City of Alleppey

Alleppey, properly Alappuzha, is the undisputed capital of the Kerala backwaters and for many the highlight of a southern tour. Once a thriving port that earned it the nickname the Venice of the East, it sits amid a vast, glittering web of canals, lagoons and palm-lined lakes. Life here moves to the gentle pace of the water, and the town serves as the gateway to one of India's most enchanting landscapes.

The quintessential experience is a night aboard a kettuvallam, a traditional rice barge lovingly converted into a comfortable houseboat. Drifting through Vembanad Lake and its labyrinth of narrow channels, you glide past emerald paddy fields, coconut groves and villages where daily life unfolds at the water's edge. Smaller canoe trips reach the tighter canals that the larger boats cannot, offering an intimate view of backwater life.

The region is also rich in culture and nature. Birdlife is abundant around Kumarakom and the lake's quieter reaches, while the famous snake-boat races bring spectacular pageantry to the waterways. Coir-making and toddy-tapping are part of the local fabric, and the cuisine leans on the freshest of ingredients, with karimeen fish, prawns and coconut-laced curries served simply and superbly aboard the boats.

A visit is wonderfully restful. Sunsets over the lake are unforgettable, mornings bring mist rising off the water, and the only sounds are birdsong and the soft splash of a punting pole. Beyond the boats, Alleppey has a long sandy beach, a colonial-era pier and a relaxed, lived-in charm.

Alleppey is essential on any Kerala itinerary. Nowhere else captures the languid, timeless beauty of the backwaters so completely, and a slow cruise through its waterways remains one of the most memorable experiences that India can offer.