Alappuzha

One of the most popular tourist destinations is the long, sandy Alleppey beach. The pier, which extends into the sea, near the beach is well over a century old. One can enjoy the entertainment facilities at the Vijaya beach park and also take a look at the old lighthouse nearby.

Your backwater trip will take you to Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala. The greenery of the Kuttanad countryside is only broken by the banana gardens. A fascinating fact about Kuttanad is that the paddy fields are well below sea level with the backwater canals flowing above the general level of the land. One of the important destinations on the backwater cruise is the mythical Pathiramanal Island - literally the 'Sands of midnight' -- a haunt of thousands of rare migratory birds, which fly in to spend their summers from half way across the world. The 10-acre island in the backwaters is only accessible by boat.

Like other cities of Kerala, Allapuzha has history too. The 18th century Krishnapuram Palace, 47 km from Alleppey, was built during the reign of Marthanda Varma, the monarch of Travancore monarch. The palace is constructed in typical Kerala fashion with gabled roofs and narrow corridors. On the ground floor of the mansion is the largest mural in Kerala, the 'Ganjendra Moksham'. There is also a museum with antique sculptures and paintings in the building.

Reaching Alleppey: The nearest airport is the Kochi International Airport, 66 away. Alleppey is also well-connected to Kochi by rail and road.

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