Busy industrial center and port, Alleppey has been called the 'Venice of the East' because of the many canals that meander through the town. Alleppey is the center for the Nehru Cup snake boat races, which take place on the second Saturday of August. There are two backwater trips from Alleppey to Kottayam (3 1/2 hrs) and Quilon (8 1/2 hrs).

Air: Nearest Airport is Cochin (63 km).

Rail: Nearest Railway Station is at Cochin / Ernakulam (63 km).

Bus: Regular buses to Ernakulam, Quilon, Kottayam etc.

Cochin consists of mainland Ernakulam, the Islands Willingdon, Bolgatty, gundu in the Harbor, Fort Cochin, Mattancherry, Vypeen island. It has a fine natural harbor with palm-fringed lagoons and wooded islands. It was the capital of former Cochin State. Today it is the major port of southern part of India on waistcoats.

Places of Interest:

1. St. Francis Church situated at Fort Cochin, was built in 1503 by Portuguese. Vasco De Gama, who died in Cochin in 1524, his tomb is here.

2. Cathedral of Santa Cruz situated at Fort Cochin.

3. Mattancherry Palace: This palace was built in 1577 by Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja, Veera Kerala Varma (1537-61). The Dutch renovated it after 1663 and hence it is known as the 'Dutch' palace. Most important aspect of this palace is the astonishing mural depicting scenes from Ramayana and Puranic legends. Open from 9.00 to 17.00 hrs.

4. The Jewish Synagogue: It was built in 1567. This is oldest synagogue in the common wealth. Open from 10.00 to 12.00 hrs and 15.00 to 17.00 hrs except Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

5. Kathakali Dancing: This is India's most spectacular dance drama. The main center for Kathakali is at Gurukulam Kathakali Yogam, off Chittoor Road, which offers performances every evening at 19.00 hrs. The Director of Gurukulam Kathakali Yogam explains the symbol of Dance drama, 1/2 hrs before the performance start.

Kathakali developed 110 different arrangements, based on stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Conducted Tours:

The Kerala Tourist Development Corporation conduct two boat cruises daily, around Cochin harbor which includes visits to Willingdon Island, Mattanherry Palace, The Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry, Fort Cochin Including St. Francis Church, Gundu Island and Bolgatty Island.

The tour starts and finishes at the boat Jetty in front of the Sealord Hotel, Shanmughan Road, Ernakulam.

First Tour Timing: 9.00 to 12.30 hrs.

Second Tour Timing: 14.00 to 17.30 hrs.

Air: Nearest Airport is 6 km from City Indian Airlines Office.

Bus: Regular buses to Alwaye (21 km), Alleppey (64 km), Kottayam (69 km), Trichur (74 km), Quilon (148 km), Trivandrum (218 km), Thekkady (206 km) etc.

Under Construction

Kottayam is the center for rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations. It is also the base to visit Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary, which is 150 km from Kottayam. Snack boats race is held in Kottayam during Onam festival. Murals at Shiva Temple in Ettamanur, which are like Ajanta caves. Ettumanur is 11 km from Kottayam.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Cochin (69 km)

Bus: Regular buses to Alleppey, Cochin, Trivandrum, Thekkady etc.

Boat: Daily 14 boats to Alleppey from Kottayam via Lake Vembanad. Journey time 2 1/2 hrs.

It is 16 km from Trivandrum. It is consider as one of the best beaches of India. Rice, Copra and Bananas are the backbone of the local economy. I.T.D.C. Kovalam Beach Hotel has swimming pool and facilities of Yogan and Ayurvedic massage. Accommodation is available in other hotels also.

Capital of Travancore State until 133 A. D., it is situated on the Kanya Kumari - Trivandrum road at a distance of 45 km from Kanya Kumari. There is a palace inside the fort, in which many objects including armory of the royal family are displayed. In the Ramaswamy Temple, adjoining the palace, scenes from the Ramayana have been carved in 45 panels. The palace is open from 9.00 to 17.00 hrs. Monday closed. Entry fee: Rs. 00.50/-.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Trivandrum (86 km).

Bus: Regular buses to Trivandrum (86 km), Tirunelveli (91 km), Tiruchendur (99 km), Courtallam Falls (121 km), Madurai (242 km) etc.

This 800 square km sanctuary is centered on an artificial lake and you can be view from launches, which go along the convoluted waterways. A dam on the Periyar River forms the sanctuary. Elephants, tigers, bison, bears, sambhar can be seen from the boat, the best time being at dawn or dusk. Two launches of the Kerala Government are available with Hotel Aranya Nivas, which can be arranged through the Game Warden, Thekkady.

Accommodation:

1. Tourist Bungalow in the middle of the lake.

2. Aranya Nivas Hotel.

3. Periyar House.

Air: Nearest Airport is Madurai (146 km), Cochin/Ernaculam (208 km), Trivandrum (256 km).

Rail: Nearest Railway Stations are Madurai (146 km), Kottyam (199 km).

Bus: Regular buses to Trivandrum, Madurai, Kottayam etc.

Quilon is the industrial city, stands on the Ashtamudi Lake of 8 creeks (backwater). It is the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala State. The trip by boat to Alleppey through the backwaters (fringed with coconut groves) of Ashtamudi lake is a fascinating and unique experience. Boats depart daily from Quilon at 10.00 hrs and 20.30 hrs for Alleppey. The trip takes approximately 8 1/2 hours to reach Alleppey.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Trivandrum (46 km).

Bus: Regular buses to Trivandrum, Varakala, Alleppey, Cochin, Kottayam, etc.

Situated between Ernakulam and Coimbatore, Trichur is famous for its ancient Vadakkunnathan Temple. Pooram festival held in April-May is one of the biggest in the south India with fireworks and colourful processions including brightly decorated elephants.

Places of Interest:

1. Vadakkunnathatn Temple, open for Hindus only.

2. Museum

3. Zoo: With a notable collection of snakes.

4. Kerala Kala Mandalam at Cheruthuruthy north of Trichur, is an important center for training Kathakali dancers.

5. Guruvayur: 32 km from Trichur, it is famous for its ancient Temple of Lord Krishna. During the annual temple festival (February-March), the Krishnayattam dances are performed which is the precursor of the Kathkali dances.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Cochin (74 km)

Bus: Regular buses to Guruvayur, Cochin, Shoranur, Coimbatore, Kottayam etc.

Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala State. Numerous hills and hillocks surround it. Trivuananthapuram - Trivandrum, literally means the place of the Sacred Snake.

Places of Interest:

1. Museum, Art Gallery, Zoological Gardens (Zoo): these all are located in the same area in the park at the south end of the city. Open from 8.00 to 18.00 hrs. Monday & Wednesday closed.

2. Sri Chitra Art Gallery: have Rajput, Mughal and Tanjor school paintings. It also has Ravi Varma's modern Indian paintings.

3. Aquarium: situated near airport, it houses aquarium plus many rare species of aquatic animal. Open from 9.30 to 18.00 hrs. Monday closed.

4. Padmanabhaswamy Temple: This Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. It has image of Vishnu reclining on Sheshnag, the enormous hooded serpant, anant.

Excursion:

1. Kovalam Beach: It is 16 km from Trivandrum. It is consider as one of the best beaches of India. Rice, Copra and Bananas are the backbone of the local economy. I.T.D.C. Kovalam Beach Hotel has swimming pool and facilities of Yogan and Ayurvedic massage. Accommodation is available in other hotels also.

Varkala is situated 46 km Trivandrum and 39 km from Quilon. It is a seashore hill resort. On Sivagiri hill, there is a temple, an ashram and the Samadhi of Naryana Guru, the great religious reformer. Angengo fortress and Janrdana (Vishnu) temples are worth seeing. A sea-bath followed by a fresh water wash at the mineral springs is very exhilarating. Back waters, beautiful hills, sea bathing, mineral springs, long water tunnels linking this place with the lakes are the attractions of Varakala.

Air: Nearest Airport is at Trivandrum (46 km).

Bus: Regular buses to Trivandrum, Quilon etc.