Backwaters of Alappuzha

Alappuzha Backwaters is attributed as the ‘Venice of the East’. Surfed by the Arabian Sea on the west with a sizable labyrinth of lakes, lagoons and rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha Backwaters is a district of exceptional natural beauty. Palm fringed narrow canals zigzagging through the vast paddy fields alongside will surely steal you heart away. Its proximity to the sea has earned Alappuzha Backwaters a rare place in the maritime history of Kerala.

Today, Alappuzha Backwaters has gained recognition as an entrancing backwater tourist centre, attracting a horde of foreign tourists each year. Alappuzha Backwaters is famed for multitude things like the thrilling boat races, exotic houseboat holidays, breathtaking beaches, inimitable marine products and the unique coir industry.

Alappuzha is home to Kuttanad, ‘the rice bowl of Kerala’. Kutannad with its wealth of paddy crops produces almost 10% of the total rice population of the state. The scenic countryside of Kuttanad with its shimmering waterways and rich crop of bananas, yams and casava accompanies the rice bowl as "side dishes". Kutannad is one of the very few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways flowing above the level of land is another distinctive feature of this inimitable land.

Pathiramanal (14 Kms from Alappuzha) According to the mythology a young brahmin dived into the Vembanad lake to perform his evening ablutions. Then water made way for land to rise from below and consequently the enchanting island of Pathiramanal (sand of midnight) was created. This little island of Pathiramanal on the backwaters is a favourite haunt of rare migratory birds from across the world. The Pathiramanal island is cuddled up between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom. It is easily accessible by boat.