The presence of Vembanad lake, Punnamada lake and Manimala, Pamba, Achankovil rivers provides immense opportunities for tourism in Alappuzha. With all these blessings Alappuzha remains as the gem in the crown of Gods own Country.
Also read: Top 20 Tourist Places to visit in Kerala
