Guides and Kerala Backwater Hotels
The Towns Of Kollam, Kottayam and Alleppey

Alappuzha (Alleppey) is a gateway to Kerala's backwaters, set as it is around a grid of canals. Houseboats, tours and cruises can be booked from this town - it is perhaps the busiest hub for tourism of the region being a popular starting point for explorations into the shimmering waterways just beyond.

Arrival/Departure You can reach Alappuzha by road, by boat or by train. The Main Boat Jetty on the North Canal is the usual arrival point by boat, and the coach station is 200m east from the jetty. The train station is 4 kms southwest of the city, and rickshaws to/from here should be inexpensive (R.50-70 or so).

Boats to Kottayam leave from the Main Boat Jetty, which is also the arrival/departure point for the cruise to Kollam. Buses can be taken from the KSRTC Bus Stand (near the jetty) to Trivandrum, Kochi, Kottayam and Kumily. If heading to Varkala beach from here, take a Trivandrum bound bus and change at Kollambalam, 7km from Varkala.

Kerala Backwater Hotels Alappuzha Palmy Lake Resort About 3 miles from the jetty, cottage accommodation in pleasantly green surroundings. R.700 or thereabouts. Aquainted with Palmy Residency, vey close to the Main Jetty, just north over the footbridge. Budget, clean accommodation. Boat trips can be arranged through either. www.palmyresort.com. Cherukara Nest Homely rooms and bungalows set in a heritage home, prices around R.600-900 non AC and R.1000-2000 AC. www.cherukaranest.com.

If you arrive without pre-booking a room, try the area around the Main Boat Jetty (just over the footbridge) for some emergency, budget accommodation.

Tourist Information The DTPC Tourist Reception Centre is next to the Main Boat Jetty just beyond to footbridge. On arrival you might want to pick up information and maps from here.

Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race A stunning yearly event in which 30m long 'snake boats' with raised prows and silk flags are raced by local oarsmen. Takes place on Punnamada Lake near Alleppey. 2nd Saturday of August - find information/book tikets ahead of time at any KTDC tourist office.

Kollam (Quilon) is on the banks of the Ashtamundi Lake, one of the largest lakes of the backwaters. As with Allapuzha, many river cruises and houseboat trips can be booked from here. Canoe trips (organised by the DTPC, see below) take visitors across the lake and to the canals of Munroe Islnd. Houseboat construction, toddy tapping, coir-making, fishing and traditional village life can be observed on these reasonably priced, informative trips.

Arrival/Departure If arriving or departing by boat you will be dropped off/picked up at the Boat Jetty on Jetty Road. Both the DTPC Information Centre and the main KSRTC Bus Stand are next to the jetty, which makes arrival and departure quite straight forward.

Situated on the Meenachil river, only 16km west of backwater town Kumarakom on the Vembanad Lake, Kottayam is a jump-off point into the backwaters. There are accommodation options here, useful if you organise a houseboat cruise from here, or arrive late, but many opt to stay in Kumarakom.

Kumarakom is a beautifully located backwater town - tours through the backwaters here will cost more than from Alappuzha, but the waterways are definitely quieter. On-land accommodation options are mostly high-end, but among best and most magical Kerala backwater hotels.

Arrival/Departure A pleasant and inexpensive ferry service runs between Alappuzha and Kottayam (about 2 and a half hours). Boats go from the Kodimatha Jetty (to the south of town) in the summer months - during the monsoon most services leave from the Town Jetty.