Kerala Tourism - Things to do in Alleppey

The old trading port of Alleppey – or Alappuzha as it’s also known – is well known as the capital of backwater country. This is where many of the boat tours of Kerala’s “Venice of the East” begin or end.

It goes without saying that a slow crawl around the canals and lakes of backwater Kerala is the main ‘thing to do’ when you visit Alleppey.

But here we give you nine extra items and ideas that add more to your visit.

These are activities you can either enjoy on your backwater journey or find elsewhere in Alleppey town or nearby villages.

1. Go night fishing

There’s something particularly enchanting about floating in a vallam, the traditional paddled longboat familiar to Kerala, under the moonlight, on a warm Indian evening, and hanging a fishing line into the glimmering waters. Other forms of fishing to look out for include the incredibly hard spear fishing, and fishing using a trapping pond.

Alleppey Night Finishing

2. Shop the Mullackal Road

The bazaars of Mullackal Road provide a delightful afternoon’s browsing. Here you’ll find everything from fine gold jewellery to umbrella emporiums and coir products.

Shop at the Mullackal Bazar Road

3. Eat a banana leaf lunch

Use your fingers as cutlery and a large green banana leaf as a plate and you’re half way to eating ‘Kerala style’. Add some pickles to your plate and a ball of steamed rice, flavoured with grated coconut, and you’re nearly there. Finish off the look with main dishes of rasam or sambar or perhaps a delicious fish molee, all mopped up with a pathiri pancake, and you’re enjoying an authentic Keralan lunch. Still hungry? Order some crispy banana chips and a bowl of sweet payasam for pudding.

Kerala style banana leaf lunch

4. Hire a bicycle

While guided tours give you a wealth of trivia and background information, sometimes it’s nice to abandon them and let instinct direct you instead. Bicycle is a great way to explore both the streets of Alleppey and the surrounding countryside. Buy a good map and take off early, enjoying the freedom of travel on Alappuzha’s quieter roads.

Bicycle hire in Alleppey

5. Swim in the holy river

The River Pampa is a holy river, treated with reverence by garland-wearing pilgrims who visit it to bathe. If you are staying in a homestay, ask your host to suggest a good spot where you can enjoy a leisurely swim.

Swim in the holy river Pampa

6. Get an Ayurvedic massage

Ayurveda is an important Indian medicine system, thought to be influenced by Buddhism. It focuses on meditation, yoga and massage. Massage uses herbs and oils coupled with a variety of hand techniques, including kneading, tapping and squeezing. A full body, relaxing Ayurvedic massage in one of the quality treatment rooms of Alleppey fits ideally with the overall laid back theme of Kerala life.

Ayurvedic massage

7. Explore the surrounding villages

There’s plenty on offer in the small villages dotted outside of Alleppey. Especially worth a visit is Champakulam, a peaceful place sat on the River Pampa and home of India’s oldest Christian church (built in AD 427). It also stages the famous ‘snake boat race’ held in June or July.

Christian church Alleppey

8. Spot unusual birds

Take a short trip out of Alleppey to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and you’ll enjoy one of the world’s most popular bird-watching locations. You’ll see migratory birds that travel from as far as Siberia and the Himalayas, including the stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Things to do in Kumarakom

Located in the Kottayam district of Kerala is Kumarakom, the heart of God’s own country. This small, sleepy town is actually a cluster of islands set around the Vembanad Lake. And here are six things to do in Kumarakom, a place you won’t want to leave.

1.The blessed Backwaters

No trip to Kumarakom is complete without a cruise on Lake Vembanad. Kettuvallams or houseboats can be seen languidly passing by on the lake and are easily available for hire. Some homestays have their own fleet of houseboats, which they rent out to guests. The benefit of renting a kettuvallam from a homestay is that you don’t have to worry about organising anything and that it usually comes with delicious home cooked meals. Depending on time-constraints, you can opt for an hour-long tour or overnight stays on the houseboats. Most homestays can organise day tours that will take you to a local village for a hearty, local lunch and to observe how coir products are made by the villagers. For cruising through the canals, one can try vallams or canoes. Practically every home has a personal vallam and one can easily borrow it for a few hours if living in a homestay. As you float along the canals, you can simply feel the concept of time float away as well.

Backwaters in Kottayam

2.Bird watching

On the banks of Lake Vembanad is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. The 14-acre area is home to countless indigenous species of birds. And also houses many migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and the Himalayas. Commonly sighted visitors here are the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. The Pathiramanal Island is another great place for bird-watching.

Bird Watching Kerala

3.Snake boat race

The world-famous snake boat race last only a few minutes. But the memory, of the oarsmen rowing furiously and thousands of spectators cheering their hearts out, lasts an eternity. Though races are organised all through July and August, the most impressive is the Nehru Trophy, which is held in Alleppey, on the 2nd Saturday of August. Some homestay owners are closely associated with organizing the event and can get you the best seats in the house, a definite advantage considering that thousands of people attend this event.

Snake boat race

4.Rare recitals

The Kathakali and Mohinattam are amongst Kerala’s most well known dance forms. Their recitals can be seen in many folk centres but homestay owners also organize personal recitals for their guests. Another ancient Indian art-form that’s recently gained popularity is the Kalaripayattu. This martial art is enormously hard to perfect and requires years of strenuous training, which usually begins for a child at the age of six or seven. Kalaripayattu performances for commercial purpose are infrequent. But with the aid of a local, you can experience its rare and humbling performance.

Rare Recitals Kerala

5.Feast and toddy

To enjoy the regional cuisine in a local ambience, head to a village. The dishes served here are brilliantly flavourful and the seafood they prepare cannot be replicated anywhere else. The perfect accompaniment to the rich meal is a freshly made glass of Toddy. This is a locally made alcohol and in its purest form is very potent. Another advantage of staying in a homestay is that they make a great place to experience local delicacies. They’ll serve you unforgettable and divine dishes, which big, branded hotels don’t even seem to know exist. Most families will be happy to share their secret recipes with you.

Food with Toddy in Kerala

6.Ayurvedic Treats

The best complement to a cruise on the backwaters, also affectionately known as the “laidback waters,” is a relaxing Ayurvedic massage. Massage centres promising stress-relief and more have mushroomed all over Kerala in the last few years. But if you are residing in a homestay, your hosts will be invaluable assets in directing you towards genuine and reputed centres with truly skilled therapists.

Ayurveda healing massage

Things to do in Kottayam

Besides being the perfect conduit between Kerala’s most interesting places and home to its famous backwaters, Kottayam is a region rich in history and culture. No wonder it is one of Kerala’s most alluring destinations for travellers.

1. Enjoy some religious sightseeing

Kottayam is speckled with centuries-old churches, temples, and mosques. The most notable amongst these are two churches known as Valiyapalli and Cheriyapalli, near Kottayam town. Built in the 16th century, these churches are distinct in character. While Valiyapalli has rare antique carvings, murals and West Asian architecture, Cheriyapalli depicts Biblical themes but also features temple architecture. On the banks of the river Meenachil, you’ll find the Thazhathangady Juma Masjid. This mosque is over 1000 years old and is richly embellished by carvings and murals. Two important temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are the Vaikom Temple and Thirunakkara Shiva Temple. Besides their traditional architecture, these temples also attract people for their festival celebrations which are unique and moving.

church in Kottayam

2. See the backwaters

One of Kottayam’s most precious offerings is Kumarakom. Home of the backwaters, this area is famous for its serene cruises, divine landscapes and greenery. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Pathiramanal Island are true delights for bird-watching enthusiasts as they attract migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and the Himalayas. Here you can also find countless reliable centres that will treat you with a relaxing Ayurvedic massage, a delightful way of starting your day.

Backwaters in Kottayam

3. Take a road trip

From languid backwaters to the majestic Western Ghats, Kottayam is a region which offers stunning natural beauty in a variety of forms. To experience Kottayam’s glory at its mesmerising best, rent a car. A drive on the stretch connecting Kottayam to the Periyar Sanctuary offers you Kottayam’s finest and most untouched landscapes. You’ll find yourself embraced by sky-high palm trees and plantations, convincing you that you’re in an artist’s masterpiece.

4. Visit the cave temple

Ayyappara is a cave-like temple, which is revered by people as a place of enormous historical and religious importance. This mythological place is believed to have sheltered the Pandavas during their exile and it attracts thousands of believers from far and wide, all year round. Located 2000 feet above sea level, Ayyappara is also popular amongst tourists for its splendid sunsets.

Caves in Kottayam

5. Get close to wildlife

An eternal favourite amongst travellers is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, located a couple of hours from Kottayam. This expansive sanctuary is the home of many enchanting animals. Here, herds of elephants are often seen strolling by, and creatures including exotic birds, bison and wild boar are found. A cruise takes you along the divinely beautiful Periyar River as it bisects the sanctuary’s majestic mountains. A heavenly way of taking in the sights is by bamboo rafts, and camps can be set for the outdoorsy travellers. Owing to its idyllic beauty, it has long been a favourite amongst both amateur and accomplished photographers.

Wildlife of Kottayam

6. Trek through ‘God’s own country’

Love walking? Wagamon and Peermed are the ultimate hiking destinations in Kottayam. While Peermed is a popular hill station perched at an altitude of 1066 meters, Wagamon is 60 kms from Kottayam and offers delightful landscapes that can be scaled with ease.

Trekking Kottayam

7. Feast with a local family

Like most other parts of India, Kerala has its unique cuisine. The truly authentic way of experiencing the real local flavours is by staying with a friendly Kerala family in a Kottayam homestay. They will serve dishes from recipes perfected over time by past generations. The best part is, if you are lucky, you will be served vegetables that you helped pick or seafood that you caught with your own hands.

Feast in Kottayam

8. Marvel at the toddy tappers

Toddy is Kerala’s potent and locally produced alcohol. It has a very unique taste and is the perfect accompaniment to an authentic, local meal. The drink’s basic ingredient is actually collected by firm-footed men who effortlessly climb up towering trees and tap them. The process is as dangerous as it looks and very unique to the state. These nimble toddy tappers have become increasingly hard to find in the recent years, but with some inside information from your Kerala homestay host you should discover where to find them.

Toddy - Farmer

9. Join the festivities of Changanassery

During the festival of Deepam, people flock in large numbers to the beautiful town of Changanassery. The festival of lamps, named after the town’s old moniker ‘Town of five fire lamps’, is celebrated here every year between November and December. It’s less than 25 kms from Kottayam and also famous for the Thrikkodithanam temple, which is embellished with intriguing 18th century inscriptions.

Festival Kottayam