This article is about the municipality in Kerala, India. For its namesake district, see Alappuzha district.
| Alappuzha | |
| "Venice of the East" | |
| — town — | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 9°29′N 76°20′ECoordinates: 9°29′N 76°20′E |
| Country | India |
| Region | Central Travancore |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Alappuzha District |
| Municipal Chairman | Smt. Mercy Teacher |
| Population
• Density
| 282,675 (2001)
• 1,492 /km2 (3,864 /sq mi)
|
| Sex ratio | 1079 ♂/♀ |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area | 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) |
| Website | www.alappuzha.nic.in |
Alappuzha (Malayalam: ആലപ്പുഴ
pronunciation (help·info)), also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southernIndia. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029.[1] Alleppey is situated 62 kilometres (39 mi) to the south of Kochi and 155 kilometres (96 mi) north of Trivandrum.[2] A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as "Venice of the East" by Lord Curzon . It is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha District.Malayalam is the most spoken language. Hindi, English and Tamil are also widely spoken in the town.
pronunciation (help·info)), also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southernIndia. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029.[1] Alleppey is situated 62 kilometres (39 mi) to the south of Kochi and 155 kilometres (96 mi) north of Trivandrum.[2] A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as "Venice of the East" by Lord Curzon . It is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha District.Malayalam is the most spoken language. Hindi, English and Tamil are also widely spoken in the town.
Alleppey is an important tourist destination in India.[3] Backwaters of Alleppey are world famous and is the most popular tourist attraction in Kerala. It connects Kumarakom and Cochin towards north and Quilon to the South. Alappuzha is also the access point for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race, held on the Punnamada Lake, near Alappuzha, held on the second Saturday of August every year, is the most competitive and popular of the boat races in India.[4]
Apart from Backwaters some other attractions in Alleppey are Alappuzha Beach offering one of the most beautiful views of the Arabian Sea,Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Edathua Church, Krishnapuram Palace[5] also attracts lot of tourists.Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha.[6] The Coir Board was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act, 1955. There is also a Coir Research Institute functioning at Kalavoor.[7]
Contents[hide] |
Etymology
Carved out of the erstwhile Kottayam and Quilon districts, Alappuzha(Alleppey) district was formed on 17 August 1957 and consisted initially of seventaluks, namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Karthikappally and Mavelikkara.[8]
The name Alappuzha is derived from the geographical position and physical features of the place. It means the land between the sea and network of rivers flowing into it. The district is bounded on the north by Kochi and Kanayannur taluks of Ernakulam district, on the east by Vaikom, Kottayam andChanganassery taluks of Kottayam district and Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks of Pathanamthitta district, on the South by Kunnathur andKarunagappally taluks of Kollam district and on the west by Arabian Sea.[9]
The present Alappuzha district comprises six taluks namely Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara.[10] Total area of this district is 1414sq.km.The district headquarters is located at Alappuzha.
[edit]History
Alappuzha also known as Alleppey, is a landmark between the broad Arabian sea and a web of rivers flowing into it. It is a town in Alappuzha District ofKerala state of southern India.
In the early first decade of the 20th century the then Viceroy of the Indian Empire, Lord Curzon made a visit in the State to Alleppey, now Alappuzha. Fascinated by the Scenic beauty of the place, in joy and amazement, he said,
Here nature has spent up on the land her richest bounties. In his exhilaration,he exclaimed, Alleppey, the Venice of the East[11]
Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms , was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age.[12] History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in the Middle Ages. The early Cheras, who had their home in Kuttanad were called `Kuttuvans` named after this place. The famous travelers Pliny and Ptolemy of the first and 2nd centuries had mentioned about places like Purakkad or Barace in their classical works. The literary works like "Unnuneeli Sandesam" give some insight into the ancient period of this district. Whereas some archeological antiques like stone inscriptions, historical monuments found in the temples, churches, rock-out caves also emphasize its historic value. Christianity had a strong foothold in this district even from the Ist century AD. The church located at Kokkamangalam was one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. It is generally believed that he landed at Maliankara in Muziris Port, presently known as Cranganore or Kodungallur in 52 AD and preached Christianity in South India. The district flourished in the field of religion and culture under the second Chera Empire during 9th to 12th century AD. The famous literary work `Ascharya Choodamani` a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadran who was a scholar of Chengannur enables us to know all the facts.
In the 17th century the Portuguese power declined and the Dutch had a predominant position in the principalities of this district. They built so many factories and warehouses in various places of it for storing pepper, ginger because of the fact that several treaties were signed between the Dutch and theRajas of Purakkad, Kayamkulam and Karappuram. In course of time they also derived in the political and cultural affairs of the district. At that time Maharaja Marthanda Varma, who was the 'Maker of modern Travancore' intervened in the political affairs of those princedoms. In the 19th century the district arrived at progress in all spheres. One of the five subordinate courts opened in the state in connection with the reorganization of the judicial system by Colonel George Monro. This was located at Mavelikkara. The first post office and first telegraph office in the former Travancore state was established in this district. The first manufacturing factory for the coir mats was also established here in 1859. In 1894 the town Improvement Committee was set up.
The history of Alappuzha District also murmurs the facts of the prominent role that the district played in the freedom struggle of the country. The historic struggles of Punnapra and Vayalar in 1946 constrained the attitude of the people against Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, who was Dewan of Travancore. And this ultimately led to his exit from the political scene of Travancore. A popular Ministry was formed in Travancore on 24 March 1948 after India`s independence, and on 1 July 1949 Travancore and Cochin states were integrated. The position continued till the formation of Kerala State on 1 November 1956 as per the States Reorganization Act 1956. The district came into existence as a separate administrative unit on 1 August 1957.
Geography and Climate
Alleppey or allapuzha is located at 9.54°N 76.40°E.[45].The average elevation is 1 metre (3.3 ft)[13] Alleppey covers an area of 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and is flanked by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake, where one can witness the magnificent union of six major rivers which spread out extensively before joining the 80 km coast line of the district. The town of Alleppey is crisscrossed by a system of canals, which is a part of the National Waterway 3 (India).[14]
The district is a sandy strip of land intercepted by lagoons, rivers and canals. There are no mountains or hills in the district except some scattered hillocks lying between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern portion of the district. There are no forest area in this district.
Alleppey is gifted with immense natural beauty with the Arabian sea on its west. The city has a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers. Due to their closeness to the sea it has developed an unparalleled destination in the maritime map of India.The richness of the coastal Alleppey waters is expressed annually in the blooming and consequent deposit of a huge quantity of fishes and prawns on the Alleppey coast called ‘Chakara’. This annual shifting of sandbank appears during the post-monsoon period and contributes to the local economy and is a festive season for the people of Kerala. The annual floods rejuvenate and cleanse the soil and water due to which there is abundance of marine life like prawns, lobsters, fishes,turtles,and other flora in the sea. The backwaters and Wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal, ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. One of the major feature of this land is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. Kuttanad is also known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. The paddy fields lie about 0.6 to 2 m below mean sea level.[15]
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid and hot during the summer. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the months of October and November.The average monthly temperature is 25C. The district also gets the benefit of two outstanding monsoons as in the case of other parts of the state.Alappuzha city experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon influences the weather of Alleppey. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in between the months from June to September. On the other hand the North-east monsoon rings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm.[16]
| [hide]Climate data for Alleppey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 25 |
| Record low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 17.3 (0.681) | 17.6 (0.693) | 18.9 (0.744) | 70.21 (2.7642) | 184.2 (7.252) | 484.2 (19.063) | 352.7 (13.886) | 274.1 (10.791) | 190.6 (7.504) | 282.7 (11.13) | 105.1 (4.138) | 29.7 (1.169) | 2,072.25 (81.5846) |
| Source: [17] | |||||||||||||
[edit]Demographics
| [show]Historical populations |
|---|
According to 2011 census, Alleppey district has a population of 21,21,943 with 10,10,252 men and 11,11,691 women[20] with a population density of 1492 persons per km2.[21] There are 1,86,022 persons under six years of age in Alleppey district. The literacy rate of Alleppey stands at 96.26% out of which 8,95,476 are males and 9,68,082 are females. Alleppey has a decadal population growth of 0.61%. Alleppey has a sex ratio of 1100[22] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 282,675 in 2001.[23]
The population is predominantly Hindu and Christian,and there are sizable numbers of Muslims population too. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam,though there are also significantly large numbers of people speaking Tamil, and Konkani.
The standard dialect of Malayalam spoken is Central Travancore dialect.[24] Konkani is a language that is spoken in the Konkan region.During the 14th and 18th century during Potugese and Dutch invasion respectively, many konkanis migrated southwards to Thuravoor, Cherthala and Alleppey in the state of Travancore as well as other places in Kerala like Cochin, Kodungalloor, Kollam etc., majority of these people settled in Alleppey.[25] [26] [27]
[edit]Economy
The economy of the district is predominantly based on agriculture and marine products. Though the district is industrially backward, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products,handlooms, different types of handicrafts, toddy tapping, have been dominating the scene from the very early times. The district is known as the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala.[28]
The availability of plenty of raw materials and existence of backwaters and canals suitable for the getting of green husk and accessibility of transportation are the main factors of the development of this industry. Arabs had carried on trade of coir products from very ancient period. The manufacture of mats and mattings was first introduced in 1859 by Mr. James Durragh.[29]
The Coir Board was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act, 1955.[30] There is a Coir Research Institute functioning at Kalavoor.[31] The National Coir Training and Designing Centre was also established at Alappuzha in 1965.[32]
Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kokkothamangalam, Komalapuram, Mannancherry, Muhamma andVayalar,[33] Coir products in Cherthala and Mannancherry, Lime shell in Arookutty and Kodamthuruth, Plywood in Chengannur, Keltron controls inAroor,[34] Potassium Chloride in Mavelikkara and coconut in Thanneermukkom. The other important commodities manufactured in these towns arecopra, coconut oil, glass, mats and matches.[35]
[edit]Transport
The district can be accessible through air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North is the nearest airport to the district. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport located 159 kilometres (99 mi) to the South is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists utilize this facility to reach Alappuzha.
One major rail line passes through Alappuzha. The railway station is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the center of the town.Alappuzha Railway Station is linked by rail to cities like Trivandrum,Cochin, Chennai, Bokaro and Mumbai.[36] A total of four trains originate from Alleppey to Cities like Kannur, Chennai, Dhanbad, and Tatanagar. Since Alleppey is a prime location many trains to important cities like Banglore, Manglore, Calicut, Amritsar passes through this station.[37]
Alappuzha is also well connected by road .National Highway NH 47 passes through the city connecting the city to other major cities like Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam , and Trivandrum.[38]
[edit]Administration and Politics
| Alleppey Town officials | |
|---|---|
| Municipal Chairman | Smt.Mercy Teacher[39] |
| Superintendent of Police | Mr.E.Divakaran[40] |
The two administrative systems prevailing in the district are revenue and local self-government, under the revenue system, the district is divided into two revenue divisions, 6 taluks and 91 villages. The two revenue divisions are Alappuzha division comprising Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Kuttanadtaluks consisting of 47 villages and Chengannur division comprising Karthikapally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks consisting of 44 villages. For census purpose, Aroor, Arookutty, Kodamthuruth, Thanneermukkom Vadakku, Thaneermukkam Thekku, Vayalar East and Kokkothamangalamvillage, except the portion included in Cherthala municipality are treated in the 1981 census as census towns based on the threefold criteria adopted for treating a place as census town. Under the local self-government system, the district is divided into 5 statutory towns and Development blocks consisting of 71 panchayats. It may be noted that the jurisdiction of Development Block includes the areas falling in census towns also.[41]
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara[42]
[edit]Education
Education in Alappuzha got a boost with the development of many schools, computer institutes and colleges all over the district. Alappuzha holds a distinct position in Kerala in terms of literacy rate. Presently, this district has 9 training schools, 405 lower primary schools, 105 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools.[43]
The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society)School, was established in 1816. The school was established by Rev. Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary to India. The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School opened on 1889 June 1, by Portuguese Bishop John Gomes Pereira of Cochin.[44]
Colleges in Alappuzha offer both graduate and post graduate courses for their students.[45] Some of the colleges in Alappuzha are SD College, SN College, N.S.S. College,[46] TD Medical College,[47]St. Joseph's College for Women,[48] St. Michael's college,[49] T.K Madhava Memorial college,[50] and St. Aloysius college.[51]
Geography and Climate
Alleppey or allapuzha is located at 9.54°N 76.40°E.[45].The average elevation is 1 metre (3.3 ft)[13] Alleppey covers an area of 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and is flanked by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake, where one can witness the magnificent union of six major rivers which spread out extensively before joining the 80 km coast line of the district. The town of Alleppey is crisscrossed by a system of canals, which is a part of the National Waterway 3 (India).[14]
The district is a sandy strip of land intercepted by lagoons, rivers and canals. There are no mountains or hills in the district except some scattered hillocks lying between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern portion of the district. There are no forest area in this district.
Alleppey is gifted with immense natural beauty with the Arabian sea on its west. The city has a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers. Due to their closeness to the sea it has developed an unparalleled destination in the maritime map of India.The richness of the coastal Alleppey waters is expressed annually in the blooming and consequent deposit of a huge quantity of fishes and prawns on the Alleppey coast called ‘Chakara’. This annual shifting of sandbank appears during the post-monsoon period and contributes to the local economy and is a festive season for the people of Kerala. The annual floods rejuvenate and cleanse the soil and water due to which there is abundance of marine life like prawns, lobsters, fishes,turtles,and other flora in the sea. The backwaters and Wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal, ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. One of the major feature of this land is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. Kuttanad is also known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. The paddy fields lie about 0.6 to 2 m below mean sea level.[15]
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid and hot during the summer. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the months of October and November.The average monthly temperature is 25C. The district also gets the benefit of two outstanding monsoons as in the case of other parts of the state.Alappuzha city experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon influences the weather of Alleppey. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in between the months from June to September. On the other hand the North-east monsoon rings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm.[16]
| [hide]Climate data for Alleppey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 25 |
| Record low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 17.3 (0.681) | 17.6 (0.693) | 18.9 (0.744) | 70.21 (2.7642) | 184.2 (7.252) | 484.2 (19.063) | 352.7 (13.886) | 274.1 (10.791) | 190.6 (7.504) | 282.7 (11.13) | 105.1 (4.138) | 29.7 (1.169) | 2,072.25 (81.5846) |
| Source: [17] | |||||||||||||
[edit]Demographics
| [show]Historical populations |
|---|
According to 2011 census, Alleppey district has a population of 21,21,943 with 10,10,252 men and 11,11,691 women[20] with a population density of 1492 persons per km2.[21] There are 1,86,022 persons under six years of age in Alleppey district. The literacy rate of Alleppey stands at 96.26% out of which 8,95,476 are males and 9,68,082 are females. Alleppey has a decadal population growth of 0.61%. Alleppey has a sex ratio of 1100[22] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 282,675 in 2001.[23]
The population is predominantly Hindu and Christian,and there are sizable numbers of Muslims population too. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam,though there are also significantly large numbers of people speaking Tamil, and Konkani.
The standard dialect of Malayalam spoken is Central Travancore dialect.[24] Konkani is a language that is spoken in the Konkan region.During the 14th and 18th century during Potugese and Dutch invasion respectively, many konkanis migrated southwards to Thuravoor, Cherthala and Alleppey in the state of Travancore as well as other places in Kerala like Cochin, Kodungalloor, Kollam etc., majority of these people settled in Alleppey.[25] [26] [27]
[edit]Economy
The economy of the district is predominantly based on agriculture and marine products. Though the district is industrially backward, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products,handlooms, different types of handicrafts, toddy tapping, have been dominating the scene from the very early times. The district is known as the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala.[28]
The availability of plenty of raw materials and existence of backwaters and canals suitable for the getting of green husk and accessibility of transportation are the main factors of the development of this industry. Arabs had carried on trade of coir products from very ancient period. The manufacture of mats and mattings was first introduced in 1859 by Mr. James Durragh.[29]
The Coir Board was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act, 1955.[30] There is a Coir Research Institute functioning at Kalavoor.[31] The National Coir Training and Designing Centre was also established at Alappuzha in 1965.[32]
Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kokkothamangalam, Komalapuram, Mannancherry, Muhamma andVayalar,[33] Coir products in Cherthala and Mannancherry, Lime shell in Arookutty and Kodamthuruth, Plywood in Chengannur, Keltron controls inAroor,[34] Potassium Chloride in Mavelikkara and coconut in Thanneermukkom. The other important commodities manufactured in these towns arecopra, coconut oil, glass, mats and matches.[35]
[edit]Transport
The district can be accessible through air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North is the nearest airport to the district. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport located 159 kilometres (99 mi) to the South is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists utilize this facility to reach Alappuzha.
One major rail line passes through Alappuzha. The railway station is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the center of the town.Alappuzha Railway Station is linked by rail to cities like Trivandrum,Cochin, Chennai, Bokaro and Mumbai.[36] A total of four trains originate from Alleppey to Cities like Kannur, Chennai, Dhanbad, and Tatanagar. Since Alleppey is a prime location many trains to important cities like Banglore, Manglore, Calicut, Amritsar passes through this station.[37]
Alappuzha is also well connected by road .National Highway NH 47 passes through the city connecting the city to other major cities like Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam , and Trivandrum.[38]
[edit]Administration and Politics
| Alleppey Town officials | |
|---|---|
| Municipal Chairman | Smt.Mercy Teacher[39] |
| Superintendent of Police | Mr.E.Divakaran[40] |
The two administrative systems prevailing in the district are revenue and local self-government, under the revenue system, the district is divided into two revenue divisions, 6 taluks and 91 villages. The two revenue divisions are Alappuzha division comprising Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Kuttanadtaluks consisting of 47 villages and Chengannur division comprising Karthikapally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks consisting of 44 villages. For census purpose, Aroor, Arookutty, Kodamthuruth, Thanneermukkom Vadakku, Thaneermukkam Thekku, Vayalar East and Kokkothamangalamvillage, except the portion included in Cherthala municipality are treated in the 1981 census as census towns based on the threefold criteria adopted for treating a place as census town. Under the local self-government system, the district is divided into 5 statutory towns and Development blocks consisting of 71 panchayats. It may be noted that the jurisdiction of Development Block includes the areas falling in census towns also.[41]
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara[42]
[edit]Education
Education in Alappuzha got a boost with the development of many schools, computer institutes and colleges all over the district. Alappuzha holds a distinct position in Kerala in terms of literacy rate. Presently, this district has 9 training schools, 405 lower primary schools, 105 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools.[43]
The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society)School, was established in 1816. The school was established by Rev. Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary to India. The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School opened on 1889 June 1, by Portuguese Bishop John Gomes Pereira of Cochin.[44]
Colleges in Alappuzha offer both graduate and post graduate courses for their students.[45] Some of the colleges in Alappuzha are SD College, SN College, N.S.S. College,[46] TD Medical College,[47]St. Joseph's College for Women,[48] St. Michael's college,[49] T.K Madhava Memorial college,[50] and St. Aloysius college.[51]
Geography and Climate
Alleppey or allapuzha is located at 9.54°N 76.40°E.[45].The average elevation is 1 metre (3.3 ft)[13] Alleppey covers an area of 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and is flanked by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake, where one can witness the magnificent union of six major rivers which spread out extensively before joining the 80 km coast line of the district. The town of Alleppey is crisscrossed by a system of canals, which is a part of the National Waterway 3 (India).[14]
The district is a sandy strip of land intercepted by lagoons, rivers and canals. There are no mountains or hills in the district except some scattered hillocks lying between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern portion of the district. There are no forest area in this district.
Alleppey is gifted with immense natural beauty with the Arabian sea on its west. The city has a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers. Due to their closeness to the sea it has developed an unparalleled destination in the maritime map of India.The richness of the coastal Alleppey waters is expressed annually in the blooming and consequent deposit of a huge quantity of fishes and prawns on the Alleppey coast called ‘Chakara’. This annual shifting of sandbank appears during the post-monsoon period and contributes to the local economy and is a festive season for the people of Kerala. The annual floods rejuvenate and cleanse the soil and water due to which there is abundance of marine life like prawns, lobsters, fishes,turtles,and other flora in the sea. The backwaters and Wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal, ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. One of the major feature of this land is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. Kuttanad is also known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. The paddy fields lie about 0.6 to 2 m below mean sea level.[15]
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid and hot during the summer. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the months of October and November.The average monthly temperature is 25C. The district also gets the benefit of two outstanding monsoons as in the case of other parts of the state.Alappuzha city experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon influences the weather of Alleppey. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in between the months from June to September. On the other hand the North-east monsoon rings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm.[16]
| [hide]Climate data for Alleppey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 25 |
| Record low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 17.3 (0.681) | 17.6 (0.693) | 18.9 (0.744) | 70.21 (2.7642) | 184.2 (7.252) | 484.2 (19.063) | 352.7 (13.886) | 274.1 (10.791) | 190.6 (7.504) | 282.7 (11.13) | 105.1 (4.138) | 29.7 (1.169) | 2,072.25 (81.5846) |
| Source: [17] | |||||||||||||
[edit]Demographics
| [show]Historical populations |
|---|
According to 2011 census, Alleppey district has a population of 21,21,943 with 10,10,252 men and 11,11,691 women[20] with a population density of 1492 persons per km2.[21] There are 1,86,022 persons under six years of age in Alleppey district. The literacy rate of Alleppey stands at 96.26% out of which 8,95,476 are males and 9,68,082 are females. Alleppey has a decadal population growth of 0.61%. Alleppey has a sex ratio of 1100[22] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 282,675 in 2001.[23]
The population is predominantly Hindu and Christian,and there are sizable numbers of Muslims population too. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam,though there are also significantly large numbers of people speaking Tamil, and Konkani.
The standard dialect of Malayalam spoken is Central Travancore dialect.[24] Konkani is a language that is spoken in the Konkan region.During the 14th and 18th century during Potugese and Dutch invasion respectively, many konkanis migrated southwards to Thuravoor, Cherthala and Alleppey in the state of Travancore as well as other places in Kerala like Cochin, Kodungalloor, Kollam etc., majority of these people settled in Alleppey.[25] [26] [27]
[edit]Economy
The economy of the district is predominantly based on agriculture and marine products. Though the district is industrially backward, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products,handlooms, different types of handicrafts, toddy tapping, have been dominating the scene from the very early times. The district is known as the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala.[28]
The availability of plenty of raw materials and existence of backwaters and canals suitable for the getting of green husk and accessibility of transportation are the main factors of the development of this industry. Arabs had carried on trade of coir products from very ancient period. The manufacture of mats and mattings was first introduced in 1859 by Mr. James Durragh.[29]
The Coir Board was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act, 1955.[30] There is a Coir Research Institute functioning at Kalavoor.[31] The National Coir Training and Designing Centre was also established at Alappuzha in 1965.[32]
Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kokkothamangalam, Komalapuram, Mannancherry, Muhamma andVayalar,[33] Coir products in Cherthala and Mannancherry, Lime shell in Arookutty and Kodamthuruth, Plywood in Chengannur, Keltron controls inAroor,[34] Potassium Chloride in Mavelikkara and coconut in Thanneermukkom. The other important commodities manufactured in these towns arecopra, coconut oil, glass, mats and matches.[35]
[edit]Transport
The district can be accessible through air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North is the nearest airport to the district. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport located 159 kilometres (99 mi) to the South is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists utilize this facility to reach Alappuzha.
One major rail line passes through Alappuzha. The railway station is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the center of the town.Alappuzha Railway Station is linked by rail to cities like Trivandrum,Cochin, Chennai, Bokaro and Mumbai.[36] A total of four trains originate from Alleppey to Cities like Kannur, Chennai, Dhanbad, and Tatanagar. Since Alleppey is a prime location many trains to important cities like Banglore, Manglore, Calicut, Amritsar passes through this station.[37]
Alappuzha is also well connected by road .National Highway NH 47 passes through the city connecting the city to other major cities like Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam , and Trivandrum.[38]
[edit]Administration and Politics
| Alleppey Town officials | |
|---|---|
| Municipal Chairman | Smt.Mercy Teacher[39] |
| Superintendent of Police | Mr.E.Divakaran[40] |
The two administrative systems prevailing in the district are revenue and local self-government, under the revenue system, the district is divided into two revenue divisions, 6 taluks and 91 villages. The two revenue divisions are Alappuzha division comprising Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Kuttanadtaluks consisting of 47 villages and Chengannur division comprising Karthikapally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks consisting of 44 villages. For census purpose, Aroor, Arookutty, Kodamthuruth, Thanneermukkom Vadakku, Thaneermukkam Thekku, Vayalar East and Kokkothamangalamvillage, except the portion included in Cherthala municipality are treated in the 1981 census as census towns based on the threefold criteria adopted for treating a place as census town. Under the local self-government system, the district is divided into 5 statutory towns and Development blocks consisting of 71 panchayats. It may be noted that the jurisdiction of Development Block includes the areas falling in census towns also.[41]
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara[42]
[edit]Education
Education in Alappuzha got a boost with the development of many schools, computer institutes and colleges all over the district. Alappuzha holds a distinct position in Kerala in terms of literacy rate. Presently, this district has 9 training schools, 405 lower primary schools, 105 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools.[43]
The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society)School, was established in 1816. The school was established by Rev. Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary to India. The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School opened on 1889 June 1, by Portuguese Bishop John Gomes Pereira of Cochin.[44]
Colleges in Alappuzha offer both graduate and post graduate courses for their students.[45] Some of the colleges in Alappuzha are SD College, SN College, N.S.S. College,[46] TD Medical College,[47]St. Joseph's College for Women,[48] St. Michael's college,[49] T.K Madhava Memorial college,[50] and St. Aloysius college.[51]
Geography and Climate
Alleppey or allapuzha is located at 9.54°N 76.40°E.[45].The average elevation is 1 metre (3.3 ft)[13] Alleppey covers an area of 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and is flanked by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake, where one can witness the magnificent union of six major rivers which spread out extensively before joining the 80 km coast line of the district. The town of Alleppey is crisscrossed by a system of canals, which is a part of the National Waterway 3 (India).[14]
The district is a sandy strip of land intercepted by lagoons, rivers and canals. There are no mountains or hills in the district except some scattered hillocks lying between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern portion of the district. There are no forest area in this district.
Alleppey is gifted with immense natural beauty with the Arabian sea on its west. The city has a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers. Due to their closeness to the sea it has developed an unparalleled destination in the maritime map of India.The richness of the coastal Alleppey waters is expressed annually in the blooming and consequent deposit of a huge quantity of fishes and prawns on the Alleppey coast called ‘Chakara’. This annual shifting of sandbank appears during the post-monsoon period and contributes to the local economy and is a festive season for the people of Kerala. The annual floods rejuvenate and cleanse the soil and water due to which there is abundance of marine life like prawns, lobsters, fishes,turtles,and other flora in the sea. The backwaters and Wetlands host thousands of migrant common teal, ducks and cormorants every year who reach here from long distances. One of the major feature of this land is the region called Kuttanad, the 'granary of Kerala'. Kuttanad is also known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. The paddy fields lie about 0.6 to 2 m below mean sea level.[15]
Owing to its proximity to the sea, the climate of Alleppey is humid and hot during the summer. Although the place remains fairly cool and pleasant during the months of October and November.The average monthly temperature is 25C. The district also gets the benefit of two outstanding monsoons as in the case of other parts of the state.Alappuzha city experiences a long monsoon season with heavy showers as both the Southwest monsoon and Northeast monsoon influences the weather of Alleppey. The South-west monsoon affects the climate in between the months from June to September. On the other hand the North-east monsoon rings rain from October to November. The average rainfall received by the region is 2763 mm.[16]
| [hide]Climate data for Alleppey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32 (90) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) | 32 (90) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 32 (90) | 33 (91) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 28 (82) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 25 (77) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 25 (77) | 23 (73) | 25 |
| Record low °C (°F) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 26 (79) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 17.3 (0.681) | 17.6 (0.693) | 18.9 (0.744) | 70.21 (2.7642) | 184.2 (7.252) | 484.2 (19.063) | 352.7 (13.886) | 274.1 (10.791) | 190.6 (7.504) | 282.7 (11.13) | 105.1 (4.138) | 29.7 (1.169) | 2,072.25 (81.5846) |
| Source: [17] | |||||||||||||
[edit]Demographics
| [show]Historical populations |
|---|
According to 2011 census, Alleppey district has a population of 21,21,943 with 10,10,252 men and 11,11,691 women[20] with a population density of 1492 persons per km2.[21] There are 1,86,022 persons under six years of age in Alleppey district. The literacy rate of Alleppey stands at 96.26% out of which 8,95,476 are males and 9,68,082 are females. Alleppey has a decadal population growth of 0.61%. Alleppey has a sex ratio of 1100[22] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 282,675 in 2001.[23]
The population is predominantly Hindu and Christian,and there are sizable numbers of Muslims population too. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam,though there are also significantly large numbers of people speaking Tamil, and Konkani.
The standard dialect of Malayalam spoken is Central Travancore dialect.[24] Konkani is a language that is spoken in the Konkan region.During the 14th and 18th century during Potugese and Dutch invasion respectively, many konkanis migrated southwards to Thuravoor, Cherthala and Alleppey in the state of Travancore as well as other places in Kerala like Cochin, Kodungalloor, Kollam etc., majority of these people settled in Alleppey.[25] [26] [27]
[edit]Economy
The economy of the district is predominantly based on agriculture and marine products. Though the district is industrially backward, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products,handlooms, different types of handicrafts, toddy tapping, have been dominating the scene from the very early times. The district is known as the traditional home of coir industry in Kerala.[28]
The availability of plenty of raw materials and existence of backwaters and canals suitable for the getting of green husk and accessibility of transportation are the main factors of the development of this industry. Arabs had carried on trade of coir products from very ancient period. The manufacture of mats and mattings was first introduced in 1859 by Mr. James Durragh.[29]
The Coir Board was established by the Central Government under the provisions of the Coir Industry Act, 1955.[30] There is a Coir Research Institute functioning at Kalavoor.[31] The National Coir Training and Designing Centre was also established at Alappuzha in 1965.[32]
Coir is the most important commodity manufactured in Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kokkothamangalam, Komalapuram, Mannancherry, Muhamma andVayalar,[33] Coir products in Cherthala and Mannancherry, Lime shell in Arookutty and Kodamthuruth, Plywood in Chengannur, Keltron controls inAroor,[34] Potassium Chloride in Mavelikkara and coconut in Thanneermukkom. The other important commodities manufactured in these towns arecopra, coconut oil, glass, mats and matches.[35]
[edit]Transport
The district can be accessible through air, rail, road and water. Cochin International Airport which is 78 kilometres (48 mi) to the North is the nearest airport to the district. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport located 159 kilometres (99 mi) to the South is the other airport that links the district with other countries. International tourists utilize this facility to reach Alappuzha.
One major rail line passes through Alappuzha. The railway station is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the center of the town.Alappuzha Railway Station is linked by rail to cities like Trivandrum,Cochin, Chennai, Bokaro and Mumbai.[36] A total of four trains originate from Alleppey to Cities like Kannur, Chennai, Dhanbad, and Tatanagar. Since Alleppey is a prime location many trains to important cities like Banglore, Manglore, Calicut, Amritsar passes through this station.[37]
Alappuzha is also well connected by road .National Highway NH 47 passes through the city connecting the city to other major cities like Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam , and Trivandrum.[38]
[edit]Administration and Politics
| Alleppey Town officials | |
|---|---|
| Municipal Chairman | Smt.Mercy Teacher[39] |
| Superintendent of Police | Mr.E.Divakaran[40] |
The two administrative systems prevailing in the district are revenue and local self-government, under the revenue system, the district is divided into two revenue divisions, 6 taluks and 91 villages. The two revenue divisions are Alappuzha division comprising Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Kuttanadtaluks consisting of 47 villages and Chengannur division comprising Karthikapally, Chengannur and Mavelikkara taluks consisting of 44 villages. For census purpose, Aroor, Arookutty, Kodamthuruth, Thanneermukkom Vadakku, Thaneermukkam Thekku, Vayalar East and Kokkothamangalamvillage, except the portion included in Cherthala municipality are treated in the 1981 census as census towns based on the threefold criteria adopted for treating a place as census town. Under the local self-government system, the district is divided into 5 statutory towns and Development blocks consisting of 71 panchayats. It may be noted that the jurisdiction of Development Block includes the areas falling in census towns also.[41]
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara[42]
[edit]Education
Education in Alappuzha got a boost with the development of many schools, computer institutes and colleges all over the district. Alappuzha holds a distinct position in Kerala in terms of literacy rate. Presently, this district has 9 training schools, 405 lower primary schools, 105 high schools and 87 higher secondary schools.[43]
The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society)School, was established in 1816. The school was established by Rev. Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary to India. The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School opened on 1889 June 1, by Portuguese Bishop John Gomes Pereira of Cochin.[44]
Colleges in Alappuzha offer both graduate and post graduate courses for their students.[45] Some of the colleges in Alappuzha are SD College, SN College, N.S.S. College,[46] TD Medical College,[47]St. Joseph's College for Women,[48] St. Michael's college,[49] T.K Madhava Memorial college,[50] and St. Aloysius college.[51]
Alleppey Backwaters (Alappuzha)
  | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Alappuzha or Alleppey is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Alappuzha remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerela as one of the major centers for backwater boat trips.
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A host of boat races are held here during the harvest season ( between July and September ).
Alleppey or Alappuzha is also known as the "Venice of the East" its was here that traders from across the seven seas came in search of black gold and souvenirs.
Alappuzha or Alleppey is also home to Kuttanad, The rice bowl of kerala, one of the very few places in the world where farming is done below sea level.
Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and stretches for 75 Km sandwiched between the sea and the hills.
|  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Kuttanad is the most beautiful backwaters region of Kerala. It is here that most of the snake boat races are conducted and a majority of the rice boat & houseboat cruises are scheduled.
Kerala's network of navigable backwaters stretches to over 900km. These serene waterways are fringed by palm grove and paddy fields and offer a striking spectacle of the rustic life.
In Alleppey or Alappuzha, the life revolves around water. Cildren learn to swim before they walk. They learn to row boats before they bicycle. They learn their first lesson from the school of fish.
Situated in Kuttanad popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala, QST & R Block Kayals (backwaters) remind the visitor of the famous dikes of Holland.
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A striking example of the indigenous agricultural engineering know-how, here cultivation and habitation are made possible at four to ten feet below the sea level. For this purpose extensive land has been reclaimed from the backwaters and is protected by dikes built around it. A leisurely cruise along the canals here is a memorable experience.
Alappuzha or Aleppey was once the busiest coast south of Mumbai, and its canals and backwaters helped in the passage of cargo - be it tea, rubber or other produces from the hills - to the sea.
The lighthouse and the pier helped the boats ferry accross, facilitating trade in their own way. Today, the 1000 ft long pier at Allepey beach , built in 1862 by Captain Hugh Crawford is a mere skeleton of its past.
|  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Alleppey's allure is the backwaters. Begin with a cruise, then stroll back into the town past the canals covered with mauve hyacinths.
A backwater cruise on the Punnamada Kayal takes you along canals past scenic islands offering sublime views of coconut and paddy fields, chinese fishing nets and toddy tappers at work.
Alleppey or Alappuzha's beauty is not merely in its backwaters, but in the man-made islands that you will find amidst the waters. These islands are hedged by mud walls, a haven for migratory birds, with paddy fields inundated with water throughout the year. These fields stand below sea level. R Block is especially famous for the fresh toddy served to guests.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nearesh Airport - Cochin ( Kochi ) International Airport ( Travel time - 120 mins ) Nearest Railway Station - Alleppey Railway Station & Ernakulam Railway Station ( travel time - 90 mins )
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Alappuzha Beach
Location: Near Alappuzha town, South Kerala.
Tourist Attractions: House boats, Boat races, Sri Krishna Temple, Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal Island, St. Sebastian Church and many more.
Beach Activities: Water sports, boat races.
About Alppuzha Beach
Alappuzha beach is also known as Alleppey beach and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the district of Alappuzha, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists. This beautiful beach has Arabian Sea on the west and a web of lakes, lagoons and several freshwater rivers criss-crossing it. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is around 140 years old. Alappuzha is also famous for its Boat races, Houseboat Holidays, Beaches, Marine Products and Coir Industry.
Also called as the 'Venice of the East' by visitors from across the world, this lovely backwater country also provides shelter to diverse animals and birdsa. Vijaya Beach Park is an added attraction of the Alappuzha beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby that attracts innumerable for the visitors.
Major Attractions at Alappuzha Beach
Ambalapuzha
Located 14 km away from Alleppey, Ambalapuzha is known for the architecture of Sree Krishna Temple that confirms the typical Kerala style. The temple is famous throughout Kerala for 'Palpayasam', that is milk porridge of exceptional sweetness offered to the deity.
Aruthunkal
Better known as St. Sebastian Church, is situated 22 km north of Alleppey. It is one of the most important pilgrim centres of Christians in Kerala, established by Portuguese missionaries, which is near Sherthallai. The feast of St. Sebastian is held here every year.
Chettikulangara Bhagvathy Temple
It's a very famous temple in Alleppey (Alappuzha) and also the venue of Kettukazhcha festival that draws large crowds of devotees. An extravagant processions that includes cultural performances is taken out, and is a major attraction. This festival starts in the month of February/March.
Pathiramanal Island
This is a small island in Alleppey (Alappuzha) about 10 acres in area and is a favorite residing place of hundreds of rare migratory birds, which arrive here from different parts of the world. The island is accessible only by a boat.
Krishnapuram Palace
Located 47 km from Alleppey and built in 18th century during the reign of the Travancore king, Marthanda Varma. This double storied structure, displays typical characteristics of Kerala architecture-gabled roofs, dormer windows, and narrow corridors. The 'Ganjendra Moksham' mural that is one of the largest mural paintings in Kerala is seen on the ground floor of the Palace. A museum with antique sculptures, paintings and bronzes is storeyed inside the building.
Champakulam Church
One of the seven churches established by St. Thomas in Kerala. The annual feast at this church falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.
Chavara Bhavan
Chavara Bhavan is located 6 km away from Alleppey and is accessible only by boat. It is the ancestral home of the blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. It is now a holy shrine and spiritual resort where thousands of devotees gather for prayer. Here, a 250-year-old historically important beacon of light is preserved intact in its original and primitive form.
Beach Activities
Water Sports
Thrilling water sports that are popular here, include surfing, parasailing, swimming and beach volleyball. Alappuzha beach has the best of aqua-sport equipment such as water-scooters and high-speed boats, etc.
Boat Races
The Alappuzha beach is famous for boat races. The Nehru trophy boat race is a major attraction here. In the months of August and September, the moist, rain-drenched earth and the glorious ever flowing backwaters present a beautiful scene. The Snake Boat Races also interest the tourists.
Getting There
Air : The Nearest airport is Kochi International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town.
Rail : Nearest railway station is Alappuzha, about 5 km from the beach.
Road :The place is connected to all the south Indian towns, by a well-developed network of roads.
Accommodation
There are quite a good number of hotels available in Alappuzha. Various resorts are also available here.
Tourist Attractions: House boats, Boat races, Sri Krishna Temple, Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal Island, St. Sebastian Church and many more.
Beach Activities: Water sports, boat races.
About Alppuzha Beach
Alappuzha beach is also known as Alleppey beach and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the district of Alappuzha, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists. This beautiful beach has Arabian Sea on the west and a web of lakes, lagoons and several freshwater rivers criss-crossing it. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is around 140 years old. Alappuzha is also famous for its Boat races, Houseboat Holidays, Beaches, Marine Products and Coir Industry.
Also called as the 'Venice of the East' by visitors from across the world, this lovely backwater country also provides shelter to diverse animals and birdsa. Vijaya Beach Park is an added attraction of the Alappuzha beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby that attracts innumerable for the visitors.
Major Attractions at Alappuzha Beach
Ambalapuzha
Located 14 km away from Alleppey, Ambalapuzha is known for the architecture of Sree Krishna Temple that confirms the typical Kerala style. The temple is famous throughout Kerala for 'Palpayasam', that is milk porridge of exceptional sweetness offered to the deity.
AruthunkalBetter known as St. Sebastian Church, is situated 22 km north of Alleppey. It is one of the most important pilgrim centres of Christians in Kerala, established by Portuguese missionaries, which is near Sherthallai. The feast of St. Sebastian is held here every year.
Chettikulangara Bhagvathy Temple
It's a very famous temple in Alleppey (Alappuzha) and also the venue of Kettukazhcha festival that draws large crowds of devotees. An extravagant processions that includes cultural performances is taken out, and is a major attraction. This festival starts in the month of February/March.
Pathiramanal Island
This is a small island in Alleppey (Alappuzha) about 10 acres in area and is a favorite residing place of hundreds of rare migratory birds, which arrive here from different parts of the world. The island is accessible only by a boat.
Krishnapuram Palace
Located 47 km from Alleppey and built in 18th century during the reign of the Travancore king, Marthanda Varma. This double storied structure, displays typical characteristics of Kerala architecture-gabled roofs, dormer windows, and narrow corridors. The 'Ganjendra Moksham' mural that is one of the largest mural paintings in Kerala is seen on the ground floor of the Palace. A museum with antique sculptures, paintings and bronzes is storeyed inside the building.
Champakulam Church
One of the seven churches established by St. Thomas in Kerala. The annual feast at this church falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.
Chavara Bhavan
Chavara Bhavan is located 6 km away from Alleppey and is accessible only by boat. It is the ancestral home of the blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara. It is now a holy shrine and spiritual resort where thousands of devotees gather for prayer. Here, a 250-year-old historically important beacon of light is preserved intact in its original and primitive form.
Beach Activities
Water Sports
Thrilling water sports that are popular here, include surfing, parasailing, swimming and beach volleyball. Alappuzha beach has the best of aqua-sport equipment such as water-scooters and high-speed boats, etc.
Boat Races
The Alappuzha beach is famous for boat races. The Nehru trophy boat race is a major attraction here. In the months of August and September, the moist, rain-drenched earth and the glorious ever flowing backwaters present a beautiful scene. The Snake Boat Races also interest the tourists.
Getting There
Air : The Nearest airport is Kochi International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town.
Rail : Nearest railway station is Alappuzha, about 5 km from the beach.
Road :The place is connected to all the south Indian towns, by a well-developed network of roads.
Accommodation
There are quite a good number of hotels available in Alappuzha. Various resorts are also available here.
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