Romantic Alappuzha

Just about an hour outside of Kochi, Alappuzha—popularly referred to as the Venice of the East—is one of the most romantic getaways in the country. Alappuzha’s enduring image is of winding waterways which form a network of canals, lakes and lagoons lined by pine and coconut trees. These canals mark the gateways into Kerala’s backwaters and there’s no better way to explore than board one of the Ketuvallams (traditional houseboats) that run regular routes on the canals. If you’re feeling flush then rent a luxury houseboat (replete with a staff et al) and cruise through the weekend. Disembark at Alappuzha beach to watch the picture-perfect sunset, try and catch a snake-boat race, and walk in for a couples’ therapy session at one of the Ayurvedic wellness centres to round off your visit.