ALLEPPEY WITH THEKKADY TOUR (FROM KOCHI)

At a distance of 23 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Arthunkal Church, also known as St. Andrew's Forane Church is one of the oldest churches in Kerala. It is situated on the shores of Arabian Sea

Dedicated to St.Sebastian, this church comes under the Latin order. The Arthunkal Feast is celebrated for 11days. The highlights of the concluding day of the festival include a special ritual in which the devotees crawl on their knees all the way from the nearby beach to the church.

The near by Arthunkal beach (0.5 KM) is a nice place to watch the Sunset. The beach has no commercial activity.

Arthunkal is close to NH47 (near Tiruvizha Railway Station - about 5 Kms) between Alappuzha and Kochi and the highway is connected by frequent buses. Private/Public vehicles are available from the highway to reach the Arthunkal Church.

At a distance of 16 km from Alappuzha, Mararikulam Beach is a secluded little-known beach situated at Mararikulam village near Alappuzha. It is one of the most scenic beaches near Kochi, and among the top places of sightseeing in Alleppey.

This white sand beach is filled with several coconut trees providing a unique appearance to the beach. It is an ideal place for someone who wants to explore the backwaters of Kerala and relax amidst a peaceful environment. An evening stroll is one of the best hangouts here during your Alleppey trip. This beach is safe for swimming. Tourists can indulge themselves with Ayurvedic treats which are offered by Ayurvedic Massage Centre.

The beach is about 3 km from NH47 junction (called Mararikulam-Kalithattu Junction) before Kanjikkunzhi. The NH47 Junction is connected .....

Alappuzha is a magnificent destination in Kerala with a mix of Backwaters and Beach. Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea close to the banks of Vembanad Lake, among the most famous Alleppey tourist places.

Along with Kumarakom, Alappuzha is among the most famous destination of backwaters in Kerala. A houseboat cruise in these backwaters is a delightful experience that one must try during Alleppey Trip. It connects Kumarakom and Cochin to the North and Kollam to the South. The never-ending panorama of lush green paddy fields, towering coconut trees, shimmering water, and long canals around Alappuzha make it a delightful destination.

It is popularly known as the 'Venice of the East'. Alleppey is also known for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race held in Punnamada Lake on the second Saturday of August every .....

At a distance of 2 km from Alappuzha Railway Station, Alappuzha beach is a lovely white sand beach on the Arabian Sea coast. It is one of the famous beaches in Kerala, and among the top places to visit as part of Alleppey holiday packages.

Known for its swaying beauty and alluring charm, Alleppey Beach or Alappuzha Beach is a scenic marvel for beachgoers. Adding more to the appeal of Alleppey Beach, there is a 150 years old pier that allows the visitors to take a stroll over the playful waves and get soaked with the enchanting beauty of the Arabian Sea! Alappuzha Lighthouse is situated near to the beach. The Children's Park at the northern end of the beach is a good place to hang out for kids. There are no water sports facilities at the beach.

Besides, the beach is the venue for the famous Alappuzha Beach Festival. Held in April, the festival hosts an array of events such as .....

At a distance of 4 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Mullakkal Raja Rajeswari Temple is very famous shrine in Alappuzha dedicated to Goddess Durga.

It is believed that Goddess Raja Rajeshwari appeared at this site to take care of a Jasmine flower (Mullakkal means 'Jasmine Flower' in Malayalam). The temple celebrates two annual festivals - the Navratri festival (October/November) and the Thaipooyakavadi festival (November/December). The last two days are the most auspicious days. Colorful processions participated by nine elephants are held in the evening. It is witnessed by thousands of devotees. Also several cultural programs including Ottanthullal & Kathakali are staged in the temple.

The Thaipooyakavadi celebrated for 41 days in November/December. The whole town will be full of lights and decoration and the last ten days are celebrated with glory.

At a distance of 14 km from Alappuzha Railway Station, Sri Krishna Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Ambalapuzha. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Kerala, and among the best places to visit as part of Alleppey packages.

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple is believed to have been built during the 15th century AD by the local ruler Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran.It is one of the seven greatest Vaishnava temples in Travancore, and among the major Alleppey places to visit.

Built-in typical Kerala style of temple architecture, this temple is famous for Pala Payasam (sweet pudding made of rice and milk) served to the devotees. The idol at Ambalapuzha is likened to the Parthasarthi form of Vishnu, holding a .....

At a distance of 13 Kms from Alappuzha Railway Station, Champakulam is a beautiful village on the banks of Pampa River in Alappuzha district, with green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl. It is part of Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala.

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest snake boat races in Kerala. The race is held in Pampa River on the moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam (June/July), the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple.

Champakulam Church is one of the oldest churches in India, built in 427 AD. This church has seen many changes and undergone several enhancements. There are many inscriptions around the church describing its history. The annual festival is celebrated on October 3rd.

Boat Cruise is the best mode in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to watch the wildlife from a close distance. Boating in Periyar Lake is arranged by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) and is one of the most popular things to do in Thekkady. The lake was formed by Mullaperiyar Dam constructed in 1895. The land surrounding the lake is commonly frequented by wildlife.

Elephants are the most common wildlife you can see on the shores of the reservoir while boating in the lake as part of Thekkady holiday packages. Apart from Elephants, the sight of Wild Boar and Sambar Deer is also possible. The upper deck in the boat is best for wildlife viewing. The tickets for boating is issued at Thekkady Boating Point which is 4.5 Km from Kumily Bus Stand. The boats are mostly crowded and better to come early and allocate a good amount of buffer time for boating. .....

Elephant rides are famous in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The elephant rides through the spice gardens are arranged by Elephant Junction. This park is situated 4 Km away from Kumily Bus Stand. It offers a rare opportunity to experience the safari on an Elephant through a Spice Plantation where the gentle breeze refresh ones, with the spice scented air.

Elephant Junction is a place where one can actually interact with the elephants getting indulged into activities such as bathing elephant, elephant ride and enjoying getting around with playful elephants. Elephant safaris are equipped with a howdah on the back of the elephant on which two tourists sit, with an umbrella over the riders head. Elephant trainers will be at side, walking along with the elephant.

Package Cost:

30 minutes elephant safari: Rs.350 per person
60 minutes elephant safari: Rs.750 per person
90 minutes elephant safari: Rs. 1500 per person

Elephant Safari Timings: 6 AM to 5 PM.