Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor

Sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and Vembanad Lake on a sliver of land barely 4 km wide, Alappuzha has the dual advantage of cheap inland water transport on its eastern end and calm seas suitable for an all-weather port on the west. Its criss-crossing canals, which were once busy waterways, historically evoked comparisons with Venice.

Although the city was once supported primarily by coir manufacturing, tourism has helped revive this once booming trading centre.

small canoe boats

Alappuzha boat Jetty