Trip members: Karthik and family
Trip date: 1st and 2nd August 2015
Trip Route: Chennai - Alleppy - Kumarakom - Alleppy - Chennai
Day 1:
We reached Alleppy from Chennai by Alleppy Express. This train reaches by 10 AM to Alleppy. We had some good breakfast in the train on the way - Aapam and Idli with Kurma, Kadalai curry.
We had a cab waiting for pick-up. We had booked to Backwater House boat Cruise through a good friend of mine - Mr.Suresh Mathew - who runs a travel house called Trip Enticer.
The Boat Jetty is around 7-8 kms from the railway station. The House boats start from a location called Pallathuruthy. The check-in time for House boats are around 12 Noon. We went there by 11 AM and boarded the boat in 15-20 minutes time. There are several house boats with different sizes and amenities - 1 BR, 2 BR, 3 BR and even 4 BR. All come with a kitchen, dining place, attached bathrooms and a balcony. Many house boats are 2 levels, which have a balcony on the top. This is awesome for the great breeze and a grand view.
We rented a two level 2 BR house boat. As we boarded, we were welcomed with a welcome drink - lemon juice. The boat is normally accompanied by 3-4 people - a driver, a helper and a cook. They ask us for food options - veg/non-veg and plan accordingly. It is good if we could let them know what we want while we book.
The package includes the welcome drink, great Lunch, 4 o'clock tea and snacks; dinner & next day breakfast. All are perfect on time. The boat is anchored when any food is served as the troupe also has food. The Kerala hospitality is awesome and they would just shower you with their love. The food was very tasty and served in plenty with vegetables and fruits.
The boat stopped around 1:30 PM in the Vembanad Lake. There is a long pillar like structure in the mid of lake; where every boat stop for lunch. The view is very amazing and beautiful. If there are mild showers, I think, it is best to have in the trip.
After 1 hour stoppage for lunch, they started again and drove around until 17:30. We enjoyed the Kerala backwater cruise through canals towards Vembanad Lake. The evening stop is on the opposite side of where it was started and we are free to roam around. Few take autos and go to Alleppy beach and some wander around the Paddy Fields and the areas around; some prefer to stay in the boathouses. We just wandered around for 45 minutes and then came back for dinner - again a great spread of 4 curries. rice and chappathis; and amazingly cut pineapples.
The overnight sleep was just homely and pleasant. The moonlight added to the awe of travellers and gave a topping to the trip! Morning, one cannot resist to see the Sunrise and the morning view is also stunning. It is simple; yet awesome.
Day-2:
Breakfast was served around 07:30 - hot idlies, sambhar and chutney. Then, the board starts at 08:30, goes for a short round trip of 30-45 minutes and drops us back at the same place where is started - around 09:30 AM.
We had a plan to goto Kumarakom and see the views there and complete the trip at Alleppey beach. Kumarakom is 37 kms from Alleppy. We reached there around 11 AM and stopped at the Kumarakom - Vembanad Lake view point. The Alleppy boat cruise 80% covers various canals around Vembanad lake and 20% on the lake; whereas, the house boats in Kumarakom spend almost all the time on the ocean like Vembanad lake.
As we spent few minutes in the view point, very heavy downpour started. The driver drove us to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary. We waited along with the patient driver in the car for close to 30 minutes for the rain to stop. But, it looked like it would take hours-days to stop. We could not get out of the car for the heavy rain. The bird sanctuary is a thick forest-like area and there are no hideouts to wait in rain. So, we decided to move ahead and return to Alleppy. Had some good tea on the way and reached Alleppy beach by 12:30.
The driver helped us by guiding to a good restaurant - India Coffee House - just opposite to the Alleppy beach, He had a quick lunch and spent close to 2 hours in the Alleppy beach and the park near by the beach. The Alleppy beach is very beautiful - clean and white sand - gigantic waves and a broken iron bridge in the beach - a great spot for photography.
We then reached back to the railway station to start back to Chennai around 3 PM.
A must visit place once in life time. Venice is Europe's Alleppy !
Trip Enticer - Mr.Suresh Mathew - Mobile - +91 9142311171, (0) 9961466495
Trip date: 1st and 2nd August 2015
Trip Route: Chennai - Alleppy - Kumarakom - Alleppy - Chennai
Day 1:
We reached Alleppy from Chennai by Alleppy Express. This train reaches by 10 AM to Alleppy. We had some good breakfast in the train on the way - Aapam and Idli with Kurma, Kadalai curry.
We had a cab waiting for pick-up. We had booked to Backwater House boat Cruise through a good friend of mine - Mr.Suresh Mathew - who runs a travel house called Trip Enticer.
The Boat Jetty is around 7-8 kms from the railway station. The House boats start from a location called Pallathuruthy. The check-in time for House boats are around 12 Noon. We went there by 11 AM and boarded the boat in 15-20 minutes time. There are several house boats with different sizes and amenities - 1 BR, 2 BR, 3 BR and even 4 BR. All come with a kitchen, dining place, attached bathrooms and a balcony. Many house boats are 2 levels, which have a balcony on the top. This is awesome for the great breeze and a grand view.
We rented a two level 2 BR house boat. As we boarded, we were welcomed with a welcome drink - lemon juice. The boat is normally accompanied by 3-4 people - a driver, a helper and a cook. They ask us for food options - veg/non-veg and plan accordingly. It is good if we could let them know what we want while we book.
The package includes the welcome drink, great Lunch, 4 o'clock tea and snacks; dinner & next day breakfast. All are perfect on time. The boat is anchored when any food is served as the troupe also has food. The Kerala hospitality is awesome and they would just shower you with their love. The food was very tasty and served in plenty with vegetables and fruits.
After 1 hour stoppage for lunch, they started again and drove around until 17:30. We enjoyed the Kerala backwater cruise through canals towards Vembanad Lake. The evening stop is on the opposite side of where it was started and we are free to roam around. Few take autos and go to Alleppy beach and some wander around the Paddy Fields and the areas around; some prefer to stay in the boathouses. We just wandered around for 45 minutes and then came back for dinner - again a great spread of 4 curries. rice and chappathis; and amazingly cut pineapples.
The overnight sleep was just homely and pleasant. The moonlight added to the awe of travellers and gave a topping to the trip! Morning, one cannot resist to see the Sunrise and the morning view is also stunning. It is simple; yet awesome.
Day-2:
Breakfast was served around 07:30 - hot idlies, sambhar and chutney. Then, the board starts at 08:30, goes for a short round trip of 30-45 minutes and drops us back at the same place where is started - around 09:30 AM.
We had a plan to goto Kumarakom and see the views there and complete the trip at Alleppey beach. Kumarakom is 37 kms from Alleppy. We reached there around 11 AM and stopped at the Kumarakom - Vembanad Lake view point. The Alleppy boat cruise 80% covers various canals around Vembanad lake and 20% on the lake; whereas, the house boats in Kumarakom spend almost all the time on the ocean like Vembanad lake.
As we spent few minutes in the view point, very heavy downpour started. The driver drove us to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary. We waited along with the patient driver in the car for close to 30 minutes for the rain to stop. But, it looked like it would take hours-days to stop. We could not get out of the car for the heavy rain. The bird sanctuary is a thick forest-like area and there are no hideouts to wait in rain. So, we decided to move ahead and return to Alleppy. Had some good tea on the way and reached Alleppy beach by 12:30.
The driver helped us by guiding to a good restaurant - India Coffee House - just opposite to the Alleppy beach, He had a quick lunch and spent close to 2 hours in the Alleppy beach and the park near by the beach. The Alleppy beach is very beautiful - clean and white sand - gigantic waves and a broken iron bridge in the beach - a great spot for photography.
We then reached back to the railway station to start back to Chennai around 3 PM.
A must visit place once in life time. Venice is Europe's Alleppy !
Trip Enticer - Mr.Suresh Mathew - Mobile - +91 9142311171, (0) 9961466495
