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Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters

Venice of the East - houseboats through the backwaters

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Best time to visit Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and August to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to July

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season - calm water, cool evenings on the houseboat deck, book weeks ahead for holidays

Summer March to May Shoulder

Hot and sticky (32-35C); houseboat naps under the AC are the only way through April-May

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

June-July rain is relentless and humid; August's snake boat races light up the backwaters instead

Autumn October to November Prime time

October is gorgeous - lush paddy fields, comfortable temps, thinning crowds before winter rush

What Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters is actually like

Houseboats cost more solo, but homestays and kayak tours make it easy to meet people

Things to do in Alleppey

The local places worth your time in and around Alleppey, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Punnamada Kayal

    Lake · 4 km out

    The wide lake where the Nehru Trophy snake boats race on the second Saturday of August; shikaras go out from the jetties.

  • Alappuzha Beach

    Beach · in town

    Grey sand and a ruined iron pier walking out to sea; the beach road fills after 5 pm with fried fish and chai carts.

  • Alappuzha Lighthouse

    Viewpoint · in town

    Red and white 1862 tower behind the beach, climbable for a view over the coconut coast; afternoons only, small fee.

  • Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple

    Temple · 14 km out

    Known for its palpayasam, ladled to a queue each afternoon; men enter bare chested in a mundu and tokens run out early.

  • Champakulam St Mary's Church

    Church · 16 km out

    One of Kerala's oldest Syrian Christian parishes, on the Pamba where the Moolam boat race starts; go by canal boat if you can.

  • Karumadikuttan

    Heritage · 16 km out

    Black granite Buddha with its left side broken away, sitting beside a canal at Karumadi; free, and a five minute stop.

  • Revi Karunakaran Museum

    Museum · 1 km out

    A coir trader's house of Belgian glass, ivory and Tanjore paintings; guided rounds only, closed Mondays, about an hour.

Getting to Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters

Fly to Cochin, 1.5h taxi/bus to the Alleppey houseboat jetty

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
0 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
9.4981, 76.3388

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters?

November to February is peak season in Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters. March and August to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to July. October is gorgeous - lush paddy fields, comfortable temps, thinning crowds before winter rush.

How many days do you need in Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters?

2 days is the usual stay. Houseboats cost more solo, but homestays and kayak tours make it easy to meet people.

How do you get to Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters?

Fly to Cochin, 1.5h taxi/bus to the Alleppey houseboat jetty. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters?

Aug: Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Alleppey?

Punnamada Kayal, Alappuzha Beach, Alappuzha Lighthouse, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Champakulam St Mary's Church and Karumadikuttan, and more. The wide lake where the Nehru Trophy snake boats race on the second Saturday of August; shikaras go out from the jetties.

Nearby, and where to go next

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