10 best places to visit in Alleppey in 1 day

Who said Alleppey is only about the backwaters? Definitely not!

Alleppey has more than what meets the eye. Tranquil beaches, ancient temples, colonial churches, lively markets, lush green paddy fields and more. Here, we have come up with some expert recommendations for you on the best places to visit in Alleppey in 1 day.

Let us get straight to the matter.

1. Vembanad Lake

vembanad_lake_Alleppey

Now, this is a no brainer. Everyone knows Alleppey is all about the backwaters and houseboats. So yes, the best place to visit in Alleppey is the Vembanad Lake and the best way to enjoy this scenic backwaters is a houseboat package. Therefore, the first thing you must think about while visiting Alleppey is to contact a houseboat tour operator and hop on to a houseboat for a memorable backwater cruise along the glistening Vembanad Lake. You come across some splendid sights of Alleppey starting from the palm fringed country side, bustling fish markets, toddy shops, narrow canals, paddies and lot more.

2. Alleppey Beach

Who doesn’t’ love beaches? Alleppey also has some beautiful beaches. One within the Alleppey city is the Alleppey Beach. It is the favorite haunt for the local people and by evening it gets crowded. If you like to avoid the crowd, then I would recommend you an early morning sun rise time to visit the Alleppey Beach. Else if you really want to soak in the local vibes with a hot cup of tea and some red hot spicy Bhajjis [a local snack], then evening time between 4 to 6 pm is ideal.

3. Gujarathi street

The bustling markets of the Gujarathi Street are a treat for travelers, especially the shopaholics. However, the most famous attraction in the Gujarathi Street is the Jain Temple. This historical temple is one of the pillar stones of Jainism in India. The architecture of the Alleppey Jain Temple is commendable with liberal use of Rajasthan stones and white marble. The eight day Parva Paryshana festival held during the August-September month annually is the major festival of the temple and this would be an ideal time for a visit as well with temple adorned by grand décor and lights.

4. Mararikulam beach

Another hit among the travelers is the famous Marari Beach. It is more likely that you would love the Marari Beach more than Alleppey, because this is more secluded and serene sea side. Sanwiched between verdant greenery and silvery sea, the sands of Marari is an ideal spot for a sun bath or spending quality time with your loved ones. The water is also clean and you can definitely go for a swim if you are a pretty good at swimming. The most attractive aspect about the Marari Beach is the small patches of pine trees spread across sea side which provides a perfect ambience for a peaceful morning or evening time. Try some of your favorite Yoga postures or practice meditation by the side. You will love it.

5. Arthunkal Church

This 400 year olds Portuguese built church is a piece of art located on a sea side which makes it even more beautiful. Its grand architecture tells the tales of its rich colonial past. The St. Andrew’s Church or more popularly known as the Arthunkal Church is frequented by many European travelers. It is also one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in Kerala for the Christian community.

6. Pathiramanal

A beautiful island surrounded by the stunning backwaters of Alleppey, Pathiramanal is a rare piece of land to have a secluded time amidst wilderness. It is also one of the favorite haunts in Kerala for the bird watchers as it houses some of the rare species of migratory birds belonging to different parts of the world. The estimated figure is about 91 local species and 50 migratory species of birds. For those who love spending time close to nature, this is for sure, an ideal spot. To reach, you can either opt for a boat ride from Alleppey or drive 13km from Alleppey by road and then catch a motor boat from Muhamma Jetty, just 1.5 kms away from the Pathiramanal Island.

7. Kuttanad

Kuttanad_in-alappuzha

Better known as the “Rice bowl of Alleppey”, Kuttanad is a green heaven. Miles of paddy fields spread across the mainland dotted with coconut farms in between and ever smiling people living peacefully, that is what Kuttanad is all about. If you want to get into the roots of Alleppey, get to Kuttanad. That is where real Alleppey lives.

8. Ambalapuzha Temple

The Ambalapuzha Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kerala dedicated to Lord Krishna. Its rich history gets reflected on its magnificent Kerala style architecture. It is 16 kms away from the Alleppey town and it would take a half an hour ride to reach.

9. Karumadikuttan Statue

This is a beautiful Buddhha statue made of black granite which is dated to be more than a thousand years. The statue is around 3 feet tall and now only half of it is intact. The other half is believed to be destroyed by an elephant. However, that doesn’t affect its beauty even a bit. Even Dalai Lama himself visited the Karumadikuttan and admired its elegance. If you wish to visit this place, it is very near from Alleppey town. Just 3 kms drive.

10. Revi Karunakaran Museum

Revi Karunakaran Museum

This is a famous museum in Alleppey built in memory of late Mr Revi Karunakaran, a pioneer in shaping the world famous coir industry in Alleppey. The museum showcases many priceless collections of paintings, murals, crystals and more. So for those who are in love with art, are welcome to this art house in Alleppey. It is located within the Alleppey town itself.

So that was our pick for 10 best places to visit in Alleppey in 1 day

There are more unexplored places in Alleppey which are yet to be discovered by the travel community. We will come up with that later in near future.