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Its criss-crossing canals and once busy waterways inevitably evoke comparisons with Venice. A prosperous trading town of yesteryears, which exported coir products to different parts of the world, Alappuzha relinquished its commercial position to other towns, notably Kochi, in later years. Today, tourism has appeared as its new saviour. Old settlers have left behind architectural treasures - numerous old mansions and trading houses built in a unique style. These buildings, along with the quiet streets and winding canals, lend this quaint town its distinctive allure. |
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| Situated at the south-western tip of India's longest lake, the Vembanad, Alappuzha lies sandwiched between the lake and the Arabian Sea - a sliver of land barely 4 km wide. It attracts tourists throughout the year for that singular experience of backwater cruising, especially in the Kuttanad region, a vast area of partly reclaimed land, covered in emerald green paddy fields and separated by dikes from waters that are actually a few feet higher. |
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| Essential Information |
Area
Population
Taluks
Villages
Blocks
Telephone Code
Pincode
Vehicle Regn. Code
When To Go |
: 1414 Sq.km.
: 21,05,349
: Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Chengannur, Mavelikkara
: Puthuppally, Kayamkulam, Pathiyoor, Keerikadu, Kandaloor, Arattupuzha, Muthukulam, Cheppadu, Krishnapuram, Chingoli, Pallippadu, Harippadu, Viyapuram, Cheruthana, Karthikappalli, Kumarapuram, Karuvatta, Thrkkunnupuzha, Perungala, Kannamangalam, Thrppenthura, Chennithala, Mavelikkara, Thekkekkara, Vettiyar, Vallikunnam, Thamarakkulam, Bharnikavu, Kattanam, Nooranadu, Palamel, Chanakkara, Chengannoor, Mulakkuzha, Venmani, Pandanadu, Thiruvanvandoor, Mannar, Kurttisseri, Puliyoor, Cheriyanadu, Ala, Ennaykadu, Thalavadi, Thakazhi, Chembakkulam, Nedumudi, Muttar, Edthua, Kynakari south, Kynakari north, Pulingunnu, Kavalam, Ramangari, Kunnumma, Neelamperoor, Veliyanadu. Ambalappuzha, Pathirappalli thekku, Mullaykal, Paravoor, Punnapra, Alappuzha west, Komalapuram, Purakkadu, Aryadu south, Kalavoor, Karumadi, pazhaveedu, Mannanjeri, Vayalar east, Cherthala north, Cherthala south, Thanneermukkam north, Thannirmukkam south, Pattanakkadu, Kokkothamangalam, Kanjikkuzhi, Mararikkulam north, Kadakkarappalli, Aroor, Kuthiyathodu, Thuravoor south, Pallippuram, Thaikkattusseri, Panavalli, Arukkutti, Ezhupunna, Kodamthuruthu, Perumbalam.
: Thaikkattusseri, Pattanakkadu, Kanjikkuzhi, Aryadu, Ambalappuzha, Chambakkulam, Velliyanadu, Chenganoor, Harippadu, Mavelikkara, Bharanikkavu, Muthukulam,
: +91 477
: 688 XXX
: KL-04, KL–29, KL-30, KL-31, KL-32
: August to March-end
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Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple
The reigning deity of this temple is the infant Krishna. Paintings of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu adorn the inner walls of the chuttambalam or circumambulatory. The annual festival in April draws thousands of devotees, who also gather here for a feast. The Pallipana ritual, held once in 12 years, witnesses performances by sorcerers. The temple is also renowned for its offering of palpayasam, a milk and rice pudding.
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Bhagavathi Temple
Located in Chettikulangara, it houses the largest stone lamp in the country - 11 ft high, with 13 tiers. The deity, an incarnation of Bhadrakali, is supposed to possess miraculous powers and legends abound about favours conferred on devotees. The annual Kettukazhcha festival witnesses spectacular processions with bright effigies on decorated chariots. An all-night Kathakali performance marks the conclusion of the cultural events.
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Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple
Sandwiched between the two rivers, Pamba and Manimala, and located on the border of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts, this shrine is open to people of all religions. Goddess Vanadurga's (the presiding deity) affinity for women and children has made the temple particularly popular with women devotees.
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Chavara Bhavan
Chavara Bhavan, 6 km from town and accessible only by boat, is situated in Kainakary, a small village in the backwaters of Alappuzha. It is the ancestral home of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara, one among the three Malayali candidates under consideration for sainthood by Rome.
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Karumadi Kuttan
The deity of Karumadi Kuttan, which stands by the side of the public canal to the west of the Kamapuram temple, is a black granite Buddha, said to belong to the ninth or 10th century. The idol has now been installed in a smaller shrine to protect it. Kerala's Ay kings were patrons of Buddhism, which, however, is known to have declined in the State by the eighth century.
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Krishnapuram Palace Museum
This palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. It is a miniature model of the Padmanabhapuram Palace, near Thiruvananthapuram. The spectacular 16-block building sprawls over an area of 1.87 acres. Now an archaeological museum, the restored two-storey palace houses paintings, antique furniture and sculpture. Burial urns, bronze artefacts, swords, ancient vessels, weights, cannon balls, models of umbrellas, and even a Sanskrit Bible, are some of the exhibits.
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Kuttanad
In order to enjoy the picturesque scenes of Alappuzha, known as the Venice of the East, which lies in the lap of Arabian sea in its totality and also to have a rare experience we hired a canopied country boat called ‘Kettuvallom’ and we sailed to Kuttanad. Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwater and it is unique on account of its low altitude form sea level (it lies two feet below sea level)..
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Mannarassala Snake Temple
Traditionally, Hindu naga (serpent) worshippers have always built their temples in serpent groves. Of these, Mannarassala is the largest with 30,000 images of snake gods, and hundreds of snakes living around the temple. Childless women come here for blessings and return for a 'thanksgiving' ceremony when they beget a child. Gifts equalling the weight of the child are offered to the diety.
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Pathiramanal Island
The Raja of Travancore offered this palm-covered island in the Vembanad Lake on lease to the family of a man named Andrew Pereira, a Portuguese national and a naval officer, who married a local Catholic woman and settled here. When the lease expired in!979, Pathiramanal was taken over by the government. Subsequently, families residing there were rehabilitated and the island was handed over to the Tourism Department. It is a one-hour boat ride away from Alappuzha.
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R Block
R Block is one of the best managed private farms situated on one of the reclaimed lands in the Kuttanad region. This process of land reclamation started about 100 years ago. At nearly 850 acres, the farm constitutes the largest reclaimed region in the area and is almost entirely covered in coconut, areca and banana plantations. Note: A return boat trip from Alappuzha takes one and a half hours one way and would cost Rs 450.
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St George Orthodox Syrian Church
This Syrian church has been constructed partially with portions of an old 13th century church located at Haripad, 44 km north of Kollam. Its porches and porticos follow typical temple architecture. Biblical frescoes showing the art forms of the early medieval period adorn its walls.
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St Mary's Church, Champakulam
Located on the site at which St Thomas is believed to have built one of his seven churches, the shrine draws hundreds of devotees, especially during the annual feast in October. The feast of St Joseph in March is also an important event. Wooden statues of Christ, made nearby, are exported to various countries.
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Subrahmanya Temple
This temple dedicated to Sree Murugan (Subrahmanya) is renowned for its architectural splendour - the tall flag mast, the large temple tank, and the kootham-balam, or theatre, with its exquisite wooden carvings on the ceiling.
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Places to Visit |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Aakulam Tourist Complex, Agasthayarkoodam, Anjengo Fort, Ammachiplavu, Ananthapuri, Beemapalli, Kanyakumari, Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, Kovalam Beach, Maruthwamala, Napier Museum, Neyyar, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Priyadarshini Planetarium, Puthen Malika, Shankhumugham Beach, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Sree Chithra Enclave, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Sucheendram temple, The Zoo and Museum Complex, Thriparappu waterfalls, Varkala, Vattakkotta, Veli, Vivekanandappara, Vyloppilly Sanskrithi Bhavan, |
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Pathanamthitta |
Aranmula boat race, Ashtamudi Backwaters, Kakki Reservoir, Kaviyoor, Konni, Mannadi, Maramon, Perumthenaruvi Falls, Sabarimala, Thiruvalla, Vastu Vidya Gurukulam, Vijnana Kala vedi Cultural Centre, |
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Alappuzha |
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Bhagavathi Temple, Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple, Chavara Bhavan, Karumadi Kuttan, Krishnapuram Palace Museum, Kuttanad, Mannarassala Snake Temple, Pathiramanal Island, R Block,, St George Orthodox Syrian Church, St Mary's Church, Champakulam, Subrahmanya Temple. |
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Idukki |
Blossom international Park, Cheriyapalli, CSl Church (St George's Church), Devikulam Lake, Eagle Rock or Parunthumpara, Idukki Arch Dam, Kalvary Mount, Kolukkumalai, Kundala, Kurisumala Ashram, Kurisumala, Malanadu Development Society (MDS), Mampara Grasslands, Mangaladevi Temple, Marayoor, Mattupetty, Mount Carmel Church, Munnar, Murugan Para, Nelliyampathy, Orange and Vegetable Farm,Panchalimedu, Peermede, Pine Forests, Pothundy, Rajamalai, Seetharkundu,Summer Palace, Tea Museum, Thekkady, Thommankuthu, Thrisangu Hills, Top Station, Vagamon, Viewpoints, Waterfalls of Munnar, |
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Kottayam |
Ayyampara hills, Cheriyapalli, Erumely, Ganapathiyar Kovil, Good Shepherd Church, Ilaveezhapoonchira, Kanjirapally, Kayyoor Temple, Krishnapuram Palace Museum, Malanadu Development Society (MDS), Pala, Poonjar Palace, Shrine of our Lady of immaculate Conception, St Dominic's Cathedral, St George Church, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Church Bharananganam, St Mary's Forane Church, St Thomas Benedictine Abbey, Thirunakkara Temple, Vagamon, Valiyapalli, Kumarakom, Driftwood Museum, Bird Sanctuary, Midlands. |
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Ernakulam |
Antique Shops in Jew Street, Bhoothathankettu, Bishop's House/indo-Portuguese Museum, Broadway, Cherai Beach, Chottanikkara Temple, Clock tower, Dutch Cemetery, Fort Kochi Beach, Hill Palace Museum, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi, Kochi, Kumbalangi, M.G.Road, Marine Drive, Maritime Museum, Museum of Kerala History, Pardesi Synagogue, Santa Cruz Basilica, Shiva Temple, SNC Maritime Museum, Spice Market, St Francis Church, Thirumala Devaswom Temple, Willingdon Island, Chendamangalam. |
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Thrissur |
Athirappally and Vazhachal water falls, Ayyappa and Edathedathu Kavil Bhagavathy, Basilica of Our Lady of Dolores, Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid, Cheruthuruthy, The land of Arts, Guruvayur, Irinjalakkuda, The land of Bharatha, Juma Masjid,Kodungallur, Koodalmanik, Yam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple, Lourdes Cathedral,Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine, Martha Mariyam Chaldean Church, Palayur Church,Punnathoor Kotta, Sakthan Thampuran Palace, Shiva Temple,Sree Rama Temple, Thriprayar,The Cheraman Perumal who embraced Islam, The State Museum and Zoo,The Swaraj Roudn the heart of Thrissur,Vadakkumnathan Temple, |
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Malappuram |
Kadalundi Nagaram, Kondotty, Kottakkal(Centre of Ayurveda), Kottapadi, Malappuram, Manjeri, Nilambur(Forest area), Perinthalmanna, Perumpadappu, Ponnani, Tanur, Teak Museum,Tirur,Tirurangadi, |
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Kozhikode |
Beypore and its ‘Urus’, Beach Road, CSI Church, Kallai, Lokanarkavu of Vadakkanpattu, Mananchira Square, Mishkal Mosque, Mother of God Cathedral, Muchundipalli, Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery, Planetarium and Science Centre, Tali Temple,Valayanadu Devi Kshetram, |
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Wayanad |
Mananthavady, Brahamagiri, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves,Jain Temple, Karalad Lake, Kerala Kalamandalam, Kuruva Dweep, Lakkidi's Chain Tree, Mahe, Meenmutty Falls,Muthanga,The jungle of secrets, Pakshipathalam,Pazhassi Museum,Pookot Lake,River Nila,Soochipara and Kanthampara Falls, The tree of Karimthandan,Thirunelly Temple,Thrissiteri Temple,Wayanad Heritage Museum, |
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Kannur |
Alluring Beaches, Cheruvathur Kota Palli, Delightful Backwaters, Ezhimalai, Fort St Angelo,Kanhirode weaving Co-operative, Kerala Folklore Academy, Kottiyoor Shiva Temple, Mahalingeshwara Temple, Nileswaram, Parassini Kadavu Temple, Payyambalam Beach,Rajarajeshwara Temple,Thalassery,The tree of Karimthandan,Ummichipoyil and Varikulam,Valiyaparamba Backwaters, |
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Kasargode |
Anandashram, Ananthapura Temple, Bekal Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Kanhangad Hosdurg Fort,Kanwatheertha Beach, Kappil Beach, Kodagu, Kottanchery, Malik Ibn Dinar Mosque, Possadi Gumpe, Ranipuram. |
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