Alleppey · How to Reach

Alleppey is well connected by rail and road along Kerala's densely populated coastal corridor, and it sits within easy reach of a major international airport, so getting there is rarely difficult. The one thing to understand up front is that the final, best part of any journey here often happens on water — but you arrive by conventional transport first.

By train. Alappuzha railway station (station code ALLP) lies on the Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line and is about four kilometres from the town centre and the boat jetties. It is well served by trains running up and down the Kerala coast — to and from Ernakulam (Kochi), Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and beyond — and by longer-distance services that link Kerala with the rest of India. For a scenic and inexpensive approach, the short hop from Ernakulam is popular. Because live timetables and seat availability change constantly, check current trains and fares in the search box on this page rather than relying on a fixed schedule.

By road. Alleppey is linked by the NH-66 coastal highway and a web of state roads. Approximate driving distances and times: Kochi (Ernakulam) around 55 km, roughly 1.5 hours; Kottayam around 40 km, roughly 1–1.5 hours; Kollam around 85 km, roughly 2 hours; and Thiruvananthapuram around 155 km, roughly 3.5–4 hours. Kerala's state buses (KSRTC) and private buses run frequently along these routes, and private taxis are widely available. Traffic through the towns can be slow, so build in a buffer, especially on the busier stretch toward Kochi.

By air. The practical air gateway is Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery, near Kochi, about 75–85 km north of Alleppey (roughly 1.5–2 hours by road). It is Kerala's busiest airport, with wide domestic connections and a good spread of international flights, and prepaid taxis and app cabs run from there to Alleppey. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) to the south is an alternative, a longer drive of about three to four hours. Confirm current routes and transfer times before you plan around them.

By water. This is the fun part. Alleppey is a hub of Kerala's State Water Transport network and private cruise operators, and boats are a genuine mode of arrival and departure, not just a tourist novelty. Government passenger ferries connect Alleppey with backwater villages, and the celebrated long-distance tourist cruise between Alleppey and Kollam (about eight hours across the open backwaters) is one of the classic ways to move on south. Houseboats and smaller cruise boats depart from the jetties near the town centre.

Getting around once you arrive. Within Alleppey, auto-rickshaws are the everyday workhorse for short hops between the station, jetties, beach and town; app-based cabs and taxis handle longer runs and airport transfers. Distances in town are short and the layout is flat, so many travellers happily walk the canal-side lanes or rent a bicycle. For anything on the water — a houseboat, a shikara-style cruise boat, or a village canoe (kayak) tour — you book through your accommodation or at the jetties. Agree fares in advance for autos and confirm exactly what a boat booking includes before you commit.