Alappuzha (Alleppey), Lord Curzon, once claimed, was the Venice of the East. A two hour drive south from Cochin, this town, the sixth largest in Kerala, is strategically located between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters of Kerala and the Vembanad lake. The abundance of water bodies continues through the district as canals and rivers empty into the lake and the sea. Alappuzha hosts the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race, held on the Punnamada Lake on the second Saturday of August every year. The pouplar Alleppey beach was our first stop, a long strech of sand and coconut trees. The beach is very clean, with facilities for restrooms and food options available. For a truly unreal experience, take a camel ride on the beaches of Kerala. Alappuzha is also a every-day working town, unhyped by tourists and thus offers great bargains for shopping. No trip to Kerala is complete without a purchase of spices and the Alappuzha market is filled with them. The scent of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and other exotic spices fill the air and it is definitely worth buying a few grams of it all. The market area also has brick and mortar shops where one can purchase the traditional Kerala set-saree. The golden borders and mango designs on the white sari is a great look.

10 Kilometers north of Alappuzha is Mararikulam, a beach village. It is one of the best kept secrets of Kerala but not for long. This sleepy little village is an idyllic location for a vacation with very few resorts, so you can experience God's own country without the hustle and bustle. Marari beach (Mararikulam beach) is one the best beaches we've ever seen, anywhere in the world. White sand leading up to the water, is bounded by lush coconut trees and a winding lake that snakes inwards from the beach. The coconut trees offer plenty of shade and perfect harness spots for hammocks. If you are stressed out, pack your bags, go to Marari beach, drink some coconut water and relax. The Indian equivalent of a Corona on a Cabo beach.

Your next stop is another 10 kilometers north of Mararikulam. Another sleepy town, Arthunkal, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Kerala. It is considered as a holy land by hundreds of thousands of devotees, of Christian as well as other faith. It is home to one of the most famous churches in Kerala, the Arthunkal St. Andrew's Forane Church, originally built by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. The church was rebuilt in 1584, under the then vicar Fr. Jacoma Fenicio, whom the devotees claim, possessed magical powers to heal the body and mind. Devotees fondly referred to him as Arthunkal Veluthachan, which in English translates to fair skinned father. Fr. Fenicio died in 1632. Eight years after his death, the church was rebuilt again, this time facing the west towards the long white-sand beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea. In 1647, the idol of St. Sebastian, struck with arrows all over his bleeding body (he was executed at the order of the Roman emperor for embracing Christian faith) sculptured in Milan, was brought and placed in the Arthunkal church. The church was granted basilica status in 2010 and now sees a constrant stream of visitors and worshippers.

We finished our half-day excursion with a typical Kerala meals, rice with a selection of curries, dals, pickles and sweets, at the Travancore Palace hotel in Cherthala. Built like an heritage Kerala property, the decor is very inviting. The food was good too. Unfortunately, the service was really slow, almost uncaring, and thus a real let-down. The hotel has a wonderful garden and is perfect for that afternoon post-meal relaxation but the customer care really needs to improve. The Alleppey district, is only a few hours from Cochin, and with its own charm, has a lot to offer on its own. Plan to spend a day and definitely use Mararikulam as your base.

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