Also known as the Venice of the east is a district in kerala interlocked with lakes and rivers. The town of allepey borders the Arabian sea and has a long stretch of unbroken sea coast extending to around 80kms. The large areas of kuttanadu in Kerala have earned it the title “Rice bowl of Kerala”. The Coconut palms that border the canal and lakes in allepey are an excellent source for coir the chief raw material for making coir ropes and mats. This is also the main reason for this industry to flourish in the place. A cruise through the backwaters and canals of Allepey provide a clear picture of the way of life of the people and also glimpses of coir production, toddy tapping, fishing etc.
Allepey was a busy port in the state and this was the main reason for developing two major canals in the district. Among the many attractions in the place, the most important is Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is said that over 200,000 people come to witness this event, of which many are foreign tourists. The snake boat race is the most popular among the races.
- St. Andrew’s Church Arthunkal is a famous church near Cherthala built by the portugese. It is now a busy pilgrim centre in the state.
- Krishnapuram Palace : This structure built by the Travancore king Marthanda Varma boasts an excellent display of Kerala’s Architectural styles. The palace is now a museum with a rich collection of Antiques, paintings, murals etc.
- Ambalapuzha: A small town famous for the Krishna Temple, its festival and the sweet porridge prepared from rice, sugar and milk. The temple festival is usually in the month of March.