Alappuzha

Understand

Alappuzha has a wonderful past that owes its modern existence to the efforts of Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of the 18th century. Diwan Raja Kasavadas was instrumental in making Alappuzha a major port city in his time and for developing the system of inland canals, used for transportation and navigation, that is seen today. The name Alappuzha means "the land between the sea and network of rivers flowing into it". It is a fitting name: there are a significant number of canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons in and around the city. Alappuzha, and Kerala in general, has excellent weather due to its proximity to the ocean. The temperature rarely goes above 35 °C and never below 20 °C. The best time to visit is from September to March. The monsoon, from June to August, always brings heavy wind and rains. This is an excellent time to visit if you want to partake in a bit of monsoon tourism.

Getting there

By plane Cochin International Airport (COK IATA). This is the nearest airport. You can take a taxi to get from Cochin airport to Cochin, and then a bus or train to Alappuzha. Another option is to take a local bus from nearby Athani, reachable by rickshaw. Alternative airports are in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kozhikode (Calicut), Chennai, and Bangalore from which you can catch a train to Alappuzha.

By train Train service is available to Alappuzha from different parts of Kerala such as Kochi (Cochin), Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode, and from other major cities in India such as Chennai, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Coimbatore, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Mangalore, and Kolkata. If you are coming from Hyderabad, you can take the Sabari Express.

1 Alappuzha railway station (ആലപ്പുഴ തീവണ്ടി നിലയം). (updated Jan 2020)

By bus 2 Alappuzha KSRTC bus stand. There are no buses from the KSRTC bus station straight to the beach (around Vijay Park). An auto rickshaw costs about ₹80-100 for the 3.5 km. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Alappuzha private bus stand. (updated Feb 2026) There are bus services operating from Cochin (1 hr 45 min, ₹75 for KSRTC), Thiruvananthapuram (3½ hours, ₹150 for KSRTC), Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Coimbatore to Alappuzha.

By car The entire Alappuzha district is well-connected by NH 66 (formerly NH 47). It goes via the Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha and Cherthala towns. Alappuzha is well connected to other cities Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore by road. Tourist taxis are the most convenient way to travel from attraction to attraction, especially while travelling as a group. They can be found at most airports and railway stations.

Getting around

By bus Like elsewhere in Kerala, Alappuzha has a cheap and efficient local bus system. You can catch buses to almost eerywhere from the KSRTC bus stand, Alappuzha.

By autorickshaw This is a cheap means of transportation between attractions. Make sure you agree on a price first. You can bargain or contact the tourist centre nearby to confirm the auto charges in the area before you set out.

By taxi Local taxis are also available for what many western wallets would consider cheap. There are car rental companies that offer cars with drivers or self-drive options. Rates increase depending on the extra features you select (i.e. whether you want a driver or a car with air-conditioning). If you are unfamiliar with the area, or with driving on Indian roads, you should get a driver as well, who will also be able to recommend places to eat and visit.

By boat A visit to Alappuzha would not be complete without making a journey by boat. In some cases, such as visiting Kuttanad, boats are the preferred method of transport as some locations are inaccessible by road. There are ferry services between places, widely used by the locals, which are a scenic way of getting around.

4 SWTD Boat Jetty. (updated Mar 2026) The government-run Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD) boats are there at the boat jetty opposite to Alappuzha KSRTC bus stand. One can use the service and alight at any preferred location at cheap rates by making use of the service. Tourist boat service to the Kollam district is also available from Alappuzha boat jetty at reasonable price. As of March 2026 the fare is ₹29 and the departures from Alappuzha to Kottayam are at 7:15AM, 9:35AM, 11:30AM, 2:30PM, 5:15PM. The trip takes two hours. Along the route are multiple short stops. The motor of the boat is loud so consider bringing earplugs for a quieter journey, same as the captain does. From Kottayam you can go back by boat or by KSRTC bus (direct or with a transfer in Changanassery).

Water taxi

See

The city itself is a sight to see. Exploring the city, especially by boat, can often lead to memorable experiences. Bring a camera, there are many photo opportunities on the waterways and beaches. If you are visiting Alappuzha, enquire about the schedule of temple festivals. Alappuzha is one of the few places in Kerala where non-Hindus are allowed enter temple premises. Alappuzha temples are generally more open and accepting, though there might be a few areas inside the temples where entry is restricted. The Ambalapuzha temple festival is particularly impressive. Five elephants carry the Krishna idol, with a music accompaniment, for a distance of about 14 km away from Alappuzha and to the temple. Make sure you try the rose palpayasam a traditional, sweet, milk delicacy made by boiling milk until it condenses and turns into a light pink colour. 1 Jain Derasar. This temple is very calm and quiet temple. Allepey has a very small Jain population. 2 Karumadikkuttan (Karimadi, Near Ambalapuzha). This is a 9th century black granite statue of the Buddha, locally known as Karumadi Kuttan. This statue is protected by the Archeological survey of India. 3 Marari-beach, Mararikulam. A good destination for a day trip, it is about 16 km north of Alappuzha town. This area also has the Mahadeva temple and Arthunkal church. You can get here by local bus from the KSTC bus stand, get off at Maraikulam Junction (journey time: 20 min), and then walk 4 km or (better) get an autorickshaw to the beach itself. 4 St. Mary's Church. Alleppey has a high percentage of Christians. St. Mary’s Church (Champakulam) is believed to be one of the seven churches established by St. Thomas. 5 Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Ambalapuzha. This temple was built in the 15th century. Of interest here is an extremely distinctive Paal-Payasam (a sweet milk dessert made out of rice, with jaggery, in milk). Its recipe is a well guarded secret. It's believed the same cooks cannot reproduce the same taste using same i

Do

1 Alleppey Beach (Western edge of town). A fairly large, flat and clean beach. An old pier, which was at one point used for trade and had three railway lines, still stands. Stroll along the beach promenade, have a drink and some food in the "Indian Coffee House" and an ice cream or peanuts from one of the stalls. Locals enjoy playing frisbee and volley