Alleppey, known as the Venice of the East is a beautiful town in Kerala. The long stretches of paddy fields, the beautiful backwaters and beaches as well the lush-green land full of coconuts makes it a visual paradise for the traveller. The chief attractions in Alleppey are the Alleppey beach, Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna temple, Arthunkal Church and the water carnivals, boat races and the backwater cruises.
The beach in Alleppey offers a view of the old colonial buildings of the town along with a lovely garden on the shore. The pier that extends into the sea is about 150 years old. The coconut groves and the ancient lighthouse are other attractions at the beach other than the parks with boating facilities.
The Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Temple is constructed in the typical Kerala architectural style and is famous for its daily offering of Palpayasam, a sweet porridge made of milk and rice. The inner walls of this temple are adorned with Dasavatharam or the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Ottanthullal, a traditional art form of Kerala that satirised the contemporary social issues was performed by its originator Kunjan Nambiar in the premises of this temple.
The Arthunkal Church in Alleppey is a famous pilgrim centre of Christians. The St. Andrews Church dates back from the time of by Portuguese missionaries and its annual feast of St.Sebastian is held every January.
The large number of canals and lakes in Alleppey provide a distinctive flavour to this place. Water carnivals and boat races are held annually. During the August-September time, many boat races are held in different parts of Alleppey, for which thousands of people arrive to watch this interesting event. Every year, the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on the second Saturday of August.
A cruise in Alleppey is an enchanting experience for the traveller who can view the beautiful landscapes, the temples, churches and industries of Alleppey while travelling through the rivers, canals and backwaters.
