Alappuzha Tourism
Location : 160km north-west
of Thiruvananthapuram, 60kmsouth of Cochin
Population : 264,900
 A
golden streak of land woven with rivers, lakes, lagoons and canals,
Alappuzha or Alleppy is labelled as the Venice of the East. Alappuzha,
meaning the land between the sea and a network of rivers falling into
it, evokes a sense of romance and beauty.
Hemmed in by Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in the east, Ernakulam in
the north and Kollam on the south, the district opens out onto the
vast expanse of the Lakshadweep Sea on the west. Devoid of mountains
and hills, rivers like the Manimala, Pamba and Achenkovil reign
supreme in Alappuzha. While the Vembanad Lake covers the area from
Alappuzha to Kochi, the Kayamkulum Lake flows through Kollam and
Alappuzha.
¤ Main Attractions
Alappuzha’s amazing backwaters constitute its hallmark. The
locale for the renowned snake boat races is its criss-crossing
waterways. Tourists as well as the local population look forward to
the event.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada Kayal, the Payippad, the
Thiruvanavandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races
are held around the time of Onam (see Festivals of India) in various
areas of the district, well promoted by the tourism department of
Kerala. Amongst them, the one that has caught the fancy of the tourist
is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Known as Chundan Vallam (battleships of
the Malayali kings), the 130ft long snake boats having 100 rowers, 4
helmsmen and 25 cheerleaders, are decorated with multicoloured silk
umbrellas, and race past leaving thousands of spectators spellbound.
Its long coastline has secured it the status of an important centre
for fishing and marine products. The district produces coir, and copra
and has a flourishing carpet industry as well.
¤ Alappuzha History
Alappuzha has been the focus of trade and commerce from time
immemorial. As early as the 1st century a.d., Christianity had gained
a foothold in this district when St. Thomas, one of the twelve
disciples of Jesus Christ, landed at Maliankara, present day
Cranganore.
It was under the dominion of the second Chera Empire (9th-12th
century) that the district flourished in the field of religion and
culture. 16th century onwards, foreign powers like the Portuguese, the
Dutch and the English started gaining an upper hand. For some time,
Maharaja Marthanda Varma, the maker of modern Travancore annexed
certain territories of the district. Modern day Alappuzha was born on
1st August, 1957.
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