Alappuzha (Alleppey)

Alappuzha is the gateway to Kerala's backwaters, a network of palm-fringed canals, lagoons and paddy fields best experienced aboard a traditional converted rice barge, or houseboat, moving slowly past riverside villages.

For most travellers this is the single most distinctive experience of a South India trip — an overnight on the water, watching everyday backwater life go by, with fresh Kerala meals cooked on board.

Highlights

• An overnight houseboat cruise through the backwaters
• Fresh Kerala meals prepared on board
• Riverside village life along the canals
• Optional canoe trips into narrower backwater channels

Best Time to Visit

October to March for the clearest, driest cruising conditions; monsoon cruises are atmospheric but wetter.

Getting There

A 1.5–2 hour drive from Kochi, usually scheduled as an overnight houseboat stay within a Kerala route.