Alleppey may look rustic in pictures but it is easy to get here. In fact, that is the main charm of the place. You are only about 50km from the main city of Ernakulam, and just a short drive out makes you reach the bucolic surrounds with deep greens and watery vistas all around. Alleppey is well connected to the rest of India with an air node close by, a railway station in town and ample overnight buses from different parts of South India.
Here are the top ways to get here from major cities like Bombay, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.
- By Air
The easiest way to get to Alleppey is by taking a domestic or even an international flight directly to the Cochin International Airport. You land in the atmospheric airport, designed keeping the local aesthetics in mind. All top domestic airlines like Indigo, GoAir, Air India and Vistara have flights to the city. The airport lies at the far end of Cochin, adding another 30km to your journey to Alleppey. As soon as you step out of the airport, you can take a taxi from the stand. If you’re not sure, ask for a pick-up from the place you will be staying at in Alleppey. It takes about 2.5 hours to get from the airport to the main docking areas. In the case of Spice Routes, it is a short drive from the main boarding points to a beautiful farmhouse after crossing lush green paddy fields. This is a special and private boarding point from a 150-year-old home.
- By Train
Alleppey’s railway station is a small, neat junction that has many connections from major parts of India. The station is a major station on the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam coastal railway line and has been running since 1989. Since the station has only 3 platforms, it is never crowded enough to overwhelm you. Direct trains from major South Indian cities like Bangalore ensure smooth connectivity. Look for ALLP on the national irctc.com website. Booking trains in India is easy on the national website. You can book 4 months in advance, but opt for a tatkal (quick) option for limited seats, just 24 hours before as well. Do note that seats get filled quickly (in a matter of minutes), so you need to be quick. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, e-wallets and net banking. It is recommended to be in touch with local travel operators to help you with this, in case you know your itinerary in advance. Do carry a valid photo-id at the time of travel, as it is checked by a ticket collector. Train travel is a great way to see India in a slow stride and use one of the most studied public transportations in the world. The Indian railways has been a much-studied case study for decades.
- By Road
Alleppey is closely connected to the National Highway-47, which goes through Ambalappuzha and Cherthala towns. Alleppey is also well connected to other cities such as Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore by road.
Alleppey might seem like a watery wonderland, which lies deep into Kerala’s green wilderness, but actually it is extremely easy to access and has great travel operators and can services that help world travellers reach here.
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