In this article, we provide comprehensive information about the geography, history, population, and top tourist destinations of Alappuzha City. Alappuzha, often referred to as Alleppey, is a beautiful city in the state of Kerala, India, and is famously known as the “Venice of the East.” It is renowned for its tranquil backwaters, picturesque canals, lush greenery, and traditional houseboats.
| About City: | Alappuzha (or Alleppey) is a city on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It’s best known for houseboat cruises along the rustic Kerala backwaters, a network of tranquil canals and lagoons. Alappuzha Beach is the site of the 19th-century Alappuzha Lighthouse. The city’s Mullakkal Temple features a traditional design. Punnamada Lake’s snake boat races are a well-known annual event. Alappuzha dates back to the Sangam era, and was mentioned by Pliny the Elder as far back as the 1st century AD as “Baraces”. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the town became a vital center for spice trade with various European powers, including the Dutch and the Portuguese. Under Raja Kesavadas, a port was built, and canals were constructed for transportation throughout the city, leading to significant development. However, by the late 18th century, British rule brought a decline in its prominence as a center for commerce and culture. Today, Alappuzha is a well-known tourist destination in Kerala, celebrated for its picturesque waterways and backwaters, earning it the nickname “Venice of the East” due to the charming canals that weave through its historic center. It is also referred to as the Tarshish land of Kerala. The town serves as a key access point for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race during the Onam festival and is a significant hub for coir manufacturing, boasting a robust coir industry. |
| Geography: | Alappuzha is situated at 9.54°N 76.40°E, with an average elevation of just 1 metre (3.3 ft). The area spans 1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi) and is bordered by 2,195 square kilometres (847 sq mi) of Vembanad Lake, where six major rivers flow before meeting the district’s 80 km coastline. The city itself is interwoven with a network of canals, which form part of National Waterway 3. The district consists of a sandy strip of land interspersed with lagoons, rivers, and canals. There are no significant mountains or hills, apart from a few scattered hillocks found between Bharanikkavu and Chengannur blocks in the eastern part of the district. Additionally, there are no forested areas in this region. |
| Country : | India |
| State: | Kerala |
| District: | Alappuzha district |
| Population: | 240,991 (2011 Census) |
| Language: | Official: Malayalam and English |
| Literacy: | Average literacy rate of Alappuzha city is 96.20 percent of which male and female literacy was 97.61 and 94.91 percent. |
| Major Attractions to Visit: | Sarada mandiramAlappuzha BeachAlappuzha Sea View parkVijay Beach ParkAlappuzha-R-BlockPathiramanalKarumadikkuttanKumarakodi Pallana AlappuzhaKumarakodiKrishnapuram Palace |
