About Alleppey
Described by the fabled Italian traveler Marco Polo as ?Venice of the East?, Alleppey is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons Part of the Kuttanad area, also known as ?the rice bowl of Kerala? with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms, this is one of the few places on earth where cultivation is carried out below sea level. Allepey was the commercial centre of the erstwhile state of Travancore. Export flourished from the port with pepper and timber being the main exports. Alappuzha is a centre for coir industries. Cultural events in Alappuzha include the Chambakkulam Moolam boat race, Chettikulangara Bharani and the Nehru -Trophy boat race. Snake boat races are a traditional event in Alappuzha. The most famous snake boat races are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Champakulam -Moolam Boat Race.
