If there is any all-season wetland in this world, then you must visit Alappuzha in south Kerala, India. Blessed with many aquatic places to visit in Alappuzha will soothe your eyes in all seasons. This part of the land has backwaters and islets that are located near the Arabia Sea. The dotted island with palm groves, monsoon clouds, cool weather, monsoon rain, and spending your Alleppey tour is best for couples and honeymooners from June to November. Boathouse tourism is the only way to explore Alappuzha District in Kerala. Tourists can book Alleppey Houseboat Booking from KTDC and private boathouse operators in Vembanad Lake.
Explore The Backwaters Of God’s Own Country – Alappuzha Tour with Alleppey Boathouse
There is no other similar place on earth than the backwaters of the Alappuzha that why Alleppey full thousands of foreign tourists yearly under the Alappuzha Tour. A weeklong tour is the best to visit Alleppey Tourist Places mentioned below and Boathouse can be a part of it that can add more memories to your Kerala Trip. There are many boats with a shelter to stay, dine and tour islets and attractions to visit in Alappuzha. The backwaters of the Vembanad Lake are crystal clear, and you can see marine life with your naked eye. You will explore on a boat to see the paddy fields, settlements in the backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, churches, temples, and sea beaches. There are many places to visit in Alappuzha that can be added during your trip to Kerala.
1. Punnapra Beach
Is there any Golden Beach in Kerala? It is Punnapra Beach in Alappuzha and the most famous tourist places to visit in Alappuzha. Punnapra Beach has one of the finest golden sans with palm grove shores. It is a hidden tourist place in Alappuzha as the beach location favours young couples and honeymooners paradise near the coast of the Arabian Sea. During the day and evening, you can find many pre-wedding photo shoots happening here. Sunset on the Arabian Sea makes the Golden sands look like a mix of gold and orange colour. It is a quiet beach with scenic places to take photos along blue skies, pristine seawater, and clean golden sandy shores.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: Half Day
Opening and closing Timing: 06:00 AM to 07:00 PM
2. Marari Beach
This is a famous beach resort that comes among the world’s top 5 Hammock Beaches. Tourists seeking luxury beachfront resort tourism must stay here while on a weeklong Alappuzha Tour. Marari Beach’s shoreline is the plunge with lush green coconut trees. The best season to visit this beach is from December to May and during Monsoon (June to November), the Arabian Sea looks amazing with rainy clouds and cloud bursts. Marari Beach Resorts are booked in all seasons for honeymoon and wellness tourism to take Ayurvedic or herbal spa facilities available in premium and luxury resorts in Marari Beach.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: Half Day
Opening and closing Timing: 24 Hours
3. Pathiramanal
The meaning of Pathiramanal, literally in Malayalam, is ‘midnight sand.’ It will be a surprise to see this beach-like natural sand formation in the middle of Pathiramanal Iselt in Alappuzha. You will find a similar sand formation in only some of the islets of the Vembanad Lake backwaters. Pathiramanal Sand colour looks bright and shining during a full moon day, a rare geographical phenomenon happening here. It is an uninhabited islet and also a place for migratory birds. This islet is a paradise for birds, nature, and marine lovers. It is a lonely islet with palm groves on its shores and native floras and pathways to hike around.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: 1 Hour
Opening and closing Timing: 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM
4. Alleppey Lighthouse
This lighthouse on the seashores of Alleppey has a longstanding trading history on the Arabian Sea. It is the first lighthouse in Kerala, which Travancore King Marthanda Varma-II built. This 1862-built lighthouse is still in good condition and is an important landmark. The boats on the sea can spot this lighthouse within the 24.5 nautical miles range, which is just 92 feet tall. Tourists must visit here during Alleppey lighthouse timings to see this lighthouse’s light source history on display. You will find the oil-lit lamp to the modern-day electric lamp. You can have scenic views of the Arabian Sea, the Alleppey Sea Bridge, sailing fisher man’s boats and ships, and the views of Alleppey mainlands between the backwaters and sea coast.
Entry Cost: INR 20 for Indians and INR 50 for foreign tourists
Explore Timing: 1 hour
Opening and closing Timing: 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM
5. Kuttanad
This place, Kuttanad is the rice bowl for the state of Kerala. Believe it or not, Kuttanad farming is 4 to 10 ft below the mean sea level in the backwaters of Kuttanad Lake. During your boathouse tour, you will find this part of the islet’s land is falling lower than the normal landmass seen in other islets. Yet, it is the most fertile land in Kerala, and rice is ploughed here year-round. This vast islet is with lush green paddy fields and you will reach the Kuttanad lowest point if you hike in the paddy field. You will not find a glimpse of backwaters from this point.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: 1 Hour
Opening and closing Timing: 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM
6. Krishnapuram Palace
Palace history dates back to 1729–1758 CE. Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma built it after defeating the Odanad ruler in Odanad–Travancore War of 1746. This palace is the finest example of Kerala Architectural style. Today, this palace is maintained by the Archaeological Department of India. The art and crafts inside this palace are the Anchal Post box, Durbar Hall, Gajendra Moksham, Palace pond, Murals, wall paintings, Kayamkulam Vaal (Double Edged Sword), Buddha’s statue, and many antiquities of Travancore Kingdom. Krishnapuram Palace almost resembles the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Trivandrum. It is the best place for history buffs, designers, and architects.
Entry Cost: Adults INR 10 and Children INR 5
Explore Timing: 2 Hours
Opening and closing Timing: 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 02:00 PM to 04:30 PM
7. Mullakkal Rajeshwari Temple
Tourists must visit this temple in the last week of December to see the full glory of its Mullakkal Chirappu or annual festival occasion. This 500-year-old temple is still in good condition. People of any religion can visit this temple year-round. The main deity of this temple is Mullakkal Devi (Durga or the form of Shakthi among Hindu Malayalees). The newlyweds and childless couples must visit this temple and get blessings for fertility and happiness. This temple’s interiors include many Hindu deities carved out of monolith rocks, wood, and masonry works on laterite stones.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: 1 to 2 Hours
Opening and closing Timing: 05:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM
8. Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple
This temple tops the 7th place in the list of old temples of Kerala. The Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran of the Travancore Kingdom built this temple in 790 CE. The devotees of Lord Krishna and other tourists must visit this temple during Chambakulam Moolam Water Festival in June and Aaraattu Festival between March to April. You must taste the mouthwatering Ambalappuzha temple offering the ‘Ambalapuzha Payasam,’ or a semi-liquid milk-based sweet served in the temple daily. It is a beautiful Hindu temple with a huge temple gate, a large pond, and sculptures. Huge and old Ficus Religiosa trees surround this temple. Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple is counted as one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Alappuzha and you must include this destination in your Kerala Trip.
Entry Cost: Free
Explore Timing: 1 to 2 Hours
Opening and closing Timing: 03:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 05:00 PM to 08:00 PM
9. Andrew’s Basilica
St Andrews Basilica in Arthunkal is aka Arthunkal church, locally in Alappuzha. The Europeans call this church in the name St. Andrew’s Basilica of Arthunkal St. Sebastian’s International Shrine. It is due to Portuguese traders behind the building of this church in 16th CE in Arthunkal. It is one of the vast churches of St Sebastian in this world. Yearly, millions of Latin Catholics and other sects of Christian pilgrims visit Alleppey during Arthunkal Perunnal or St. Andrew’s Basilica church festival. It is an annual festival that takes place in January annually. This basilica is a Portuguese architectural marvel in Kerala. It is worth visiting to see people of any religion. Daily holy mass takes place in this church.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: 1 hour
Opening and closing Timing: 05:00 AM to 09:30 PM
10. George Forane Church
This is the most visited tourist place in Alappuzha in locally famous as the Edathua Pally locally in Alappuzha, Kerala. The Edathua church’s history dates back to 1810 CE, believed that the miracles of the St. George Forane do exist today. People of all faiths visit this church during the Edathua Pally festival, which takes place annually during the last week of April. People of any religion can visit this church. This church belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic denomination. It is a beautiful church on the Banks of the Pampa River in Azhapuzha. Tourists and pilgrims can visit this holy church in any season.
Entry Cost: Nil
Explore Timing: 1 Hour
Opening and closing Timing: 05:00 AM to 08:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions?
A. The depth of the backwaters of Alappuzha ranges from 5 ft to 21 ft. The locals walk on the backwaters from knee to neck level and reach nearby islets. Yet, Vallam, or the traditional boat, is used as local transit.
A. Currently, no crocodile attacks are happening with thor native people or tourists. It is safe to explore these backwaters through a traditional boat, and boat house meant for tourists.
A. The boathouse price depends on the boat type and the hours you need to explore the Alleppey tour. It is inclusive of stay, food, and visiting islets. A standard boat house is cheaper than a luxury boat house.
A. If you wish to see the backwaters during rain, the monsoon season from June to November is the best time to spend your leisure time in an all-inclusive boathouse on the backwaters of Alappuzha.
Conclusion
These top 10 places to visit in Alappuzha are on the backwater islets and mainland on the Malabar coast. Your Kerala tour will be empty without a boathouse tour on Vembanad Lake in Azhapula. Alappuzha offers many Tourist places to visit in Azhapula tour which makes this destination great. It is advisable to book an all-inclusive boat house tour which includes food, stay, and sightseeing on the backwaters of Azhapuzha. It is an international tourist destination, where thousands of foreign tourists visit here during Alleppey’s peak season December to May. Kerala is a tourist-friendly destination where its locals speak Hindi and English apart from their native language.
