Also described as the “Venice of the East”, Alleppey is an important tourist destination – the centre for backwater tourism. A large network of inland canals provide Alleppey its lifeline. Alleppey was a busy center of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar coast. It is the centre for Coir carpet industries and prawn farming. A boat cruise along the serene backwaters of Alleppey offers a first hand experience of the life style and activities of the locals – paddy farming, toddy tapping, fishing for small fry, coir making, prawn farming etc. – a life style that has remained more or less unchanged over the years

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