Alappuzha Backwaters

Alappuzha — still widely called Alleppey — is the image most people carry of Kerala: a houseboat sliding between coconut palms, with paddy fields below the waterline on either side. The town itself is a working port and market, with a lighthouse, a long beach and a network of canals that once carried most of its trade.

The houseboat industry is large and uneven. A good trip depends on the operator: ask about the route, the number of cabins, safety equipment, food and whether the boat will moor overnight or run its generator. For a quieter experience, take a small canoe or country boat through the narrow canals, where the big houseboats cannot go, and spend a morning walking in a village such as Kainakary. The famous Nehru Trophy snake-boat race is held here in August or September.