- Alappuzha Beach
- Boat Races
- Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple
- Chakkulathukavu Pongala
- Ambalapuzha Palpayasam
- Palaces
- Kuttanad Region
- Temples
- Churches
- Pathiramanal
- Punnapra
- Mararikulam
Alappuzha Beach
Alappuzha referred as the Venice of the East, has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala. With the Arabian Sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and several freshwater rivers criss-crossing it; Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.
Alappuzha referred as the Venice of the East, has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala. With the Arabian Sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and several freshwater rivers criss-crossing it; Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.
Boat Races
Alappuzha district is proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy boat Race at Punnamada, the Payippad near Haripad, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races are held at different parts of the district during August-September. Thousands of people from all parts of the world come and witness these races.
Alappuzha district is proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy boat Race at Punnamada, the Payippad near Haripad, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races are held at different parts of the district during August-September. Thousands of people from all parts of the world come and witness these races.
Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple
Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple Neerettupuram, 10 kms west of Thiruvalla and 18 kms east of Ambalapuzha, Vrichikom - Karthika the day of famous ponkala naivedyam. Vrichikom 18th friday Nareepooja ( worshipping the women) and every friday observe as auspicious. Dhanu 1 to 12 penance festival. Irrespective of cast and creed everybody is allowed to enter into the temple. Chakkulath Bhagavathy Temple 'The Sabarimala of women' is located at Ambalapuzha, Neerattupuram in Alappuzha District of Kerala after Thakazhi and Edathuva. (17 kms East of Ambalapuzha and 9 kms west of Thiruvalla). Chakkulathamma the benefactress cosmic mother, the conduit power of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the creator, preserver and destroyer dwells here. This Bhagavathy temple is famous for its Pongala Maholsav. Pongala is a devout offering made of pudding by devotees as a reverent exposure of their awesome offering of love and respect. The myth about Chakkulathamma makes an interesting reading as it was she who transfonned a foolish shepherd into the saint poet Kalidas overnight. The revered Brahmasree Radhakrishnan Thirumeni, the best among the blessed of Chakkulathamma provide remedy to all who approach him for various worldly solutions. P.B.K. Namboodiri, one of the best astrologer, Unnikrishnan Namboodiri and Ashokan Namboodiri worship the goddess during the daily temple rituals under the efficient and capable guidance of the administrator Brahmasree Manikuttan Namboodiri who is also famous in writing divine songs. Sri. Damodharan Namboodiri, the father of the blessed five leads his sons in religious texts and rituals and is their beacon light.
Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathi Temple Neerettupuram, 10 kms west of Thiruvalla and 18 kms east of Ambalapuzha, Vrichikom - Karthika the day of famous ponkala naivedyam. Vrichikom 18th friday Nareepooja ( worshipping the women) and every friday observe as auspicious. Dhanu 1 to 12 penance festival. Irrespective of cast and creed everybody is allowed to enter into the temple. Chakkulath Bhagavathy Temple 'The Sabarimala of women' is located at Ambalapuzha, Neerattupuram in Alappuzha District of Kerala after Thakazhi and Edathuva. (17 kms East of Ambalapuzha and 9 kms west of Thiruvalla). Chakkulathamma the benefactress cosmic mother, the conduit power of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the creator, preserver and destroyer dwells here. This Bhagavathy temple is famous for its Pongala Maholsav. Pongala is a devout offering made of pudding by devotees as a reverent exposure of their awesome offering of love and respect. The myth about Chakkulathamma makes an interesting reading as it was she who transfonned a foolish shepherd into the saint poet Kalidas overnight. The revered Brahmasree Radhakrishnan Thirumeni, the best among the blessed of Chakkulathamma provide remedy to all who approach him for various worldly solutions. P.B.K. Namboodiri, one of the best astrologer, Unnikrishnan Namboodiri and Ashokan Namboodiri worship the goddess during the daily temple rituals under the efficient and capable guidance of the administrator Brahmasree Manikuttan Namboodiri who is also famous in writing divine songs. Sri. Damodharan Namboodiri, the father of the blessed five leads his sons in religious texts and rituals and is their beacon light.
Chakkulathukavu Pongala
This is the phenomenally renow-ned festival that takes place in the temple during the month of 'Vrischikam' (November! December). This is the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak. Lakhs of women devotees gather around the temple as early as even one week before the function. The temple premises will be over crowded and the devotees arrange places for offering the pongala on both sides of the main streets. The queue usually extends to a surprising length of 20 km. Rice, coconut and jaggery are brought by women devotees along with round earthen pots for cooking. The Chief Priest lights the main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. This fIre is exchanged from one oven to another. Every year at the time of lighting the main hearth an eagle is found to circle far above the sky. This is an unfailing blessing of the Goddess. The sight of the bird drives the devotees into an inexplicable feeling of ecstacy. They utter the divine names of the mother and the atmosphere echoes and reverberates with a thousand names of the Goddess.
This is the phenomenally renow-ned festival that takes place in the temple during the month of 'Vrischikam' (November! December). This is the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak. Lakhs of women devotees gather around the temple as early as even one week before the function. The temple premises will be over crowded and the devotees arrange places for offering the pongala on both sides of the main streets. The queue usually extends to a surprising length of 20 km. Rice, coconut and jaggery are brought by women devotees along with round earthen pots for cooking. The Chief Priest lights the main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum. This fIre is exchanged from one oven to another. Every year at the time of lighting the main hearth an eagle is found to circle far above the sky. This is an unfailing blessing of the Goddess. The sight of the bird drives the devotees into an inexplicable feeling of ecstacy. They utter the divine names of the mother and the atmosphere echoes and reverberates with a thousand names of the Goddess.
Ambalapuzha Palpayasam
The pal payasam served in the Ambalappuzha Temple is famous among Hindu devotees. This sweet pudding made of rice and milk has an interesting mythological legend behind it. According to the legend, Lord Krishna once appeared in the form of a sage in the court of the king who ruled the region and challenged him for a game of chess (or chaturanga). The king being a chess enthusiast himself gladly accepted the invitation. The prize had to be decided before the game and the king asked the sage to choose his prize in case he wins. The sage told the king that he had a very modest claim and being a man of few material needs, all he wished was a few grains of rice. The amount of rice itself shall be determined using the chess-board in the following manner. One grain of rice shall be placed in the first square, two grains in the second square, four in the third square, eight in the fourth square and so on. Every square will have double the number of grains of its predecessor. So the game of chess started and needless to say the king lost the game. It was time to pay the sage his agreed-upon prize. As he started adding grains of rice to the chess board, the king soon realised the true nature of the sage's demands. By the 20th square, the number had reached one-million grains of rice and by the 40th square, it became one-trillion. The royal grainery soon ran out of grains of rice. The king realised that even if he provides all the rice in his kingdom and his adjacent kingdoms, he will never be able to fulfill the promised reward. Upon seeing the dilemma, the sage appeared to the king in his true-form, that of lord Krishna. He told the King that he doesn't have to pay the debt immediately but can pay him over time. The king shall serve paal-payasam (made of rice) in the temple freely to the pilgrims every day until the debt is paid off.
The pal payasam served in the Ambalappuzha Temple is famous among Hindu devotees. This sweet pudding made of rice and milk has an interesting mythological legend behind it. According to the legend, Lord Krishna once appeared in the form of a sage in the court of the king who ruled the region and challenged him for a game of chess (or chaturanga). The king being a chess enthusiast himself gladly accepted the invitation. The prize had to be decided before the game and the king asked the sage to choose his prize in case he wins. The sage told the king that he had a very modest claim and being a man of few material needs, all he wished was a few grains of rice. The amount of rice itself shall be determined using the chess-board in the following manner. One grain of rice shall be placed in the first square, two grains in the second square, four in the third square, eight in the fourth square and so on. Every square will have double the number of grains of its predecessor. So the game of chess started and needless to say the king lost the game. It was time to pay the sage his agreed-upon prize. As he started adding grains of rice to the chess board, the king soon realised the true nature of the sage's demands. By the 20th square, the number had reached one-million grains of rice and by the 40th square, it became one-trillion. The royal grainery soon ran out of grains of rice. The king realised that even if he provides all the rice in his kingdom and his adjacent kingdoms, he will never be able to fulfill the promised reward. Upon seeing the dilemma, the sage appeared to the king in his true-form, that of lord Krishna. He told the King that he doesn't have to pay the debt immediately but can pay him over time. The king shall serve paal-payasam (made of rice) in the temple freely to the pilgrims every day until the debt is paid off.
Krishnapuram Palace
located at a distance of 47 km from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam. This palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Marthanda Varma. This palace is noted for its typical Kerala architecture, with gabled roof, dormer windows and narrow corridors. Here you will find the famous mural kept in the western end of the ground floor, called ‘Gajendra Moksham’ which is the largest mural in Kerala. There is also a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronze articles in the palace.
located at a distance of 47 km from Alappuzha on the way to Kollam. This palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Marthanda Varma. This palace is noted for its typical Kerala architecture, with gabled roof, dormer windows and narrow corridors. Here you will find the famous mural kept in the western end of the ground floor, called ‘Gajendra Moksham’ which is the largest mural in Kerala. There is also a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronze articles in the palace.
Kuttanad Region
The Kuttanad Region is known as the 'Rice Bowl of Kerala'. It is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done below sea level. The boat trip to Changanacherry passes through this beautiful and fertile region.
The Kuttanad Region is known as the 'Rice Bowl of Kerala'. It is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done below sea level. The boat trip to Changanacherry passes through this beautiful and fertile region.
Temples
Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple, located in the heart of Alleppey town. It is dedicated to the Goddess Rajarajeswari. This temple, celebrates two festivals, highlighted by colourful processions, participated by nine elephants on the last two auspicious days. There are cultural programmes including Ottanthullal. Another festival celebrated is the one-day Thaipooyakavadi in which about fifteen Kavadis take part in a spectacular procession. Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is known for the Kettukazhcha festival, which attracts a large number of devotees. The festival is held in Feb./Mar. and colourful procession is taken out. Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple is a very ancient and internationally-known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods. It is 32 kms from Alappuzha near Haripad and is famous for the ancient temple of Sree Nagaraja, the King of Serpents. Pilgrims from all over the country assemble here during the two day annual festival. Karumadikuttan is a black granite idol of Lord Buddha situated in a small village near Ambalapuzha. The idol dates back to 9th or 10th century.
Mullakkal Rajeswari Temple, located in the heart of Alleppey town. It is dedicated to the Goddess Rajarajeswari. This temple, celebrates two festivals, highlighted by colourful processions, participated by nine elephants on the last two auspicious days. There are cultural programmes including Ottanthullal. Another festival celebrated is the one-day Thaipooyakavadi in which about fifteen Kavadis take part in a spectacular procession. Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is known for the Kettukazhcha festival, which attracts a large number of devotees. The festival is held in Feb./Mar. and colourful procession is taken out. Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple is a very ancient and internationally-known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods. It is 32 kms from Alappuzha near Haripad and is famous for the ancient temple of Sree Nagaraja, the King of Serpents. Pilgrims from all over the country assemble here during the two day annual festival. Karumadikuttan is a black granite idol of Lord Buddha situated in a small village near Ambalapuzha. The idol dates back to 9th or 10th century.
Churches
Arthunkal Church is a christian Pilgrim centre near Cherthalai is 22 km north of Alappuzha. The St. Andrews Church here was built by Portuguese missionaries. The annual feast of St. Sebastian is held here in the month of January. The Champakulam St. Mary's Church is one of the oldest church in Kerala built in AD 427. It is said to be one of the seven churches established by St.Thomas. The annual feast is held on the 3rd Sunday of October. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th. Edathua church, dedicated to St. George is of special significance as it is believed that prayers and offerings here help in healing all kinds of mental disorders and other ailments. The annual feast is held from 5th - 7th May and attracts devotees from all parts of south India. The Church is just 24 kms. from Alappuzha.
Arthunkal Church is a christian Pilgrim centre near Cherthalai is 22 km north of Alappuzha. The St. Andrews Church here was built by Portuguese missionaries. The annual feast of St. Sebastian is held here in the month of January. The Champakulam St. Mary's Church is one of the oldest church in Kerala built in AD 427. It is said to be one of the seven churches established by St.Thomas. The annual feast is held on the 3rd Sunday of October. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th. Edathua church, dedicated to St. George is of special significance as it is believed that prayers and offerings here help in healing all kinds of mental disorders and other ailments. The annual feast is held from 5th - 7th May and attracts devotees from all parts of south India. The Church is just 24 kms. from Alappuzha.
Pathiramanal
Pathiramanal is a small island located on the border of Kottayam - Alapuzha Districts in Kerala, India. The name 'Pathiramanal' means 'Sands of night'. It is a 10 acre island on the backwaters and is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat.
Pathiramanal is a small island located on the border of Kottayam - Alapuzha Districts in Kerala, India. The name 'Pathiramanal' means 'Sands of night'. It is a 10 acre island on the backwaters and is home to many rare varieties of migratory birds from different parts of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat.
Punnapra
A short distance from Alappuzha is Punnapra, a village which has gone down in history as the scene of a bitter and heroic fighting between the communists and Travancore State Police during the Punnapra Vayalar Communist uprising of 1946.
A short distance from Alappuzha is Punnapra, a village which has gone down in history as the scene of a bitter and heroic fighting between the communists and Travancore State Police during the Punnapra Vayalar Communist uprising of 1946.
Mararikulam
Situated on the coast south of Alappuzha,12 Kms. from Alappuzha, it houses a quiet beach and has an adjoining fishing village. Pool, tennis, water sports and Ayurvedic treatments are the leisure time activities one can avail of.
Situated on the coast south of Alappuzha,12 Kms. from Alappuzha, it houses a quiet beach and has an adjoining fishing village. Pool, tennis, water sports and Ayurvedic treatments are the leisure time activities one can avail of.