Alappuzha or Alleppey is one of Kerala's most beautiful destinations.
This coastal district, which comprises coconut palm-fringed backwaters, lagoons, beaches and pristine stretches of verdant green paddy fields, is home to the town of Alappuzha, christened Venice of the East by Lord Curzon who was one of the Viceroys of British India, and is bordered by Ernakulam district in the north, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts in the east, Kollam district in the south and the Arabian Sea in the west.
Alappuzha is home to the spectacularly beautiful paddy fields of Kuttanad, the Punnamada Lake where the famous annual snake boat race of the Nehru Trophy is held and also many historically and culturally significant churches and temples.
Some of these monuments include the Edathua Church, St.
Andrew's Basilica, Kokkamangalam Church, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Krishnapuram Palace, Champakulam Valia Palli, etc.
The district is also known for the culinary delight called Ambalappuzha Payasam.
Culture lovers will be thrilled by festivals such as the ten-day "mullackal chirap" festival held in December.
Onam, the annual harvest festival of Kerala, is also big here with the Ambalappuzha Payasam being a vital element of the "onasadya" or the grand four-course traditional lunch served during the festival.
Nothing is more refreshing than a houseboat cruise along the backwaters in Alleppey which happen to extend from Kollam to Kumarakom and Ernakulam.
The town of Alappuzha is also crisscrossed with canals.
These and the backwaters serve as vital transportation means.
These backwaters also enable one to witness life along these banks.
Children go to school on boats while vendors traverse through these backwaters to sell vegetables, fish and other essential stuff to houses along the banks.
Houseboats are available in various levels of luxury, and as part of various tourist packages, for tourists to experience the tranquility of the waters and the beauty of the banks lined with coconut palms.
The Alleppey Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the state of Kerala.
It is a long stretch of shoreline with the palm trees lending a splendid tropical feel to the appearance.
The top of the lighthouse is a great place to witness the beauty of the coast.
Tourists can find many resorts here.
It is known for its colored sands and activities such as parasailing, swimming, surfing and volleyball.
The town of Alleppey is sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the biodiversity-rich Vembanad Lake, India's longest lake and also one of the country's largest ones.
A trip to Alappuzha is a sure way to grab a slice of Kerala.