Alappuzha

Alappuzha (also known as Alleppey) is a historic coastal town in Kerala, famous today for its backwaters, canals, and houseboats. Its story is closely tied to trade and waterways. For centuries, the region’s lagoons and sea access supported fishing, coir-making, and exchange with merchants who sailed along the Malabar Coast. Alappuzha rose to major prominence in the 18th century under Raja Kesavadas, the Diwan of Travancore, who is credited with developing the town as a planned port and commercial center. He improved canal networks, encouraged markets, and strengthened links between inland production areas and the sea, helping Alappuzha become a key hub for rice, spices, and especially coir (coconut fiber) exports.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Alappuzha’s port and coir industry expanded further, connecting Kerala’s products to global markets. The town also grew culturally, with temples, churches, and mosques reflecting its diverse communities shaped by maritime contact and migration. Though the port later declined as trade shifted to larger harbors, Alappuzha reinvented itself around its unique water landscape. Today, it remains a symbol of Kerala’s “Venice of the East,” known for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, coir heritage, and the living network of backwater villages that continue to define its identity.