Alappuzha Kerala | Floating Alappuzha backwaters | Accommodation, food of Kerala | India backpackers

Alleppey Kerala: Backwaters and Alleppey beach

Alleppey in Kerala, also known as Allapuzha (ala-po-rah), is often referred to as Venice of the East by travel magazines and local tourism government.

It neighbors Vembanad Lake. The network of canals and lagunes -- called the backwaters -- is the main reason why travelers visit Alleppey.

Since the 90s, the number of house boats have increased dramatically.

It started with a couple of house boats in the 90s, but as of today there are 500-600 house boats roaming the backwaters. They were originally used for cargo transport, but now most of them cater travelers and tourists.

The house boat industry in Kerala employs around 1800-2000 Keralites, including boat drivers and chefs.

Alleppey Kerala: Women at Muhamma coir sub-center (Alleppey district) Alleppey itself is quite small, and it's easy to get around. The city center around Mullackal road, is a dusty and a busy place, with traffic jams.

The lake side of town is the most charming part, with luscious jungle and lake side view. This is where many homestays and resorts are located :-)

If you want to cool down, you can visit Alleppey beach. Have in mind though that it's not regular custom to wear a bikini and jump into the water. The currents are very strong, and you will most likely experience staring from the locals.

Some of my class mates solved this problem. They found a resort on the beach, where other travelers where sunbathing in their bikinis. My class mates decided to 'join them'. This way, they felt more comfortable, and there were almost no locals nearby :-)

Alleppey Kerala: Alleppey beach

Beware that Alleppey is a mosquito magnet! Compared to other places in Kerala and India, this place has a high density of mosquitoes.

Kerala is the state with highest literacy rates in India, where 93,3 % of the population can read and write. This is due to the Communist Party in Kerala, who has been prioritizing education and health.

Alleppey and Kerala has its darker sides though. If you take the time to walk in the streets of Alleppey, you will notice long queues to government liquor shops, where local men are struggling to buy liquor.

Did you know that an average Keralite drinks more than 8 liters of alcohol per year?

It's sad that Kerala is also known for its alcoholics, and it has a strong connection to the high unemployment in the State.

By air: The nearest airport to Alleppey is Kochi airport.

For more information on how to get to/from Kochi airport, visit this article -- Kochi India Cheap flights to Kochi/Alleppey:

By train: Alleppey can be reached by train from most major cities and towns in Kerala, for example Kochi (1-2 hours), Trivandrum (2-3 hours), Kozhikode/Calicut (5-6 hours) and so on.

The railway station in Alleppey is a 10 minutes auto ride from downtown (Rs 50-70).

By bus: One of the cheapest ways of traveling in Kerala is by bus. Most inter-state buses stop at Central Bus station in Alleppey (KSRTC).

For example: From Ambalapuzha to Alleppey we paid Rs 14 for the express bus. Ordinary local buses cost Rs 10 from Ambalapuzha.

By foot, it takes 10-15 minutes to Mullackal road. An auto from the bus station to Lake Side cost around Rs 20 depending on your bargaining skills. There's a long line of autos right next to the shops across the bus station -? you can't miss it.

KSRTC bus station in Alleppey Kerala

By taxi: Taking the taxi is obviously the most efficient way to travel from A to B. It's of course a lot more expensive than local transportation. But if you're traveling in a group, it can be economically manageable to take a taxi.

From Varkala to Alleppey we paid Rs 2700 for a taxi (February 2011), and we were 5 people. They had to arrange a bigger car for us, so that's why it was more expensive. If we were 4 people or less, it would have cost Rs 2300.

Alleppey Kerala: On a local bus Getting around: Auto rickshaws are the most common transportation in Alleppey. From Alleppey city center to Lake Side, we paid Rs 50 each time.

There are also local buses in Alleppey. From Lake Side to the city center, the cost is Rs 4,5.

Exploring Alleppey by foot is the most rewarding thing to do. As I mentioned earlier it's quite easy to get around.

We went by foot a lot of times when we stayed in Alleppey. But when the sun and humidity was too much for us, we took an auto.

Return to top

Important information for Alleppey:
Banks and ATMs: ATMs are scattered around town, especially along the main road, Mullackal road.Internet: Rs 40 per hour (Hello World, Blue Moon), Rs 3 for a copy

Kochi India | Fort Kochi and Ernakulam in Kerala | Accommodation, restaurants, attractions and shops | India backpacker, travel to the India

Kochi India: the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi

All information below is subject to change Kochi consists of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon island and Ernakulam and much more. In this article I will focus on Fort Kochi and Ernakulam.

Fort Kochi has been strongly influenced by European culture for centuries, and it is deeply reflected in its architecture, food and history.

If you compare Ernakulam and Fort Kochi, it can be hard to digest that these two belong to the same country. Fort Kochi is absolutely stunning with its great architecture, laid-back and charming cafes.

But if you expect and want a 'real' piece of India, Fort Kochi is not the place to go and visit. Not many things will remind you of India in Fort Kochi.

I stayed in Fort Kochi for 3 weeks because of my field work. So I got to know this place very well.

Kochi India: Santa Cruz Church What I do know is that if you want to escape from the hassle and noise, Fort Kochi is perfect. It was very quiet compared to several places in India and Kerala.

So a couple of days of voyage into Fort Kochi will do good for your mind and body.

Another thing about Fort Kochi (and Kerala) was its people. I got to know fantastic Keralites during my stay there, and I will never forget them.

In general, the South Indian culture differs from the North Indian. And I'm probably not the only one thinking that Kerala is much more calmer than the north.

In fact, the differences are quite noticeable. You will notice it you too. People in the south harass you a lot less than they do in the north.

By air: Domestic and international flights land at Kochi airport, located 1,5 hour from Ernakulam city center.

From the airport you can take taxis to Ernakulam city center or Fort Kochi. I took a taxi from Ernakulam to the airport, and it cost me Rs 600. The ride took one hour. From Fort Kochi, a taxi to the airport will cost around Rs 700-800.

Here's the KSRTC AC-bus time table to and from airport:

Time table is picked up from stayinkochi.com.

Boat to Fort Kochi By train: There are two railway stations in Kochi, Ernakulam Town (around 3 km north of city center) and Ernakulam Junction.

Ernakulam Junction (ERS) is the closest station to the ferries heading for Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the other islands (Vypeen and Bolghatty).

When arriving at Ernakulam Junction, take a pre-paid Rickshaw. The booth is right outside the main entrance. It cost Rs 20 from the railway station to the main boat jetty, in addition to a service charge (Rs 1). The ride takes 10 minutes.

When arriving at the main boat jetty, there's a ticket booth on your left side. If there's a long queue, there's a separate lady queue to the right. The ticket cost only Rs 3, and the boat ride takes 20 minutes to Fort Kochi.

Time table: Ernakulam to Fort Kochi -- (picked up from stayinkochi.com)

Time table from Fort Kochi to Ernakulam/Willingdon island:

Kochi India

When arriving in Fort Kochi, you can either walk or take an auto rickshaw to the main tourist area, where most of the guesthouses, homestays and hotels are located in town.

Most of the accommodation facilities are heavily concentrated around Princess street, Bastian street, Burger street and Peter Celli street, while many hotels and resorts can be found on Tower Road and along the shores.

How to leave Kochi: the same way you got in. By rail Ernakulam Junction connects to most major towns and cities in Kerala. Trains to Trivandrum also leave Ernakulam Town.

Kochi India: Ticket booth at Fort Kochi jetty Most trains to Goa (Madgaon) leave Ernakulam Junction and take between 12-16 hours, depending on train route. If you're on your way to Wayanad, you can take the train from Ernakulam Junction/Town and get off at Kozhikode (Calicut). The train ride takes 4-5 hours, and another long bus or taxi ride from Calicut to Wayanad.

You should have at least one hour at your hands when arriving at the railway station. I will tell you about one incident.

I booked a seat on a train from Ernakulam Junction to Trivandrum. I arrived there 45 minutes before departure. Guess what they said?

"I'm sorry, but the train route to Trivandrum has been moved to Ernakulam Town. Only for today."

I grabbed my stuff, and ran to find an auto. The ride from Ernakulam Junction to Ernakulam Town took 15 minutes, and cost Rs 35. I was glad that I showed up early, that's for sure :-)

Important information for Kochi:
Police: Office at Ernakulam Junction Railway station. Tourist police tel: 0484-2224067Hospital: Try Medical Trust Hospital, a private hospital and has a 24 hour ambulance service. Tel: +91 484 2358001. Website: Medical Trust HospitalKSRTC bus station: General inquiry tel: + 91 484 2372033Internet: Rs 40 per hour, international calls: from Rs 15 per minute

Trivandrum India Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram India | Trip to the India, India backpack

Trivandrum India: The Centre of the city of Trivandrum -

Welcome to the capital of Kerala!

Trivandrum is the city's hub of Kerala, and is connected to most cities and towns in the State.

Trivandrum is very quiet compared to other cities of the India. It is almost too quiet after 8 pm.

Frankly, Trivandrum has become more like a travelers stop Kovalam and Varkala.

Backpackers in Trivandrum, few remain more than a day unless they have to.

It is because there is not much to do in Trivandrum. For me, the center of the city lacked the charm and was only dirty and crowded. The northern part of the city where, schools and Government offices is the best part where can meet the Green State of Kerala.

When he was in a field work, I got to see their pearls. The best of Trivandrum is its restaurants. My favorite restaurant was Ariya Niwas, I will talk more about this restaurant later in this article.

Air: Many domestic and international flights land at the airport of Trivandrum, located 3-4 km outside the city centre and 16 km from Kovalam.

From the airport you can take a taxi or a Rickshaw to the Centre of the city, Kovalam and Varkala or other places in Kerala. In February, 2011 pay Rs 500 a taxi from the airport to the Centre of the city (we were 5 people).

The taxi stand is just outside the door of departure of the arrival hall.

Be careful with resellers outside the airport. One of them suggested we have in the City Centre for Rs 900 (!) It is much better to take a prepaid taxi.

Visit the website of the Trivandrum Airport (opens in a new window)

By train: Trivandrum is connected to major cities throughout the State. Long distance train takes depends on what train take. Some express trains used for example 30-40 minutes to Varkala, 2 hours and 15 minutes to Alappuzha, 3 hours and 15 minutes to Ernakulam and so on.

The train station in Trivandrum is located near KSRTC bus support. A Rickshaw from the Princess Street to the train station costs Rs 15-20 depending on your bargaining skills.

To find out which platform and where it will land on the platform 'their' head coach, request the Office of information. If it is too comprehensive to search for a Board of large written close to the main station of the officer.

Of Trivandrum to Kovalam: There are no trains to Kovalam. The cheapest way of Kovalam is to take the local bus. There are frequent buses leaving this Fort between Trivandrum and Kovalam, and costs 9 (ida) Rs. We only ran the bus when we get to the bus station. After 10 minutes, there was another ready bus.

The bus stop is near the Shri Padmanabhaswami temple on MG road (a 20 minute walk from Princess Street and 25 minutes from the railway station), and the trip takes less than an hour. The trip can be irregular because of the bad road condition, so they hang!

important information for Trivandrum:
Police: Number of phone: 100 fire: phone nr: 101 ambulance: phone nr: 102 Internet: Rs 20 per hour, copy = 5 Rs