When you book one of those renowned Kerala houseboat packages, one of the most common questions that you have in your mind is regarding the choice between Alleppey or Kumarakom along with a question about the best backwaters in Kerala. Situated on either end of the Vembanad Lake, both Alleppey and Kumarakom are idyllic when it comes to backwater cruising, but while Alleppey is more popular, Kumarakom is more laidback and secluded.
What To Choose, Alleppey Or Kumarakom?
Each of these destinations has emerged as the top contenders for a ride through the famed backwaters of Kerala. Whether you wish to relax on your houseboat’s sun deck or rejuvenate amidst nature with a canoe ride and a fishing trip, a trip to either of these will be perfect!
Let’s compare both and see which is best for your holiday!
Where are Alleppey and Kumarakom
Kumarakom and Alleppey are two corners of the Vembanad backwaters. Kumarakom is a laidback village, while Alleppey is a famous town, but the flavor and charm of both are different!
Alleppey or Kumarakom: What do both offer?
Out of all the options, visitors always choose either Alleppey or Kumarakom as their preferred option for backwater houseboat tourism in Kerala.
Whether it is Alleppey or Kumarakom, both act as the starting points of boat cruises through Kerala’s jade backwaters. The backwater scene of both these destinations would usually be the same. However, Alleppey tends to be a more crowded houseboat route than Kumarakom.
Sailing along in a houseboat through the enchanting backwaters of Alappuzha or Kumarakom will surely rob your heart. Palm-fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are sights one can never forget.
One can glimpse green paddy fields, flocks of ducks swimming around the banks, and tiny birds flying across the sky. It is as close as one can get to feeling the vibrant life in the countryside of God’s own country.
What to expect on an Alleppey houseboat cruise?
Alappuzha Tourism thrives for several reasons, one of them being Alleppey’s peculiar geographical feature of having the water in level with the land. This gives people the advantage of getting a closer look at the village life on shore while comfortably cruising its backwaters.
A houseboat tour in Alleppey typically commences from the Nehru Trophy finishing point and sails through backwater resorts, the boat building yard, and the SNDP Thodu before reaching Kuppapuram. After a stopover at the enchanting Kuppuram Village, it halts at Kuttithode for a delightful lunch of fresh Malayalam cuisine.
After lunch, it cruises Nedumudi to reach Chennamkary to let guests enjoy a comfortable night stay at Kainkari. The morning cruise starts from the village of Kainkari. The boat passes local spots like Muttel Bridge, Muttel Thode, Pallathruthi Thode, Chungam Kayal, and Vilakumaram Thode before the cruise ends at the Nehru Trophy finishing point.
Guests get to see a plethora of soul-soothing sights en route – paddy fields, traditional houses on the banks of the backwaters, ancient churches, temples, petite watermills, and much more.
What to expect on a Kumarakom houseboat cruise?
While Alleppey gives you the facilities of a town, Kumarakom is much more rural. It is more tranquil and secluded and has more luxury resorts than Alleppey. Kumarakom is an ideal choice for a holiday to get away from the cacophony of city life. It is also much quieter and less crowded than Alleppey with a wider range of accommodation options suiting all kinds of pockets. Much of Kumarakom’s accommodation is top-end and spread out across the town.
If you are starting from Kumarakom, you will be cruising mainly through the Vembanad Lake before reaching Chitira, Rani area, and Venattukadu, covering a ton of attractions along the way. Don’t forget to watch the colorful sunset when your boat is anchored in the Kumarakom backwaters east of the lake.
Kumarakom has a spectacular lagoon to behold and its coconut trees have become iconic in the Kerala tourism industry. There are bird sanctuaries to see along the shores and Kumarakom’s village life has a simplicity and old-age world charm about it that attracts wanderers seeking peace and down-to-earth experiences. It has ancient bungalows that have been converted into heritage hotels and homestays offering an authentic Kerala stay. In addition, rides on local houseboats called the ‘Kettuvallams’ are indispensable for every traveler to Kerala.
Alleppey Vs Kumarakom: A Comparison
Now that we’ve told you what you can expect on a backwater cruise whether you’re in Alleppey or Kumarakom, let’s return to the main question – “Kumarakom or Alleppey, which is better?”. We’ll compare them over factors like scenic views, accommodation, budget, variety of boats available, and the overall vibe.
Budget
Alleppey: Alleppey houseboat packages are much more economical in comparison with the ones in Kumarakom. Alleppey has a higher frequency of boats.
Kumarakom: The boats here are mostly luxury, ultra-luxury, and premium categories, so they’re a little on the pricey side. They’re fewer in number than in Alleppey.
Connectivity
Alleppey: The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport 85 km away, while the nearest railway station is its own Alappuzha Railway Station.
Kumarakom: While the nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport 80 km away, Kumarakom doesn’t have a railhead. The nearest station is Cherthala 14 km away, followed by Kottayam 16 km away.
Variety of boats
Alleppey: Alleppey has a larger frequency of boats. You’ll find everything from houseboats of different sizes, rowboats, canoes, luxury houseboats with A/C like the Spice Routes, and a lot more.
Kumarakom: There is a smaller variety and frequency of boats in Kumarakom. Kumarakom houseboats are mostly similar in appearance and size, and range from one-room boats, two-room boats, to three-room boats.
Accommodation options
Alleppey: Being a full-fledged town, it has more hotels, houseboat stays, and budget accommodations within its limits. Luxury resorts are located outside city limits to offer a more peaceful stay.
Kumarakom: It’s more of a tranquil and secluded village with numerous luxury resorts and high-end hotels/villas.
Scenic views & sunsets
Alleppey: The intricate backwater network, narrow canals, and verdant paddy fields provide a more intimate and close-to-nature experience. Alleppey offers stunning sunset views through its thick palm canopies. The serpentine canals and waterways offer a closer look at the banks and its variety of bird species, making Alleppey a haven for birdwatchers.
Kumarakom: Kumarakom offers a more expansive view of the backwaters of Kerala as well as the Vembanad Lake. It’s the ideal choice if you seek a spacious boating experience as well as uninterrupted sunset views.
Cruising locations
Alleppey: Alleppey possesses a lot more canals than Kumarakom. Houseboats and rowboats in Alleppey meander through narrow canals canopied with swaying palms. The intricate canals and an up close and personal look of Kerala’s village life during cruising gives an exciting insight into Kerala’s rural setup.
Kumarakom: Here, you get to cruise on the vast Vembanad Lake and enjoy a sense of tranquility and space with undisturbed views of the lake, surrounding greenery, clear blue skies, and colorful sunsets. Kumarakom backwater cruises also take you through mangrove-covered lagoons, around paddy fields, and past plenty of Chinese fishnets tossed into the sprawling lake.
Local attractions
Alleppey: One gets to relish a quaint mix of Kerala’s historical and cultural significance on a backwater cruise in Alleppey. You see attractions and places like the Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal Island, Kuppuram Village, Kuttithode, and Kainkari respectively.
Kumarakom: The chief attractions you see on a backwater cruise in Kumarakom are its natural mangrove marshes, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary bird, and the vast Vembanad Lake. You can also include visits to Kumarakom Beach and the Bay Island Driftwood Museum in your Kumarakom backwater package.
Popularity & crowd
Alleppey: Because it’s popular, Alleppey is a little crowded and noisy.
Kumarakom: Though a little on the expensive side, Kumarakom is much more peaceful and serene, offering visitors secluded spaces and privacy.
Culinary delights
Alleppey: Alleppey, being a coastal location, offers more options for seafood. Also, it has several restaurants catering to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian people, courtesy of the fact that it’s more urbanized and popular as compared to Kumarakom.
Kumarakom: Kumarakom provides more authentic Keralan flavors in its dishes, with a rather local touch and preparations. Though the variety of both the cuisine and the restaurants isn’t as vast as that of Alleppey, the food here is unique and traditional.
The best time to visit
Whether you’re visiting Alleppey or Kumarakom, the winter season from November to March is the ideal period to plan a trip. The weather is pleasant, cool, and dry during this time, appropriate for activities like backwater cruising, birdwatching, canoeing, sightseeing, and engaging in watersports.
Ideal timing for houseboat rides
Alleppey: For night cruises and stays, Alleppey is a better choice. Alleppey has a choice of luxury houseboats with A/C bedrooms, onboard dining, and luxury interiors to make your night journeys special. Row over the narrow backwaters during a pretty sunset and get a comfortable sleep at night when the boat docks!
Kumarakom: Since it offers expansive views of the vast Vembanad Lake with lovely greenery all around and a vivid sunset, it’s more suited for daytime cruises. You can choose to get down midway for lunch or enjoy a lavish and traditional meal on deck.
You can also pick from Alleppey or Kumarakom based on your duration of stay. In fact, for a long duration of stay, you can choose to experience the magic of both these locations! Let us see how these two places compare for different stay durations.
Which is best for 1 night in a Kerala houseboat, Kumarakom or Alleppey?
Alleppey is the best if you want to stay overnight, while Kumarakom would be a better choice if you wish to do a day cruise to explore the culture and the rural scene.
Which is best for 2 nights in a Kerala houseboat
If you are looking for a 2 night backwater experience, it is better to spend 1 night in a houseboat in Alleppey with an overnight stay over the backwaters and the other night in a luxury resort in Kumarakom so that you can get the best of both worlds!
Both of these pristine destinations are charming in their own way. Whichever place you pick – Alleppey or Kumarakom – you’ll end up having the most memorable holiday experience of your life. Plan your trip with us and enjoy the luxuries of both these places during your trip to Kerala.
