ALAPUZHA (ALLEPPEY) - Onam snake boat race (Aug/Sept), boating through the backwaters to Kollam or Kottayam, Ambalapuzha temple (25 km), Mannarasala temple at Haripad. Alapuzha has a nice beach with an old light house, sea bridge, park and back waters (house boats).

Revi Karuna Kiran museum near Mount Carmel cathedral. Closed on Mondays. CSI Christ church - One of the oldest churches in the town with foreigner's tombstones (Dutch).

Mount Carmel cathedral estd in 1809 AD. Roof top rain water harvesting used for drinking purposes.

Sree Jain Shwetamber temple - The only Gujrati Jain temple in Alapuzha.

Our Lady of Assumption church, Poomkavu - Popular pilgrim centre, festival during the Holy week.


Marari beach resort, Mararikulam - Coconut leaf thatched traditional Kerala house with a privated area for sun bathing at sea.

Holy Family church, Pollethy - Lime pit that got the footprints of St Joseph.

St Mary's church, Cherthala is a nice church with Portuguese style arched altar.

St Andrew's church, Arthunkal is a major Christian pilgrim centre (Festival on Jan 20).

St Augustin's church, Aroor - Diocese of Cochin (1557 - 2007, glorious 450 years).

St Raphel's church, Ezhupunna - Ancient syrian church near Cherthala.

Kanichukulangara temple festival on Shivratri night. A huge crowd gathered at the temple premises for the fireworks display. Devotees (children) are lifted by the person in costume and performs few steps of dance. A small wooden platform with a roof is used for this and is known as 'koothupura'. Devotees after taking bath at the temple pond light
up cotton threads by immersing it in oil. They move around the temple by chanting the mantra - Devi saranam. Another attraction during the festival is Garudan thookkam. The program starts by midnight and the king of birds - Garuda - on a chariot is pulled by the devotees. At aroung 0400 am a grand display of fireworks follow.

ALAPUZHA photos