Houseboats

The boarding point for houseboats is usually the Punnamada Lake, the venue of the Nehru Boat Race. The costs of renting the houseboat differ with the type of houseboat you are looking for- budget-friendly, deluxe or luxury boats and the package you opt for. Essentially, there are two types of packages available- 1 Night/2 Days package and 2 Nights/3 Days package.

The 1 Night/2 Days package will be a circle trip around Alleppey that will take you from Punnamada Lake to SNDP Canal, Kuppapuram, Vilakkumaram Thodu and finally the jetty where you will alight the boat. The 2 Nights/3 Days package will take you around Alleppey and the beautiful towns of Kumarakom and Kottayam too. You can also opt for customized special tours, arranged by most cruise operators, where you can cover areas of your choice and interest.

The houseboats have one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites and three-bedroom suites and their rates vary according to the type of boat you choose for your cruise- budget friendly, deluxe or luxury. Given below is an approximation of the range for the cost for each kind of suite.

1 Night/2 Days
One Bedroom Suite 2 pax (Three meals included): INR 7000 - INR 12000
Two Bedroom Suite 4 pax (Three meals included): INR 9500 - INR 14000
Three Bedroom Suite 6 pax (Three meals included): INR 12000 - INR 18000

2 Nights/3 Days
One Bedroom Suite 2 pax (Three meals included): INR 8000 - INR 13000
Two Bedroom Suite 4 pax (Three meals included): INR 10500 - INR 15000
Three Bedroom Suite 6 pax (Three meals included): INR 13000 - INR 19000

Special Cruise (More than 1 Night)
One Bedroom Suite 2 pax (Three meals included): INR 14000 - INR 24000
Two Bedroom Suite 4 pax (Three meals included): INR 19000 - INR 28000

There are a number of routes that you can take while visiting the Alleppey backwaters to go around the water streams, and mainly Lake Punnamada. You stay the night aboard enjoying the beautiful starlit night before the cruise drops you to your destination.

Alleppey round trip
This round trip of Alleppey or Alappuzha takes you around the legendary lake Punnamada, as you enjoy the soft waves and small hamlets lining both sides of the backwaters. They are covered with their staple green paddy fields and the trademark coconut trees. It takes you to the romantic ambience of Lake Vattakayal where you can spend the night aboard the cruise.

Alleppey to Kottayam
The houseboat cruise trip is probably the most exotic and picturesque one among all. It starts from Alleppey and takes you amidst the most serene areas of the backwaters. This is the perfect opportunity to stay disconnected from the rest of the world and enjoy the nature's bounty that backwaters region of Kerala has to offer. On this trip, you can also witness the toddy farmers at work in the areas that lie below sea level. Toddy is a slightly alcoholic popular drink in south India made from palm trees.

Alleppey to Mankotta
The Mankotta trip takes you to those villages of this region which specialise in coir making. It is one of the most important small industries of Kerala and witnessing the procedure first-hand is a fascinating experience.

Alleppey to Thottapally
Alleppey to Thottapally cruise takes you on a religious and cultural trip. Along with the scenic beauty of the backwaters, this one also takes you to the 400-year-old Champakhulam Church which is one of the 7 churches established by St Thomas in Kerala. It also includes the Ambalappuzha temple of Lord Sri Krishna.

Alleppey to Kumarakom
The Alappuzha to Kumarakom route is perfect for bird watching and witnessing the local villagers at their daily practice of fishing. Exotic migratory birds as well as local ones flock around the salty waters of Alleppey covered with water lilies and create a beautiful scene to behold.  

Alleppey to Kidangra
The Kidangra route from Alleppey takes you on a trip through the famous Vembanad Lake and Pathiramanal Island. Both the journey and the places are extremely beautiful experiences for the tourists.

Alleppey to Alumkadavu
This trip offers two-night cruises as well. On this one, you can visit where the story of houseboats all started. Earlier in history, the houseboats, or Kettuvallams as they say, were manufactured by some of the clans who lived in Alukmadavu. This cruise will take you back there and the cruise officials present aboard might also tell you a couple of folklore about it.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a very popular and awaited event for the locals as well as tourists. It started in 1952 in honour of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru when he first visited Alleppey. Ever since, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted on the second Saturday of August every year. These races have now become a major tourist attraction and draw thousands of people each year.

The races feature the enormous and renowned snake boats of Kerala and Chundans, which were once the battleships of Malayalee kings of yore. Boats represent and are sponsored by different villages of the district. Hundreds of rowers sit on one boat at a time and row in mind boggling synchronization in the effort to reach the finish line first. Energetic music and loud cheering can be constantly heard in the background to keep the spirits of the rowers elevated. Witnessing this action-packed celebration is a rare sight and is sure to leave you in awe of the vibrant culture of the town and its people.

Needless to say, the best time to visit Alleppey is during the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. However, if you cannot make it then don't worry because Alleppey has lots more to offer.

Winters in Alleppey are cool and pleasant with the average temperature ranging between 17 degrees and 32 degrees Celsius. Climate-wise, this is the best season to visit this town in. During summers, the average temperature increases up to 37 degrees Celsius. This is when the tourist crowds are scarce and you can enjoy the beauty of the town without any rush.

Seasonal rains in monsoon cause the water levels to be very unpredictable, so riding on houseboats during this season is restricted.

Alleppey has its own railhead- Alleppey Railway Station (ALLP) and it is connected well throughout the city. You can hail a cab or an auto rickshaw from the station or anywhere in the city and they will take you to the boarding location of your houseboat. Alappuzha KSRTC Bus Stand has buses connecting the entire town with a good frequency of buses plying in and out every hour.