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Alappuzha Backwaters

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With the Arabian Sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty.

Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from across the world, this backwater country is also home to diverse animal and bird life.

By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala.

Today, Alappuzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year.

Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad.

Kuttanad:
Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwater. The scenic countryside here is a rich crop of bananas, yams and cassava.

This one of the places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways, which flow above land level, are an amazing feature of this unique land.

Pathiramanal
(1 ½ hours by motor boat/30 min. by speed boat from alappuzha): According to mythology a young Brahmin dived into the Vembanad Lake to perform his evening ablutions and the water made way for land to rise from below, thus creating the enchanting island of Pathiramanal (sands of midnight).

This little island on the backwater is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different part of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat.