Top 10 Things to Do in Alleppey & Kumarakom (Beyond Houseboats)
Most visitors arrive in Alleppey (Alappuzha) with one plan: book a houseboat. Houseboats are lovely, but they are only one small part of what the Kerala backwaters offer. The real magic sits in the narrow village canals, the paddy fields below sea level, the toddy shops and the birdlife of Alleppey and neighbouring Kumarakom.
We run shikara boats on these waters every day. Here are the ten things we tell friends to do, in roughly the order we would prioritise them.
1. Take a Shikara Ride Through the Narrow Village Canals
If you do only one thing in Alleppey, make it this. A shikara is a small, canopied boat that seats two to ten people. Unlike a houseboat, it is narrow and shallow enough to slip into the hidden side canals of Kuttanad, which are only a few metres wide and lined with coconut palms, homes, small temples and shops.
Which shikara ride should you choose?
- Sunrise (6–9 AM): misty water, soft light and the best birdwatching. Our top pick for photographers.
- Lunch (11:30 AM–2:30 PM): village canals plus a toddy shop meal and Vembanad Lake.
- Sunset (4–7 PM): golden hour on Punnamada Lake. Perfect for couples.
Compare routes and prices on our Alleppey shikara ride page.
Check Shikara Availability2. Watch the Sunrise Over Vembanad Lake
Vembanad is India’s longest lake, stretching nearly 100 km from Alleppey to Kochi. At dawn the water is mirror-calm and a light haze often hangs over it, so the sun rises as a soft orange disc. Be on the water by 6:15 AM. A sunrise shikara cruise gets you to open water in time and then turns into the canals as the villages wake up.
3. Eat Lunch at a Backwater Toddy Shop
Toddy shops (kallu shaap) began as simple bars serving toddy, a mild palm wine, but today they are known for some of the most authentic and fiery food in Kerala. Expect:
- Karimeen pollichathu: pearl-spot fish wrapped in banana leaf and roasted with spices
- Fish curry in red, tangy kudampuli (Malabar tamarind) gravy
- Kappa (tapioca) with spicy fish or beef curry
- Duck roast, a Kuttanad speciality
- Red Kerala rice, thoran and pickles
Drinking toddy is optional, and family sections and soft drinks are standard. The easiest way to reach the best canal-side toddy shops is by boat on our lunch cruise.
4. Go Birdwatching in Kumarakom
On the eastern shore of Vembanad Lake, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary protects a patch of mangroves and wetland that attracts herons, egrets, darters, cormorants, kingfishers and, from November to February, migratory birds. Walk the sanctuary trail early in the morning, or see it from the water on a Kumarakom boat ride along its canals.
5. See the Sunset on Punnamada Lake
Punnamada Lake, on the northern edge of Alleppey town, is wide open to the west, which makes it the best sunset spot in the region. It is also the course of the famous Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race, held every August, when 100-plus-oar chundan vallams race in front of thousands of spectators.
The sunset shikara cruise runs through the canals first and reaches Punnamada for golden hour.
6. Walk the Paddy Bunds of Kuttanad
Kuttanad is one of the very few places in the world where farmers grow rice below sea level, in fields lying one to two metres beneath the surrounding water and protected by mud and stone bunds. The system is so unusual that the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization lists it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Ask your boatman to stop at a bund so you can walk along the top. On one side the canal sits higher than your feet, and on the other an ocean of green paddy stretches to the horizon. Read more in our guide to the narrow canals of Kuttanad.
7. Spend an Evening at Alleppey Beach
Alleppey isn’t only backwaters. The town’s beach, with its old lighthouse and the remains of a 19th-century pier, is a relaxed place to watch the sun set into the Arabian Sea. Street vendors sell roasted peanuts, bhel and fresh lime soda. Swimming isn’t recommended because of strong currents, but it is a lovely spot for a walk.
8. Paddle a Kayak Through the Tiniest Canals
Some canals are so narrow that even a shikara cannot enter them. Kayaking lets you reach those quiet corners, gliding past back gardens, washing steps and tiny footbridges. Our Shikara + Kayaking combo pairs a relaxing cruise with a guided paddle, so no experience is needed.
9. Visit Pathiramanal Island
Pathiramanal (“sands of midnight”) is a small, forested island in the middle of Vembanad Lake, reachable only by boat. It is a quiet nature spot with a walking trail and good birdwatching. Combine it with a Kumarakom or Muhamma boat trip, or with a speedboat combo for a faster crossing.
10. Experience Everyday Village Life
The best moments in the backwaters are often the small ones:
- Fishermen casting nets from round coracles
- Women washing clothes on the stone ghats
- Ducks being herded down the canal by a man in a tiny canoe
- Coir rope being twisted by hand in Kumarakom and Aymanam
- Children rowing to school in country boats
You’ll see all of this from a shikara, but take time to stop, say hello and buy a tender coconut from a canal-side stall.
Bonus: Stay a Night on a Houseboat
We said “beyond houseboats”, but an overnight stay is still a wonderful experience, especially as the lake goes quiet after sunset. Check our simple Alleppey houseboat tariff for 1–4 bedroom prices. Then add a sunrise shikara ride the next morning to see the canals the houseboat couldn’t reach.
A Perfect One-Day Alleppey Itinerary
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:00 – 9:00 AM | Sunrise shikara ride through the village canals |
| 9:30 AM | Breakfast of appam and stew in town |
| 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Lunch cruise with a toddy shop meal (or rest at your hotel) |
| 4:00 – 7:00 PM | Sunset on Punnamada Lake, or Alleppey Beach |
| Evening | Seafood dinner in town |
When to Visit Alleppey & Kumarakom
- October – March: pleasant, dry weather. Peak season, so book boats a day or two ahead.
- April – May: hot and humid. Early-morning and evening rides are best.
- June – September: monsoon. Lush, green and quiet, with lower prices. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race takes place in August.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days are enough for Alleppey and Kumarakom?
Two days is ideal: one day for a shikara ride, a toddy shop lunch and the beach in Alleppey, and one for Kumarakom's bird sanctuary and Vembanad Lake. With one day, do a sunrise shikara ride and a sunset on Punnamada Lake.
What is the best time to visit Alleppey?
October to March has the most comfortable weather. The monsoon (June to September) is the greenest season and much quieter, and August brings the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Is Alleppey worth visiting without a houseboat?
Absolutely. A 3-hour shikara ride shows you more of the narrow village canals than a houseboat does, at a fraction of the cost, leaving time for the beach, food and Kumarakom.