ONE DAY TRIP IN ALAPPUZHA / ALLEPPEY | BACKWATERS & BEACHES OF ALLEPPEY

At a distance of 4 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Mullakkal Raja Rajeswari Temple is very famous shrine in Alappuzha dedicated to Goddess Durga.

It is believed that Goddess Raja Rajeshwari appeared at this site to take care of a Jasmine flower (Mullakkal means 'Jasmine Flower' in Malayalam). The temple celebrates two annual festivals - the Navratri festival (October/November) and the Thaipooyakavadi festival (November/December). The last two days are the most auspicious days. Colorful processions participated by nine elephants are held in the evening. It is witnessed by thousands of devotees. Also several cultural programs including Ottanthullal & Kathakali are staged in the temple.

The Thaipooyakavadi celebrated for 41 days in November/December. The whole town will be full of lights and decoration and the last ten days are celebrated with glory.

Alappuzha is a magnificent destination in Kerala with mix of Backwaters and Beach. Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey is situated on the shores of Arabian Sea close to the banks of Vembanad Lake. Alappuzha or Alleppey is among the most famous destination of backwaters in Kerala and also one of the top tourist places in Kerala.

Along with Kumarakom, Alappuzha is among the most famous destination of backwaters in kerala. A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a delightful experience. It connects Kumarakom and Cochin to the North and Kollam to the South. The never-ending panorama of lush green paddy fields, towering coconut trees, shimmering water and long canals around Alappuzha make it a delightful destination.

It is popularly known as the 'Venice of the East'. Alleppey is also known for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat .....

At a distance of 16 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Mararikulam Beach is a cute little known beach situated in Mararikulam village. It is one of the most scenic beaches in Kerala. This white sand beach is filled with several coconut trees providing unique appearance to the beach. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Alappuzha & Kochi.

The beach is about 3 Kms from NH47 junction (called Mararikulam-Kalithattu Junction) before Kanjikkunzhi, between Alappuzha and kochi. The NH47 Junction is connected by frequent buses travelling between Alappuzha and Kochi.

There are several home stay options just on the shores of the beach. This beach is safe for swimming.

At a distance of 23 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Arthunkal Church, also known as St. Andrew's Forane Church is one of the oldest churches in Kerala. It is situated on the shores of Arabian Sea

Dedicated to St.Sebastian, this church comes under the Latin order. The Arthunkal Feast is celebrated for 11days. The highlights of the concluding day of the festival include a special ritual in which the devotees crawl on their knees all the way from the nearby beach to the church.

The near by Arthunkal beach (0.5 KM) is a nice place to watch the Sunset. The beach has no commercial activity.

Arthunkal is close to NH47 (near Tiruvizha Railway Station - about 5 Kms) between Alappuzha and Kochi and the highway is connected by frequent buses. Private/Public vehicles are available from the highway to reach the Arthunkal Church.

At a distance of 2 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Alappuzha beach is a lovely white sand beach on Arabian Sea. It is one of the top places to visit in Alleppey and among the most visited Kerala Beaches while holidaying in Kerala.

The beach is lined with dense palm groves at one end. The bridge on the beach is close to 150 years old. With Arabian Sea on west and several lakes (including Vembanad Lake), lagoons and several freshwater rivers, Alappuzha is a place with breathtaking natural beauty.

The children park at northern end of the beach is a good place to hang out for kids. There are no water sports facilities at the beach. The beach has considerably less commercial activity.