Punnamada Alappuzha Private Car and Canoe Tour

Upon your arrival, our representative will meet, receive and help to board your private shikkara boat. We start our journey from Rajeev Jetty and enter Punnamada lake. This is a big lake cum river, famous for the annual Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race held every August.

Embark on a picturesque cruise from the tranquil Punnamada Lake, heading towards the charming Vilakkumaram Jetty. As you glide along, look to your left, where you’ll catch sight of the legendary Vilakkumaram—a name that translates to “lamp on a tree” in Malayalam, derived from the words Vilakku (lamp) and Maram (tree). This glowing beacon marks an ancient waterway that once connected Quilon (now Kollam) to Kochi. Long before electricity lit up the land, these waterways served as crucial trade routes, with the Vilakkumaram lighting the way for boats carrying goods across the water. These lamps help guiding boatmen safely through the misty channels. Today, only a few of these beacons remain—two in Alleppey and one in Kumarakom—preserving a piece of history that still guides travelers. From here, you’ll take a right turn and continue your voyage through these timeworn paths, where the serenity of the old waterway will sweep you back into a world of rich history and unspoiled beauty.

After about an hour of serene cruising, your Shikkara will gently turn left, entering a narrow canal with a width of around 40-45 feet, known as Irumbanam Thod. This charming waterway connects Alleppey’s Punnamada Lake to the tranquil waters of Chambakkulam. As you glide along, you’ll be enveloped by the lush green expanse of paddy fields on both sides, offering a true taste of rural Kerala’s natural beauty. Soon, your Shikkara will enter the peaceful Meenappally Kayal—a picturesque lake whose name means "Fish Lake" in Malayalam. This serene spot is perfect for a peaceful break, and if you wish, the boat will pause for a photo session to capture the stunning surroundings. The lake’s scenic beauty is complemented by an extended walkway on the opposite bank, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll or more photos. It’s a hidden gem, offering an intimate glimpse of Kerala’s peaceful rural life.

We now head towards a small canal near Muttle Bridge. You’ll be amazed to see a very narrow bridge gracefully connecting both sides of the canal. After crossing the muttle bridge, we will enter a big river and shikkara cruise will end here and pave way for a narrow canal cruise by canoe boat.

Our open canoe awaits to take you on a thrilling cruise through the narrow canals! Step off the shikkara boat and hop into the open canoe as we set off across the scenic Pamba River toward the entrance of the Kuttamangalam Canal.

As we approach the low bridge, you’ll need to gently kneel and bow a little so the canoe can glide gracefully underneath. Soon, you’ll find yourself drifting through a charming waterway barely 10–12 feet wide, winding its way through the lively, close-knit villages of Kuttamangalam.

Chavara Bhavan, is both a pilgrimage shrine and a small cultural-historical complex built around the ancestral home of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara. Chavara Bhavan preserves the birthplace and original house of Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805–1871), a 19th-century Catholic priest, educator and social reformer who co-founded the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and helped establish the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel (CMC). Chavara’s reforms in education, social uplift and his role in Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Church made him an influential figure; he was beatified and later canonised, and his birth home is treated as a sacred memorial.The complex conserves a 250-year-old lamp and other family artifacts that connect visitors to the everyday world Chavara came from. Enter the shrine and museum: Spend time in the preserved birth home, view the old lamp and any memorabilia or exhibits that explain Chavara’s life and work. The small display helps bring the era and the man to life.

Left side see this higher secondary local school. During this Kuttamangalam canal cruise, visit lush paddy fields, charming local villages, witness village life, birdwatching, traditional homes, temples. Best place to spot birds like Brahminy Kite (white red eagle), kingfishers, woodpeckers, and parrots.

Another attraction is the 200yrs old traditional home converted as a home stay. This is on the right side.

The last is a local govt hospital, where treatment is completely free for all citizens of Kerala.

Mundakkal bridge, built recently to connect Kainakari south village to the main land Alleppey. You will be cruise underneth of this bridge. Right side you can see a huge water tank, which provides safe water for local people in South Kainakari village. Hope you might had a chance to see the Kainakari village in Alleppey. The open boat will reach the same place where the shikkara is waiting for you. Alight from open boat and board shikkara.

After half an hour cruise through be pamba river, the shikkara will reach Munnattumugam, a place where you can see the vast and biggest fresh water lake in Alleppey called Vembanadu lake. Also you can see many local shopes alongside Munnarttumugam.

The shikkara will enter a small river and we will stop at Gauri Restaurent. This tea shop provide local coffee/tea and snacks. We will stop here for 15-20mins, you will get complimentary tender coconut or coffee /tea and local snacks. Start again and reach Punnamada lake.

Your shikkara glide thorugh famous Punnamada lake, the iconic venue of the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race — one of Kerala’s most celebrated events. The journey starts near the bridge and glides along the scenic waterways all the way to the boat race finishing point. As you cruise through the tranquil waters, enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake, the lush greenery, and glimpses of local village life along the banks.

After crossing the finishing point, your shikkara will gracefully return to the same spot where the journey began. We hope you enjoyed this peaceful and memorable experience with us — a perfect glimpse into the timeless beauty of Alleppey’s backwaters.