IN · Kerala · 9.49°N 76.33°E

alappuzha

Backwater canals, paddy fields and fish curry eaten aboard a slow-moving boat.

Best time
November–February is cooler and drier, the best time to be out on deck. March–May is hot and sticky, and June–August brings heavy monsoon rain; the Nehru Trophy snake-boat race fills the town in August.
How long
2 days, 1–2 nights
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Kochi (about 4 hours), then it's about 2 hours by road. India is 2.5 hours behind KL.
Save postcard
IN · Keralaalappuzha9.49°N 76.33°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Backwater canals, paddy fields and fish curry eaten aboard a slow-moving boat.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAlappuzhaIN, Kerala
KLalappuzha
≈ 2,889 km from KL, as the crow flies
Boat Beauty

Photo: Augustus Binu/ facebook · CC BY-SA 3.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Alappuzha, still widely called Alleppey, is the gateway to Kerala's backwaters. Old rice barges turned houseboats drift along wide canals, past paddy fields that sit below sea level, village ferries and coconut palms.

Makan

  1. Karimeen pollichathuPearl spot fish smothered in spice paste, wrapped in banana leaf and pan-roasted; the backwater classic.Map ↗
  2. Meen curryRed, sour and fiery with kudampuli, Kerala's smoky fish tamarind, best with red rice.Map ↗
  3. AvialMixed vegetables in a thick coconut and yoghurt sauce, part of every Kerala feast.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Houseboat cruiseA night on a converted kettuvallam rice barge, with meals cooked on board and a mooring by the paddy fields.Map ↗
  2. Canoe tripsSmall canoes and shikaras slip into the narrow village canals that houseboats are too big for.Map ↗
  3. Public ferriesThe state water-transport boats are the locals' bus, and a cheap way to watch canal life go by.Map ↗
  4. Alappuzha BeachA wide beach with the remains of an old pier and a lighthouse, for a sunset walk.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Kerala has a large Muslim community, and halal chicken and beef are common; houseboat cooks can also do a fish-only menu if you ask when booking.
  • Houseboats differ a lot: some cruise most of the day, others moor early, and on many the air-conditioning only runs at night.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.