The town of Alleppey, known as the ‘Venice of the East’, is situated in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Kerala is ranked among the top three tourist destinations of the world and its spectacular beauty makes it known as ‘God’s own country’. Alleppey is one of the beautiful backwater houseboat places in the world, which was founded by Raja Kesavadasan, the Dewan of Travancore (king) in 1762. From a one canal town Alleppey has grown into bustling waterway, with shops, factories and commercial establishments springing up on either bank of the canal and for tourists Alleppey is the pivotal point for trips into Kerala's famed backwaters. Its palm fringed canals and shores bustling with glimpses from the day to day life in the country side, the mirror still lagoons, picture book lakesides and its long sandy beach makes Alleppey an ideal vacation spot where one can unwind from the daily grind by soaking in the spectacular beauty and charm of the place. The culture of Kerala is traditional yet modern. The rich cultural heritage of Kerala till date is intact in almost all natives of Kerala and the traditional rituals and sacred practices are very much alive even today. The natives of Kerala are fiercely protective of their cultural heritage and are very proud of it.

Kerala has a number of dance forms which are performed at all major events and a large number of people participate in them. Some of the major and popular dance forms are Kathakali, Krishnattam and Mohiniattam. Kerala also has an ancient form of martial art known as "Kalaripayattu" and a very large umber of young men are trained in it from a young age. There are many forms of music in Kerala, be it vocal or instrumental and people have sets of songs for every occasion. It is no less than a divine experience listening to the devotional songs that are sung very beautifully.

The nearest domestic airport is Cochin, which is 64 km to the north of the town and the international Airport is at Trivandrum, which is 159 km to the south.

Recently Alleppey has been linked to Cochin by rail and the Alleppey Railway Station is 5 km from the central bus stand and the boat jetty. 

Alleppey is connected to all-important towns in south India by public state transport buses and is on the NH 47 highway.

Alleppey is also linked to the backwaters to Quilon and Changanassery, Kottayam, Cochin, Kumarakom, Kavalam and Chengannur, Kuttanad places, through passenger ship services. 

The easiest way of getting around is by taxis and they're very reasonably priced as well. A ride in that quintessentially Indian form of transport, the auto-rickshaw, is a fun and cheap way to get around the town. If you are going to travel long distance then there is a good rail network that runs from Thiruvananthapuram in the south of the state all the way along the coast to Kasaragode in the north and there are also a number of inland services as well. Most other areas of interest are covered by an extensive bus network but these can get very busy so passengers should be prepared to stand. Additionally there are cars and motorbikes for hire but visitors should be aware of road safety issues and carry the correct paperwork.

From remarkable resorts and hotels to lodges, Alleppey offers its visitors a vast range of accommodation styles, catering to both corporate and leisure travelers.The hotels and resorts are replete with all modern amenities, are outstanding in quality service and leisure facilities and the grading ranges from 3 to 5 star.Some of the hotels and resorts have Ayurvedic centers that provide therapeutic treatments to freshen you up and to ignite your senses and besides this backwater cruise trips on motorboats or houseboats, canoeing or speedboat riding and sightseeing trips are easily arranged by the resorts. Some of the resorts and hotels are villas with thatched roof s that offer superb bouquet of space, comfort and privacy. They are cocoons of comfort for discerning travelers and lying amidst swaying palm grooves, all rooms are equipped with modern amenities that include color television sets with satellite channels, air-conditionings, direct dialing telephones, work desks and en-suite bathrooms with shower. Swimming pools are also present in some of the hotels and to make your stay more delightful Cultural programs are arranged in the evenings to give tourists a idea about Kerala's culture.  Some of the more exclusive resorts provide outdoor sports as beach volleyball, tennis, badminton and cycling etc. If you are looking for more than boat trips and sight seeing then there are some hotels that offer such activities like sailing, fishing cruises etc.

If you are planning to visit the town to recuperate or just unwind then there are  Ayurvedic Resort with modern amenities. The interior of these Ayurvedic Resort is similar to the traditional Kerela homes and is decorated with handcrafted cots, tables and chairs. They offer old Ayurvedic massages and treatments by experienced masseurs. The business hotels in Alleppey are exquisitely designed and offer unmatched amenities and impeccable services. There are plenty of options for the budget travelers as well. Small comfortable hotels, have clean, comfortable rooms and very reasonable prices are available through out the town. 

Another interesting accommodation option is home stay- stay in old and some  ancient mansions, private homes and beach bungalows, which have been modified for  the tourists. Home stay options are very popular with the international tourists as they provide to the visitors with a taste of the culture of Kerala. Home stays are also ideal for the honeymooners as they offer privacy and luxury both. 

Evening entertainment in Alleppey is relatively low key and usually revolves around dining out in one of the many open-air restaurants. The town has several bars and nightclubs with entertainment ranging from traditional Indian music and dances to blues bands and DJs. Mostly all of the larger hotels and resorts also have their own onsite bars and nightclubs. 

Alleppey’s coastline ensures a ready supply of fresh fish and it comes as no surprise that local cuisine includes plenty of seafood specialties. The frequently used coconut and coconut milk and add a sweet taste to mouthwatering curries that have both Asian and European influences. Another way to sample the taste of the local cuisine, try the ‘thali' , which is a set meal for a fixed price that usually includes rice, curry, bread and yoghurt or sauces; they're fresh, wholesome and usually delicious. The foreign palates are catered for in Alleppey as the town receives a very large number of foreign visitors. The foreign visitor can pick from milder curries or a wide variety of world cuisines ranging from Italian pizzas to Mexican taco shells. Vegetarian food also is a plenty, both as a part of the local cuisine and continental one as well. 

You can see some of the most entrancing scenery between Quilon, which lies to the south of Alleppey and Kottayam that lie to its east- palm-lined banks, islands, quiet water-bound villages and little boats taking the local people to and fro. 

Take boat trips through the town's many canals and lakes, and don’t miss the Mullackal Bhagavathi Temple in the heart of town. Besides that take a peek at the coir manufacturing process-from the coconut husk to the final rope/coir yarn stage and take time out to explore the several shops selling coir matting and carpets, often at prices cheaper than elsewhere.

Alleppey has a long sandy beach where there is a lighthouse and a pier jutting out into the sea, once active for  unloading goods from cargo ships.  

The most interesting spectacle at Alleppey would of course be the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which began in 1952 on the occasion of the visit of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to Alleppey. Held on the second Saturday of every August, it is now a major event that features the gigantic snake boats of Kerala, the chundans, once the battleships of the Malayalee kings of yore.

14 km away from Alleppey, visit the Sri Krishna temple, which is among Kerala’s most famous ones because of its architectural style. 

Visit the village of Karumadi, very close to Alleppey is famous for its Karumadi Kuttanm a black granite figure of Buddha, said to belong to the 9th or 10th Century. In 1965, during his visit to Kerala, the Dalai Lama worshiped at this shrine.

At Arthinkal, 25km away from Alleppey is St. Andrews Church established by Portuguese missionaries in 1951, is near Sherthallai, north of Alleppey, every January the feast of St. Sebastian is held here.

The site for the famous boat regatta, Chambakulam or Rajeev Gandhi snake boat race, on the Pamba River, involves the traditional participation of different communities and the race is held in August/September every year.

About 45 km from Alleppey, is the 18th Century Krishnapuram Palace, which displays typical characteristics of Kerala architecture and it houses one of the largest mural paintings in Kerala, called the Gajendra Moksham. Inside the palace there is a museum of antique sculptures, painting and bronzes. The palace falls on the way to Quilon and is accessible by bus. 

Punnapra, a village, which is at a short distance from Alleppey, is worth a visit. This village has gone down in history as the scene of a battle between the Communists group and the Travancore State Police in the Punnapra - Vayalar Communist Uprising of 1946.

32 km from Alleppey is Mannarasala, which is a very important center of serpent worship in Kerala. This temple, built in a cool grove of trees and shrubs, is said to contain 30,000 images of snake-goods, which line the path to the temple.

Alleppey is famous for coconut by-products like coir mats, coconut fibre handbags, and other interesting things. There are shops loaded  with spices for which Alleppey is very famous.