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With the Arabian sea on the west and a vast
network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers crisscrossing it,
Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty.
Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from across the
world, this backwater country is also home ot diverse animal and
bird life.
By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has |
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always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime
history of Kerala.
Today, Alappauzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist
centre, attracting several thousands of foreign 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 the region called Kuttanad.
Kuttanad:
Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of her wealth
of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwater. The scenic
countryside here is a rich crop of bananas, yams and cassava.
This one of the places in the world where farming is done below sea
level. Inland waterways which flow above land level is an amazing
feature of this unique land.
Pathiramanal
(1 ½ hours by motor boat/30 min. by speed boat from alappuzha):
According to mythology a young Brahmin dived into the Vemabanad Lake
to perform his evening ablutions and the water made way for land to
rise from below, thus creating the enchanting island of Pathiramanal
(sands of midnight).
This little island on the backwater is a favorite haunt of hundreds
of rare migratory birds from different part of the world. The island
lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by
boat.
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