The Backwaters region of Kerala is one of southern India’s most intriguing and colourful areas, and the pleasant market town of Alleppey lies right in its heart. Once known as the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey is criss-crossed with canals and dotted with thousands of coconut palms. With the Arabian sea to the west and a vast number of lakes, rivers and lagoons in every other direction, it’s water that makes up the character of this town.

The network of waterways around Alleppey not only provides some wonderful cruising on traditional houseboats, but they are also home to an incredible diversity of birds and other wildlife. At the centre of it all is the impressive Vembanad lake, where visitors can check out the migratory birds at the neighbouring bird sanctuary or simply cruise around the waters enjoying the leisurely pace of life.

Culturally, there are a number of interesting palaces and temples nearby dating from the last raja period in the 1800s, as well as a handful of early Syrian Christian churches from the 1st century AD. Alleppey itself has some nice examples of Keralan architecture, and its quaint streets are pleasant to wander around. But most visitors come here to cruise the waters and bask in the tranquil, laid-back atmosphere that characterises the Backwaters.

Hotels here largely make use of the natural and picturesque surroundings, and you will find upmarket lake resorts featuring coconut palms and lakeside locations. There is also the option of staying at a 100-year-old heritage mansion close to Alappuzha beach, a popular location for hotels.

Alleppey is best reached by air via Cochin, 40 miles (64kms) to the north. Alternatively, visitors can fly into Thiruvananthapuram Airport, located just over 90 miles (150kms) away. Cochin International Airport services flights to limited international destinations including major cities in the Middle East and Sri Lanka.

This culturally rich region of India continued to flourish through the 16th century until the Portuguese arrived on the scene and established themselves as the local rulers. The Portuguese built a number of churches at Purakkad and Arthungal, but by the 17th century their power had waned and the Dutch took over as the colonial rulers of the day.

The Dutch signed treaties with the local kings of the Backwaters region, and were allowed to build warehouses and factories to process and store spices such as pepper and ginger. As they increasingly interfered with cultural and political affairs, however, they were eventually displaced by Maharaja Mathandavarma, who is known as the master of modern Travencore.

He was directly responsible for the commercial and administrative development of Alleppey and the region, which resulted in the cities we see today. Among his many achievements was the building of the Krishnapuram palace, which is now a protected monument. As the canals connecting the sea to the rivers continued to grow and expand, more shops and factories sprang up along the waterways.

Merchants were attracted to the Backwaters from other areas of India, and by the mid-1800s trading vessels were regularly stopping at Alleppey, which was also known then as Alappuzha. Weaving was one of the first industries to flourish in Alleppey, as local coir yarn was used to produce matting for export.

Alleppey’s location in the southern region of India means it has a mild subtropical climate which is balmy all year round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 35°C depending on the month, with around 230cms of rainfall annually.

Visitors can enjoy excellent weather between August and April, when conditions are at their driest and temperatures at their coolest. The yearly monsoon arrives around May, bringing heavy, consistent rains until September. The monsoon season isn’t necessarily unpleasant, however, as everything takes on a lovely hue of green and hotel rates become noticeably lower.