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Monday, May 07, 2007

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Tourism

Alappuzha | Idukki | Kannur | Kochi | Kollam | Kottayam | Kozhikode | Palakkad | Pathanamthitta | Thiruvananthapuram | Thrissur | Wayanad  

Alappuzha - How to get there | Krishnapuram Palace | Champakulam | Alapuzha Beach | Light House | Kuttanad | Karumadi | Ambalapuzha | Pathiramanal | Mannarsala | Punnapra | Muppalam

Alappuzha
Alappuzha, also known as Venice of the East, is one of the exotic backwater sites of India's southern state Kerala and also the major center of coir Industry. A large net work of canals pass through the town and there is a long sandy beach. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad. The 'Granary of Kerala', Kuttanad is one of the few regions in the world where farming is done below sea level. At Punnamadakayal, one of Kerala's most famous boat races is held. The Nehru Cup, inaugurated in 1952, is the largest snake boat race in the state. The climate of this small town is temperate and humid in general and relatively more pleasant in the winter season. The temperature ranges from 22 to 35°C in summer and 20 to 32°C during winters. The best time to visit Alappuzha is during the winter season. The months from August-September and February-March are ideal for a visit to this place. 

How to get there:
Air: The nearest airport is Nedumbasserry, Kochi, 86 kms to the North. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) International airport is 159 kms to the south of Alappuzha.
Rail: Alappuzha is linked by rail to cities like Kochi, Chennai, Howrah, Bangalore and Bokaro. The railway station is situated 5 kms away from the bus station and ferry station.
(Enquiry Phone : 0477-2253965, 2253865)

Tourism Contact List

1.    Kerala

1. http://www.kerala-tourism.org/contact-us.html

 Kerala

    Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala

1. http://www.keralatourism.org/

 Corporate Office:

2. http://www.ktdc.com/

 For reservations: 

 SLS Tourist, Bangalore 

3. http://www.keralatourntravel.com/Kerala-Contact-Information.asp

4. http://www.kerala-tourism.org/contact-us.html

 5. http://www.vacationskerala.com/contactus.htm

  Kerala Tourism

6. http://www.kerala-tourism.net/profile.html#contact

Krishnapuram Palace
Situated at 47km from Alappuzha at Kayamkulam on the way to Kollam (41kms), this palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Marthanda Varma. It is noted with typical Kerala architecture with gabled roof, dormer windows and narrow corridors. There is a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronze articles in the palace. The mural which kept on the western end of the ground floor called ' Gajendra Moksha' is the largest mural in Kerala.

Champakulam
St.Mary's Forane Church (Syrian) built in 1870. The St.Thomas Statuary near to the church makes wooden statues of Christ for export. There is no traffic other than the occasional cycle and canoes in this place.

Alappuzha Beach
This is a popular, good and quite clean beach. On the southern side of the beach there is a park for children. On northern side the pier extending into the sea is over a 100 years old. There is boating facilities available in the Sea view park here. The railway station isn't very far from the beach.

Light House
Light house in Alappuzha situated about 4km away from the town is one of the oldest light houses in Kerala. From the top of the light house we can see the whole Alappuzha beach and some part of the Alappuzha Town. In the initial stages the light house was worked using old techniques but now new equipments have been installed.

Kuttanad 
Kuttanad is known as rice storage place of Kerala or ' rice bowl of Kerala'. To see this region you can get into a boat to Changanacherry (2 1/2 hours) from Alappuzha. It's route passes through Kuttanad. This area is unique in the world where farming is done below sea level. For the major period of the year, most of the land remain under water. During the rains, water rises to submerge most of the farm area and at other times the farm is deliberately flooded in a controlled manner to facilitate rice farming. During the rains the top soil and minerals from the highlands are washed away and deposited here making this area highly fertile.

Karumadi
This village is famous for its Karumadi Kuttan, a black granite figure of the Buddha said to belong to the 9th or 10th century. This village is situated near to Ambalapuzha, 14 km from Alleppey.

Ambalapuzha 
The 'Sri Krishna temple' at Ambalapuzha, 14 km south of Allapuzha, is a pilgrim centre. Lord Krishna (Kannan) is the presiding diety here. The 'Palpayasam' (a sweet milk porridge) offered to the deity during the temple festival in March/April is very famous in Kerala.

Pathiramanal (Island)
This is a small beautiful island in the Vembanad Lake. This island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom is a favourite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the land. This island can be accessed by boat from Kumarakom or Muhamma. 

Mannarsala
One of the most important centre of snake worship in Kerala, Sree Nagaraja temple is situated at Mannarsala 35 Km away from Alappuzha near Haripad on the Alappuzha-Kollam route. The temple is surrounded by about 16 acres of thick green forest. The King of Serpents is the diety. On the asterism, 'Ayillam' of each Malayalam month, the 'Sarpakalam Pattu' is conducted. This ritual involves drawing the figure of the Serpent God on the floor using vegetable colors. 

A two day festival is celebrated by the temple with great religious fervor. On the second day by noon, the 'Ezhunnallathu' (royal outing) ceremony is conducted when the idol of 'Nagaraja' is carried by the priests and taken round the temple in a procession. A large crowd of devotees with 'urili' (vessel) and colourful parasols participate in it. The entire jungle setting of the temple reverberates with the full throated chanting in praise of the Serpent God.

Punnapra
Punnappra near Alappuzha has gone down into history as the battle ground between the Communists and the erst-while Travancore state police in the Punnappra- Vayalar Communist uprising of 1946. A memorial to the martyrs stands testimony to the event, which the state Government declared as a pat of the freedom struggle. The Punnapra-Vayalar Riot tombs is situated at Kaithavana, 3Km away from the Alappuzha Town.

Muppalam
It can be considered as the only bridge of its kind in the whole Kerala. Here three bridges meet at one place to join three roads. It is about 2Km away from the Alleppey town and is near to the Alleppey Beach.

References:
http://india-tourism.com/

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