Transport in Alappuzha
Alleppey, ‘God’s Own Country’, ‘The Venus of the East’, are some of the names by which Alappuzha is popularly known. It is a popular holiday destination for people who love backwater sports, beaches, scenic beauty and marine life.This peaceful small village is connected to all cities of India by waterways, road, air and rail. The road network of Alappuzha is considered to be one of the best in India. The public transport system consists of auto-rickshaws, private and government buses and taxis.
Reaching Alappuzha by Air
The fastest and easiest way to reach Alappuzha is by Air. The Airport which is nearest to this place is Kochi International Airport at a distance of 90 kms. The other airports nearby are Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (159 kms.), Coimbatore (254 kms.) and Kozhikode (236 kms.). For the benefit of government services a helipad is also there in Alleppey. It is generally used for VIPs.Rail Transport in Alappuzha
The Alleppey Railway Station (ALLP), 4kms from this town and located in Ernakulam Kayamkulam coastal railway line, is connected to all the major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Coimbatore and Bokaro. To handle passenger and long distance trains this Railway Station has total three platforms. The main Express trains starting from Alleppey Railway Station are Alleppey Dhanbad Express, Alleppey Kannur Express, Alleppey Chennai Express and many other passenger trains. The train journey to this peaceful village is very easy and while travelling one can enjoy scenic beauty of this place as well.Water Transport in Alappuzha
The most popular way of transport in Alleppey is water transport. Kayankulam Lake and Vembabanad Lake are famous for back waters boat cruise. Best option for holiday enjoyment in backwaters in Alappuzha is hiring a row boat or a speed boat, which are deluxe as well as ordinary type.Through Alleppey passes National Waterway-3. Opposite KSRTC Bus Station is located SWTD boat jetty from where backwater cruises start daily to cities like Kottayam, Kollam, Kochi, Changanassery, Chengannur and Kumarakom. Hiring SWTD boat is enjoyable and cheaper than house boats. Places like Kuttanad, which cannot be reached by road, are easily accessible by ferries and house boats.
Locals mostly use ferries and Government boats which are very cheap and just cost Rs. 10 for a trip. Kerala State Water Transport Department has provided Steel Vessels which are very safe. Tourists can enjoy natural scenic beauty of Ashtamudi Lake, Pamba River and Kayamkulam Kayal. The eight hour journey from Alappuzha to Kollam costs just Rs. 300/-.
For backwater tour many house boats, which costs between five hundred to four thousand Rupees are available. Some of these houseboats provide facilities of a 5 Star Hotel such as beauty salons, spa and massage parlours.