Kerala Diaries : Alleppey

After the breathtaking and fresh experience of Munnar, it was time to move to my next destination – Alleppey. Known for its famous backwaters, beach, and temples, it was one of the locations that my friends and online tourist blogs recommended for a visit. And this couldn’t have been done on a better day than my birthday! Well, at least I thought I would be able to visit the beach on that day.

It was only later I realized after looking at the Google Map distance and speaking with my hotel managers in Munnar that the location I had to reach was too far and it would be late in the evening when I would actually reach the hotel. Not one to give up, I made the most of my birthday and as planned (fortunately) I was able to click pictures for my birthday posts.

One of the cheapest and best ways to travel intercity in Kerala is via the Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. At the cost of a measly Rs 100-120, one can easily travel from one city to another. A much better option than the intercity taxi travel which would have cost me Rs 3000 – 4000, the bus I took would also drop me close to my hotel. The only drawback of bus travel is that you don’t get to stop at any preferred place to take pictures or rest for some time. It would also be a bit of a problem since I didn’t particularly pack my lunch. But riding on the bus had its own fun as well. One could easily sit at the window seat which would be available. This is a rarity in Mumbai wherein the BEST buses are filled to the brim and getting to sit on the bus is a task. In fact, an empty bus in Mumbai is considered to be a loss for the BEST organization. I am unsure whether it is the same for the interstate travel in Kerala although as per a recent report it was in a good financial state.

Sitting at the window, I got to view and click some of the most beautiful scenery as the bus went down the hills of Munnar. This also helped me take some slow-motion videos with my camera as well.

Thankfully, the bus did make a pit stop at a bus depot wherein one could buy lunch and also relieve themselves in the washroom. Although I wanted to buy some cooked food, I chose to stick with the chips and packet food for the journey considering that the bus was taking many unexpected and sharp turns which wouldn’t suit my stomach if I had eaten heavy food. As we went further downhill, the temperature along with the greenery took a significant change. Alleppey is a town wherein many reside in its urban landscape. This meant there were fewer trees and plants to observe. But it still gave me the feeling of traveling at a Juhu beach with lesser tall buildings, bungalows, and more trees surrounding it. There was one mistake I did commit – I got off on the wrong bus stop whereas I was only 3 stops away from my hotel.

3 stops might not look like much on a map but it meant that there were no rickshaws or public taxis willing to go to my location. I had to get an Uber which thankfully did not decline my request and dropped me at the hotel. Tired of my travels and night settling in, I decided to rest in my room so that I could explore Alleppey the next day. Now my birthday tradition and belief is that whatever I do on that day will reflect throughout the year until my next birthday, either directly or indirectly. Given that half of my day was spent traveling but also figuring out how to utilize it to the best, I wonder how it will be reflected this time though!

The next day I went out in the morning to visit the temple close to my hotel. A walking distance from my location, I took an auto once I realized that the online map wasn’t helping me much to reach my location. With the sun shining brightly and the heat being supported by the humidity, Alleppey surely started to feel a bit like Mumbai. The temple that I had arrived at didn’t have much to offer for my prying eyes to explore. It was a simple one, wherein there weren’t many visitors and little art to compliment. 

Much to my disappointment, I left early and moved towards the ferry boats to get a view of the backwater lakes via bus. Reaching close the location around noon, I brought some chips and chaklis which became my staple lunch over the days of my trip and took a ferry boat ride. While it was costly (around Rs 650) but at least I got to ride a boat especially when I wasn’t able to do so in Munnar.

The lake view was definitely worth the money and the privacy I had gotten. Imagine being on a boat sailing on a river. Surrounding the boat were trees, coconut trees specifically with the winds blowing against it. With clear waters only having leaves and fishes swimming it, that is the view I was entertained with throughout my half-hour ride.

Absolutely fascinated by the experience, I was equally shocked that despite the backwater lakes being close to the urban town, it wasn’t corrupted with dirty water flowing in it. There were villagers who had houses close to the river and lake but even then, the water was much cleaner than anyone would expect. This is in complete contrast to the Mithi river which is polluted and there are even lesser hopes of it recovering.

With memories of the backwaters still fresh in my mind, I took a bus ride to the Alleppey beach. Reaching the beach in the evening, it definitely gave me a feeling that I had returned to Juhu beach. The only difference is that the beach was much cleaner, less crowded, the waters were much clear and there weren’t any bungalows or buildings surrounding it.

Close to the beach was a small jungle and given what I was witnessing, a lover’s point! I sat there and took one final picture before ending my journey in Alleppey. It was a much better trip and exploration of the city than Munnar and a much better-unplanned experience as well! Unto my final visit – Thekkady!