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Alappuzha (Alleppey)

Pop: 270,000 Area Code: 0477

Alappuzha used to be a major shipping center. The main reason that tourist come here is to use it as a stopover point on their way to a backwater boat tour to Kollam or Kottayam. Alappuzha is about midway between Kochi (64km) and Kollam (85km). Most tourists stay here only one night because there is little to do in town.

Information
The State government Tourist Information Centre (DTPC) (phone: 253-308, 251-796; fax 251-720) near the KSRTC bus stand, on Boat Jetty Rd, offers backwater cruises. Open Mon to Sat 9:30 am to 7:30 pm. They give Rs 50 off boat trip if you have an international student card.

The Alleppey Tourism Development Cooperative (ATDC) (262-262, 234-462; fax 262-262), at Karthika Tourist Home, books backwater cruises with private companies. The staff is helpful. (Open daily 7:30 am to 8:30 pm).

The boat jetty for the backwater cruises is a one-minute walk west of the bus stand.

The backwater cruise is Rs 200 and departs from Alappuzha at 10.30 am.

There is poste restante at the Head Post Office.

Money
Indian Overseas Bank changes only American Express and Thomas Cook travelers cheques in US dollars and pounds sterling. The State Bank of India, a few km from downtown near the beach, also changes money.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race takes place on the second Saturday in August each year, in the lake east of town. There can be over thirty boats 60m (200 ft) long with up to 100 rowers and singers on board. The boats are splendidly decorated and have raised backs.

Tickets for seats on the bamboo grandstands along the lake are sold at booths on the way to the race. This is the best viewing area for the race. Tickets range from Rs 10 to Rs 250 for a Tourist Pavilion ticket, which has the best view of the finish line.

An umbrella is necessary because the race takes place during the monsoon and it can start pouring rain at any time. It is a good idea to carry some food and water, as there is little available at the race. Many international tourists attend the event.
The Tourism Snakeboat Race takes place on the third day of the Great Elephant March in mid-January. Boat races also take place in Aranmula and Champakulam on “Moolam” day in June. Champakulam is 16km away by ferry.

Where to Stay—Lower
St George Lodge (251- 620), CCNB Rd, is a basic, popular place with backpackers with rooms for Rs 45/70 and Rs 60/110 with bath. It is a good value. They change money.
Sheeba Lodge (244-871), near the Komala Hotel, has basic rooms for Rs 100/125 and also has higher priced rooms for Rs 150.
The popular Komala Hotel (243-631), a little north of North Canal, has a selection of rooms with bath for Rs 125/175, triples/quads for Rs 200/225 and comfortable A/C rooms for Rs 400/500. It has a good tandoori restaurant. Recommended.
Kuttanadu Tourist Home (251-354), south of the North Canal, near the bus stand and boat jetty, is large hotel with big rooms for Rs 100/150. It has a rooftop restaurant.
Krishna Bhavan Lodge (60453), opposite the boat jetty, has really basic rooms around a courtyard for Rs 50/60 with common bath and Rs 60/80 with bath.
Nearby is the little better Kadambari Tourist Home (252-210), Mullakal Rd, with rooms for Rs 90/125.
Karthika Tourist Home (245-524), Zilla Court, SDV Rd, opposite the Jetty on the other side of the canal, has clean, good-size rooms for Rs 125/150. It is a good value.

Where to Stay—Middle to Higher
Hotel Raiban (251-930), south of the South Canal, not far from the railway station, has rooms for Rs 150/200 and Rs 400 with A/C.
Mutteal Holiday Inn (242-955), Nehru Trophy Rd, has rooms.
Tharayil Tourist Home (243-543; fax: same), near the lake on Punnamada Rd, Thathampally, has a nice location on the other side of the canal from the boat jetty and bus station. It is a nice clean, quiet place with A/C rooms.
The popular Alleppey Prince Hotel (243-752; fax 243-758), AS Rd, 3km north of the center of town, has central A/C, a pool, and a very good pool-side restaurant. Large comfortable rooms with cable TV are Rs 900/1000. Rooms should be booked in advance. They arrange luxury backwater trips. An auto-rickshaw to here from the boat jetty costs about Rs 25; a taxi Rs 90.

Where to Eat
The very popular Arun, at the Komala Hotel, Zilla Court Ward, has very good Indian veg and Chinese food. Thalis are Rs 25. The Western food is not as good.
Aryaas, Mullakal Rd, is a good economical South Indian place with very good dosas.
Vijaya, Jetty Rd, is a good South Indian veg place.
Indian Coffee House has two branches in Alappuzha, one on Mullakal Rd and the other one is near the hospital. It has cheap meals.
Hotel Aryas, Mullakal Rd, has cheap veg meals.
Hotel Raiban has a restaurant.
The A/C Vembanad Restaurant, Alleppey Prince Hotel, is a very good restaurant with a good atmosphere.

Travel

Train The railway station is 4km south of the center of town and three km from the boat jetty. There are trains to Ernakulam (1 to 1½ hr, 57km, 7 daily), Thrissur, Kollam (2 hr), Chennai and Kayankulam.

The Ernakulam-Trivandrum Exp #6341 departs Ernakulam at 6.15 am and arrives in Alappuzha at 7.20 am, which gives plenty of time to get the backwater boat to Kollam. Chennai Alleppey- Chennai Exp #6042 (3 pm, 15 hr); Thiruvananthapuram Ernakulam-Trivandrum Exp #6341 (7.25 am, 3½ hr).

Bus From the KSRTC bus stand at the east end of town buses depart frequently to Thiruvananthapuram (3½ hr), Kottayam (1 hr, nine daily), Ernakulam (1½ hr, Rs 20, every half-hour), and Kollam (3 hr, every half-hour). There are private buses to Coimbatore (5½ hr), Mangalore (10 hr), and Bangalore (12 hr).
Boat Alappuzha is the best place to begin a backwater cruise. The public ferry from Alappuzha to Kollam was not operating at the time of this writing because the canal is blocked near Kollam. There are regular public ferries to Kottayam (2½ hr, 8 daily, Rs 8) and Changanassery (3 hr, 2 daily). Changanassery is 78km north of Kollam and 18km south of Kottayam, on the railway line and main road.

The DTPC office is at the Tourist Reception Center; the ATDC office is on Kamala Rd.
Private boats can be rented for short or long trips. They are located across the North Canal, opposite the boat jetty. It costs about Rs 500 for a one-way ride to Kottayam. It is best to bargain directly with the boat owner and not someone who walks up to you (a tout). Penguin Tourist Boat Service (61522), Boat Jetty Rd, has a selection of backwater trips from Alappuzha. The DTPC (253-308) and Vembanad Tourist Services (251-395) also hire boats.

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