🛶 12 Best Places to Visit in Alleppey — Beyond Houseboats (2025)

Alleppey is More Than Just Houseboats

Everyone knows Alleppey (Alappuzha) for houseboats — and yes, the overnight backwater cruise is a must-do. But most tourists check out of their houseboat at 9 AM and immediately leave for the next destination, missing everything else this beautiful backwater town has to offer.

Alleppey has beaches, ancient temples, a lighthouse, village canoe rides through tiny canals, the famous snake boat race venue, and one of Kerala's best-kept beach secrets — Marari. If you have an extra half-day or full day beyond the houseboat, here is what to see.

Backwaters & Water Experiences

1. Houseboat Overnight Cruise

The reason most people come to Alleppey. A traditional Kettuvallam (rice barge) converted into a floating hotel — private bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and an open upper deck. You cruise through palm-lined canals, eat fresh Kerala meals cooked onboard, watch the sunset from your deck, and sleep on the water.

• Check-in: 12 PM at your assigned jetty
• Check-out: 9 AM next morning
• Includes: Welcome drink, lunch, evening snacks, dinner, breakfast, crew (driver, cook, helper)
• Book through us: WhatsApp your date and we arrange a trusted houseboat + cab to the jetty

Read our complete houseboat guide or the Hinglish version.

2. Village Canoe Ride (Shikara Ride)

This is the experience most tourists miss — and many say it is better than the houseboat. Narrow country canoes take you through tiny canals too small for houseboats. You glide past toddy tappers climbing coconut trees, women washing clothes at the canal edge, prawn farms, coir rope makers, and children waving from their front yards.

This is real backwater life — unfiltered and intimate. The canoe moves silently, and the canals are so narrow that you can touch the vegetation on both sides.

• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Departure: Various points in Alleppey (your driver will know)
• Time needed: 2–3 hours
• Tip: Morning rides (7–9 AM) are the most atmospheric — mist on the water, birds active, village life starting

3. Punnamada Lake

The venue of the famous Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race, held on the second Saturday of August. The lake is vast and scenic year-round — you can take a short boat ride or simply enjoy the view from the shore. During the race, over 100 snake boats with 100+ rowers each compete in a spectacular display.

• Location: 3 km from Alleppey town
• Snake Boat Race: Second Saturday of August (dates vary)
• Tip: If you are in Kerala in August, time your visit for the race. It is one of the most exciting events in India

4. Kollam to Alleppey Backwater Cruise

The longest backwater route in Kerala — an 8-hour public ferry from Kollam to Alleppey through villages, temples, coconut groves, and narrow canals. A completely different experience from the houseboat — you are on a public boat with locals, stopping at small jetties along the way.

• Duration: 8 hours
• Departure: 10:30 AM from Kollam
• Tip: This is a full-day commitment. Best for backwater enthusiasts who want the most authentic experience

Beaches

5. Alleppey Beach & Lighthouse

A long, wide beach right in the town centre with an old lighthouse at one end. Less touristy than Kovalam or Varkala — mostly locals walking, playing cricket, and watching the sunset. The lighthouse is open to visitors and offers views of the coastline and the town.

• Location: Town centre, walking distance from bus stand
• Lighthouse: Open 3–5 PM, entry from ₹25
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
• Best time: Evening for sunset

6. Marari Beach

One of Kerala's best-kept secrets — a pristine, quiet beach 11 km north of Alleppey town. Clean golden sand, fishing village atmosphere, swaying palms, and almost no crowds. Several boutique resorts and homestays line the beach. If Kovalam is too touristy for you, Marari is the answer.

• Distance from Alleppey town: 11 km, 25 minutes
• Time needed: Half day
• Tip: The fishing village behind the beach is worth a walk. Watch fishermen pull in their catch in the early morning

7. Arthunkal Church & Beach

St. Andrew's Basilica at Arthunkal is a 16th-century Portuguese church on the coast, 22 km north of Alleppey. The annual feast of St. Sebastian (January) draws massive crowds. The beach next to the church is quiet and scenic — a good combo of heritage and coast.

• Distance from Alleppey town: 22 km, 40 minutes
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours

Temples & Heritage

8. Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple

Famous across Kerala for two things — the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna as Parthasarathy, and the legendary Paal Payasam (milk pudding) served as prasadam daily. The story goes that Lord Krishna challenged a king to a chess game, asking for rice grains doubling on each square. Unable to pay, the king was told to serve Paal Payasam to devotees forever. That tradition continues today.

• Distance from Alleppey town: 15 km, 30 minutes
• Darshan: 4 AM – 11:30 AM, 5 PM – 8 PM
• Dress code: Traditional attire required
• Tip: Do not leave without tasting the Paal Payasam. It is served free as prasadam

9. Champakulam Church (St. Mary's)

One of the oldest churches in India, believed to have been founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 427 AD. The current structure dates to the 17th century. Located on the banks of the Pampa River, the setting is peaceful and the architecture is a blend of Kerala and Portuguese styles.

• Distance from Alleppey town: 12 km, 25 minutes
• Time needed: 30 minutes

10. Krishnapuram Palace

An 18th-century palace built by the Travancore kings, now a museum. The highlight is a massive 49 sq ft mural depicting the Gajendra Moksham (liberation of the elephant king) — one of the largest single murals in Kerala. The palace also has bronze sculptures, coins, and royal artefacts.

• Distance from Alleppey town: 47 km, 1 hour (toward Kayamkulam)
• Entry: from ₹20
• Timings: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Mondays)
• Time needed: 45 minutes

Nature & Unique Experiences

11. Pathiramanal Island

A small island in Vembanad Lake accessible only by boat. The name means "sands of midnight" — legend says it rose from the lake overnight. The island is a bird sanctuary with rare migratory species. A short nature walk takes you through the island in 30 minutes.

• Access: By boat from houseboat routes or Muhamma jetty
• Time needed: 1 hour (including boat ride)
• Tip: Many houseboats stop here during the cruise. Ask your operator to include it

12. Kuttanad — The Land Below Sea Level

The rice bowl of Kerala — vast paddy fields that lie 1–2 metres below sea level, one of the few places in the world where farming happens below sea level. The landscape is surreal — green paddy stretching to the horizon, crisscrossed by canals, with the sky reflected in the water. Best seen during the planting season (June–July) or harvest (September–October).

• Location: Surrounding Alleppey, especially south toward Champakulam
• Best seen from: Houseboat cruise or a drive through the Kuttanad roads
• Tip: Ask your cab driver to take the Kuttanad route between Alleppey and Kollam for the most scenic drive

How to Plan Your Alleppey Days

1 Night (Standard — Most Tourists)

• Arrive by noon → Houseboat check-in → Cruise, meals, sunset, overnight
• Next morning: Checkout 9 AM → Leave for next destination

1 Night + Half Day (Recommended)

• Arrive morning → Village canoe ride (2–3 hours) → Lunch
• Afternoon: Houseboat check-in → Cruise, overnight
• Next morning: Checkout → Alleppey Beach + lighthouse → Leave

2 Nights (Full Experience)

• Day 1: Arrive → Village canoe ride → Ambalappuzha Temple (Paal Payasam) → Alleppey Beach sunset
• Day 2: Houseboat overnight cruise
• Day 3: Checkout → Marari Beach morning → Leave for next destination

How to Reach Alleppey

• From Kochi: 55 km, 1.5 hours. Book Kochi to Alleppey cab
• From Kochi Airport: 85 km, 2–2.5 hours
• From Trivandrum: 155 km, 3.5 hours. Book Trivandrum to Alleppey cab
• From Munnar: 170 km, 5 hours. Book Munnar to Alleppey cab
• From Thekkady: 140 km, 4 hours. Book Thekkady to Alleppey cab

Our drivers know every houseboat jetty in Alleppey — just share your operator's name and we drop you at the exact boarding point.

After Alleppey — Where Next?

• Munnar (170 km, 5 hrs) — Hills and tea gardens
• Thekkady (140 km, 4 hrs) — Wildlife and spices
• Kochi (55 km, 1.5 hrs) — Fort Kochi, airport
• Kumarakom (30 km, 1 hr) — Quiet backwaters, bird sanctuary

Use our trip planner to build your Kerala itinerary.

Need a cab to Alleppey? WhatsApp us your travel date, pickup location, and houseboat jetty name — we handle the rest. We also arrange houseboats, hotels, and complete trip planning. 📲 94465 13129