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Major city · India

Alappuzhaആലപ്പുഴ

Give Alappuzha one full day plus one night, and treat a houseboat night as optional: the town takes half a day, the water is the reason to come. Arrival timing is yours to set — check ferry and houseboat boarding times before you book.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Sep–Mar
avoid Jun–Aug (heavy monsoon rain and wind)
Airport
COK
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Alappuzha (Alleppey) is a small Kerala port town on a canal network between the sea and the Vembanad backwaters, 70 km south of Kochi. The town itself takes half a day; the reason to come is the water — a houseboat night, a public ferry to Kottayam, or a canoe through the narrow canals. Two nights is the useful maximum. September to March is dry and comfortable; June to August is heavy monsoon.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Alappuzha, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or chai at a bakery₹20–60 (≈ under US$1)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person₹600 (≈ US$7)
  • Mid-range bedHomestay or hotel double room, a night, per room₹3,500 (≈ US$40)
  • High-end bedHomestay or hotel double room, a night, per room₹9,000 (≈ US$110)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Backwater houseboatsNehru Trophy snake-boat raceAlappuzha Beach and old pierAmbalapuzha temple and its palpayasamCoir industry
Airports
COK Cochin International (Nedumbassery) (Nearest airport; taxi to Alappuzha 1.5–2 h, or train/bus via Kochi (distance check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Alappuzha: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C

23°C

1 rd

Feb

32°C

24°C

2 rd

Mar

33°C

25°C

3 rd

Apr

33°C

26°C

7 rd

May

32°C

26°C

11 rd

Jun

30°C

24°C

21 rd

Jul

29°C

24°C

22 rd

Aug

29°C

24°C

18 rd

Sep

30°C

24°C

13 rd

Oct

31°C

24°C

14 rd

Nov

31°C

24°C

9 rd

Dec

32°C

23°C

3 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is flat but spread out: the beach is about 3.5 km from the KSRTC bus stand and there are no proper pavements on that stretch. Auto-rickshaws are the default — agree the fare before you get in. Local buses run from the KSRTC stand. Government SWTD ferries leave from the jetty opposite the KSRTC bus stand; the Kottayam service is the cheap backwater ride most visitors take.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kottayam by government ferry

go

Door to door: About 2 h each way

SWTD boat from the jetty opposite the KSRTC bus stand; about 2 h each way

The cheapest backwater ride going; return by boat or KSRTC bus via Changanassery. Check the day's departures at the jetty.

Marari Beach (Mararikulam)

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Local bus from the KSRTC stand to Mararikulam Junction, about 20 min, then auto 4 km

Quiet sand and fishing village; combine with Arthunkal church.

Ambalapuzha

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Local bus or auto south of town, about 30 min

Sreekrishna temple and the Karumadikkuttan Buddha statue; the temple palpayasam is served at noon.

Kumarakom

caution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus or taxi via Kottayam, about 1.5 h

Bird sanctuary and lake resorts; better as an overnight than a rushed return.

Kollam

overnight

Door to door: About 8 h

SWTD tourist boat along the backwaters, most of a day

One-way scenic run; sleep in Kollam rather than coming back the same day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Beach road and Sea View Ward

Guesthouses and homestays 2–4 km west of the centre; walk to the beach and the pier. Quiet after dark.

Town centre around Mullackal

Walk to the boat jetty, KSRTC bus stand and the main bazaar; cheap rooms, traffic noise.

Punnamada and the backwater edge

Resorts and houseboat boarding points on the lake side; you need an auto for everything else.

Mararikulam

Beach village 16 km north; resort strip with sand and palms, nothing else within walking distance.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
Mid
₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
High
₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Homestay or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × ₹3,500₹7,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₹4,000₹16,000
SWTD ferry Alappuzha → Kottayam, one way2 × ₹30₹60
Auto-rickshaw, KSRTC stand to beach1 × ₹100₹100
Water taxi, per hour (seats ten)1 × ₹1,500₹1,500
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800₹1,600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹2,630
Trip total≈ ₹7,220 per person per day, bed included₹28,890≈ US$350

2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or chai at a bakery₹20–60 (≈ under US$1)
South Indian thali or meals₹100–250 (≈ US$2–3)
Fish curry rice at a local hotel₹150–350 (≈ US$2–4)
Toddy shop meal with prawnsToddy sold by the glass; prices vary by shop.₹300–700 (≈ US$4–8)
Auto-rickshaw, 3 kmAgree before boarding.₹80–120 (≈ US$1–2)
Government ferry ride₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Alappuzha is calm by Indian city standards. The real risks are houseboat touts and commission agents, strong currents at the beach, and monsoon cancellations — agree prices in writing and keep small notes.
  • Houseboat touts at the station and jetty take commission: book with an operator directly, and get the boat, route and meal plan in writing.
  • Swimming at Alappuzha Beach is not recommended — the water is deep and the current is strong, worse during and after the monsoon.
  • The Kottayam ferry motor is loud; earplugs help. Boats stop running in the evening, so check the last return.
  • Alcohol rules in Kerala are restrictive and vary by outlet and licence: check locally before you plan around a drink.
  • Monsoon (Jun–Aug) can cancel boat trips and houseboat nights at short notice.

Emergency numbers

Police
100
Ambulance
108
Fire
101
Tourist helpline
1363

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Alappuzhaആലപ്പുഴ

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ഈ വിലാസത്തിൽ കൊണ്ടുപോകൂTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police100
  • Ambulance108
  • Fire101
  • Tourist helpline1363

Embassy

No embassies in Alappuzha; the US consulate-general and most others are in Chennai, with a US consulate in Kochi (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • SWTD ferry Alappuzha → Kottayam: about ₹29 (≈ under US$1), about 2 h
  • Auto, KSRTC bus stand → beach: ₹80–100 (≈ US$1–2) for 3.5 km
  • Water taxi: about ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) per hour, seats ten

Say or show

  • എത്ര രൂപ? — How much is it? (ethra roopa?)
  • ഈ വിലാസത്തിൽ പോകൂ — Please go to this address (ee vilaasathil pokoo)
  • നന്ദി — Thank you (nandi)
  • ബോട്ട് ജെട്ടി എവിടെ? — Where is the boat jetty? (boat jetty evide?)
  • വേണ്ട, നന്ദി — No, thank you (venda, nandi)
  • ഇത് സസ്യാഹാരമാണോ? — Is it vegetarian? (ithu sasyaahaaramaano?)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Alappuzha. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Mar · avoid Jun–Aug (heavy monsoon rain and wind) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for COK: last train and bus times from Kochi, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: beach and pier, Mullackal bazaar, boat jetty and canal, Punnamada lake edge.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (beach, pier, Ambalapuzha temple, Marari) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Houseboat and ferry fixtures — boarding points, meal plans, monsoon cancellations — so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources