Alleppey to Ernakulam

tgvns

Hi,

I am planning to be visit Kerala in August (mostly 1st week. Here is my itenary. please advice me if this is possible.

Travel to Ernakulam
Ernakulam -> Munnar
Munnar -> Kumarkom (stay at resort)
Kumarkom -> Alleppey (drive to Alleppey for boat race)
Alleppey -> Ernakulam (Houseboat -> is this possible?)

Thanks in advance

vandy

Hello & Welcome to IM.

Every thing in your itinery is fine Except for the
last bit.

It's not possible to take a Houseboat from Allepey
to Ernakulam.Possible to take a Speedboat but not
Houseboat.Taxi is best bet,1hr Journey.

Instead of using car from Kumarakom to Allepey you
MAY want to use a Public Ferry for something different.

Rgds

vandy

bruce3404

I can echo what Vandy said and will add that the cost of a cab is around $25 for the trip. I went from the houseboat docks into Kochi (which is roughly the same distance as Ernakulam. I did this trip in late November, 2008, so the price should be about the same and I got a nice, big Ambassador for that price.
For the longer trips, I would also suggest that you find an older driver; they seem to be content with the fare and won't drive like crazy to try to squeeze a few more fares into their day. BTW, be sure you have accomodation for the Nehru Trophy boat race; it's by far the biggest annual event in the region and people travel long distances to attend.

Keralan

Dear tgvns,


you can get into the houseboat from Kumarakom resort , as most of the resort has boat jettys where you can board the houseboat

there is no ferry service as of now between Alleppey and Kumarakom .you have ferries between Alleppey - Kottayam and Kumarakom- Muhamma (Muhamma is 13 kms north of Alleppey and is the opposite place on the western side of the lake )

taking houseboat to Ernakulam ( outskirts) is possible from Alleppey but will be very expensive during the time you are coming as it is high season for houseboats due to the Nehru trophy boat race
better do the Alleppey - Alleppey round or
Kumarakom - Alleppey trip as you are planning for one night stay

book your boat in advance as well as the accomodation in Alleppey
second saturday of August ( this year on 8th) is the Nehru trophy boat race

get your tickets in the tourist pavillion as mentioned in one of the threads here as there will be huge crowd

tgvns

Thank you all for your replies.

I was thinking of cutting the travel time from Alleppy to Ernakulam, so that I can spend more time in Cochi/Ernakulam siteseeing before I catch the train in Ernakulam. Is there any nearest place to Ernakulam the house boats go to?

I have a car and I thought the driver can drive to the destination and wait for us when we check out from house boat.

btw - how much time each leg of my travel take?

Since I will be going in monsoon season, what precautions do I need to take? and what should I carry? any suggestions?


Thanks in advance

kalbarri

a plug in mmossie repeller, for starters. you buy them in india and they have a refill bottle commonly available.i used to plug mine in before sunset and leave it on for a few hours or overnight. very effective. not sure what it does to humans who inhale it, though.

machan

My friend and his wife is in Cochin for 2 days during November.They reach Cochin Sunday Midnight and have to leave wednesday morning. They are interested in doing house boat trip and anything else possible in this 2 days.
Any advice?

Can they go for house boat trip from EKM? Are these house boat only day trip or is it possible for I night stay?

Thanks machans

bsprasad

Yes,

There are house boat trips available. The only thing is they may charge you a little more to pick you from Ernakulam.

Please check other links under Houseboat and Kerala for more details.