A ride of a lifetime on the unique backwaters of Alleppey, Kerala

A series of boats in the backwater carrying the harvest of the day

Alleppey is a planned city in Kerala that abandons in picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons.It's fondly called "venice of the east". We travelled here in November, 2010 as a part of our kerala tour package covering Munnar, Alleppey and Thekkady.

There are houseboats of different sizes available in Alleppey, one can book as per their room requirements. We travelled as a couple and had booked a mini houseboat with two bedrooms. No one turned up in the other bedroom during our stay and to our delight it became more of an exclusive stay.

House boat

It had a small and well appointed bedroom, a neat bathroom and a open deck cum living cum dining room in the front. We checked-in around 10 in the morning. There was a driver and a cook available on the boat throughout our stay. Post checking-in, we were taken for a scenic cruise through the interwinding backwater canals, all across to the point where the backwater widespread its arms to become a huge lake leading into the sea. 

through the canals of the backwater

Over the vast stretch of backwater lake

At this point, we came to a halt in the middle of the water for lunch. It was a delicious and authentic kerala cuisine which included fish curry made from fish freshly caught from the backwater on the spot! Post lunch we rested for sometime on the deck. Then we headed to the first floor where there was a small open deck to enjoy the ride. 

It was a cruise to remember. We sat on the upper deck for quiet sometime, letting the gush of air play with out hair and the freshness of backwater dissolve in our breathe, enjoying the scene of other house boats passing by slowly, waving the the fellow tourists and watching the sun slowly recede to the west horizon.

A hotel by the bank of the backwaters

Another houseboat sailing through the backwaters

Watching the sunset was a delight, followed by dinner in the romantically lit houseboat deck, slowly rocking and rolling with the waves of the backwater.

A sunset to remember

The Sunset

So was watching the sunrise the next day morning, after a great night on the houseboat, which was followed by a little rainfall in early morning. We had a hearty breakfast, and then bid adieu to the houseboat. 

Sunrise the next day morning

We took a trip to the beach of Alleppey before heading towards cochin for our journey back to Bangalore.

@Alleppey Beach before bidding adieu