Today Alappuzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting several thousands of tourists each year. Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products, and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is a region called Kuttanad. A land of lush paddy fields, Kuttanad is also called the Rice Bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Its criss-crossing canals and once busy waterways inevitably evoke comparisons with Venice. A prosperous trading town of yesteryears, which exported coir products to different parts of the world, Alappuzha relinquished its commercial position to other towns, notably Kochi, in later years. Today, tourism has appeared as its new saviour. Old settlers have left behind architectural treasures - numerous old mansions and trading houses built in a unique style.

ALAPPUZHA BEACH

Visit the famous Alappuzha beach in Kerala and experience nature more closely. Play with the sun-kissed silver sands and leave your foot prints on their hearts.Alappuzha Beach is a beach in the Allepey district of Kerala, India.The beach has a small park nearby. Alappuzha Lighthouse stands near the beach which is also a curiosity for tourists. The beach is one of the best beach locations for movies. Movies like thashan, sura etc. were shot here partially.Alappuzha is referred to as the Venice of the East by travellers from across the world. This Backwater Country is also home to diverse animal and bird life. By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala.The beach usually has a good visitor rush from all over india and most of the European countries.

CHAMPAKULAM VALIA PALLI

ChampakulamKalloorkadu St. Mary’s Forane Church, also called ChampakulamValiaPalli, is one of the oldest Christian churches in India and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District. Champakulam St. Mary’s Church is believed to be one of the seven established by St. Thomas. The annual feast at this church falls on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19th.There are many archaeological artifacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century.

KRISHNAPURAM PALACE

The Krishnapuram Palace, a protected monument of the Dept of Archaeology, is situated near the Krishnaswamy Temple at Krishnapuram on the left side of the National Highway between Ochira and Kayamkulam in the District of Alapuzha.The Palace was built during the period of Anizham Thirunal Martanda Varma (1729-1758 AD, 904-933 ME) after the annexation of Kayamkulam to the erstwhile State of Travancore The Palace is noted for its characteristic style of Kerala Architecture such as the gabled roofs, narrow corridors, dorma windows, pent roofs and so on. It also houses one of the largest single panel Mural paintings so far discovered in Kerala known as ‘Gajendra Moksha', which measures 53 sq.ft in area. An Archaeological museum is set up in the Palace in which stone and wood sculptures, bronzes, copies of Mural paintings, coins, megalithic remains, stone inscription and such historically and archaeologically important objects are preserved and protected.

EDATHUA CHURCH

Palakkad formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about 350 kilometers (217 mi) north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District. Palakkad lies near the Palghat Gap, a pass or natural depression through the Western Ghats ranges that run parallel to the west coast of India, and connects Kerala to the plains of the state of Tamil Nadu to the east.Kerala would have an IIT in Palakkad under the 12th five-year plan. The land belonging to the Instrumentation Limited in Palakkad was finally chosen for the project. Since the IITs are set up by an act of Parliament, the whole process is the center’s prerogative, and the state government has only a limited role.

ALAPPUZHA BACK WATER

A striking example of the indigenous agricultural engineering know-how, here cultivation and habitation are made possible at four to ten feet below the sea level. For this purpose extensive land has been reclaimed from the backwaters and is protected by dikes built around it. A leisurely cruise along the canals here is a memorable experience.Alappuzha or Aleppey was once the busiest coast south of Mumbai, and its canals and backwaters helped in the passage of cargo - be it tea, rubber or other produces from the hills - to the sea. The lighthouse and the pier helped the boats ferry accross, facilitating trade in their own way. Today, the 1000 ft long pier at Allepeybeach , built in 1862 by Captain Hugh Crawford is a mere skeleton of its past.