Alleppey: where the backwaters face the Arabian Sea
As you look around standing on the picturesque Alleppey docks, you see this as a sleepy little town to shed its posh city poses and renew itself in the lap of brackish ponds. But Alleppey begins to gesticulate wildly and wakes up to a whirlwind of activities when boat racing season and the fascinating Ambalappuzha Temple Fest knock on the door. And the sweetness of the legendary Ambalappuzha Palpayasam permeates a touch of her to everything in Alleppey.
Alleppey attracts waves of tourists and soul seekers for its promise of tremendous greenery and the adoption of ecotourism. Home to a hundred shades of green and a thousand sounds of tranquility, Alleppey overflows with the fairytale creation of stone-walled brasseries and expansive carpets of lush green rice paddies juxtaposed with confusing crisscrossing of waterways. The sleeping ‘Kettuvalloms’ (houseboats) are tied to the banks and sway serenely to the beat. Small thatched hamlets with coconut leaves are dotted here and there. Everything seems to compete for the attention of the palm-fringed backwaters.
A houseboat cruise is a must. Sailing along the pristine backwaters, it gives an otherworldly impression of Alleppey’s dizzying mix of farm life, commerce, and general hustle and bustle. Listen … the Chinese fishing nets set on the shore glisten lazily in the sun to tell the story of how you got here. Flocks of multicolored ducks swimming near the banks almost deaf you with their chorus squawks.
If the captain of your houseboat asks if you would like to sample fresh seafood prepared on board, take the opportunity to experience the magic of alfresco dining on the ship. All ingredients such as spices, fish, prawns, etc. they can be bought from fishermen who sail by canoe. Wait until the mouthwatering aroma fills the air and you’ll soon be gorging yourself on a typical Alleppey lunch seasoned with Kerala spices to the core! Perhaps one of these local fishermen can organize a trip to Pathiramanal Island for you. In the middle of the beautiful Vembanad Lake near Kumarakom, this island in the backwaters is a pet haven for thousands of rare migratory birds from around the world.
Visit picturesque Alleppey Beach with an extensive coastal garden. The crowds at the centennial pier, including magicians, fortune tellers, peanut vendors, and many more, can pique your interest and keep you lit up until the end of the day. Vijaya Park and Sea View Park adjacent to the beach have enough attractions and entertainment to keep the craziest kid busy for hours.
Jumping alleppey during harvest time will present you with an intrinsic experience of witnessing rows of women pulling the paddy fields with their hands and beating them in a fun way, humming some popular song formed long ago. Back at your resort at sunset, the red-tile-roofed houses appear to glow fiery crimson against the backdrop of pearly waters and palm groves. As the sun sinks over the horizon, the breeze cools slightly as other people also rush home to join in the evening prayers.