ALAPPUZHA reclaims its Past Glory by Stopping at TOURISM

(This article got Published in Nehru Trophy Boat Race Souvenir in 2012 Issue. The editorial board was headed by the then Alappuzha District Collector. P Venugopal IAS)

Alappuzha, the trade centre in the erstwhile Travancore regime, has basked in the glory of its past leaving behind all its charisma and extravaganza. The present condition of this old port town is quite pathetic even though it is striving hard to reclaim its chances from Tourism. New windows, avenues and vistas now get opened up through Backwater Tourism with its iconic Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), Beach Tourism and Beach Festivals, also as a Conference destination, hospitality slices such as Beach & Lake Resorts, Home Stays, Food and Beverages apart from its retreat call to relax and rejuvenate. All these make Alappuzha to look through the windscreen and not through the rear view mirror as it cruises forward. It also paves the way for the traditional industries like coir, fishing, and agriculture to revive, renovate and refurbish its appeal which had struck a standstill in the past.           

 According to the Kerala Tourism Statistics 2011, Kerala has registered a record arrival of 7, 32,985 foreign and 93, 81,455 domestic tourists, taking tourist arrivals in the the State to over 1 Crore and the revenue generated from the sector to Rs. 19,037 crore. The foreign exchange earnings from the sector had increased from Rs. 3797.37 crore in 2010 to Rs. 4221.99 crore in 2011.The Kerala Tourism Department (DOT-K) could utilise 94.5 per cent of the annual plan funds for tourism last year, which was one of its best performances in the last 20 years. The department has increased the plan funds by Rs. 50 crore and the total plan funds, including those from the Centre, are Rs. 182 crore now. The DOT-K is now eyeing at the formulation of a tourism plan which aims for comprehensive and balanced tourism development in the State within which Backwater Tourism of Alappuzha along with its other myriad prospects has got a noteworthy consign.  As part of making tourist destinations plastic-free, the ‘Clean Destination Campaign' had been kicked off.            

The backwaters of Alappuzha beckons the tourists like anything and the call for cruising and such sort of typical experiences are inimitable and immense. Nearly 1000 houseboats are now there in this sector ferrying tourists through the enchanting backwaters which meanders through the idyllic Vembanad Lake. It also provides an exceptional opportunity for the tourists to explore the classic rustic village life of Kuttanad commonly known as “the rice bowl of Kerala”. The tourists usually feast their eyes through the enthralling canals that crisscross whereby showcasing the rural life of Kuttanad which is renowned as “the land of dykes in Kerala”. Meanwhile the unique cuisine of the backwaters will be a real treat for the tourists in its natural setting. To address the growing needs of the business travellers many conference vessels  also afloat in Lake Vembanad. Acknowledging the fact that the house boat cruise is an elite class game, the DOT-K has come up with so many initiatives in order to reach out to a larger section of tourists. In tandem with the increasing demand for cost effective options for backwater cruising –the State Water Transport Department has  an 8 hour long cruise from Alappuzha to Kollam along with its most popular “See Kuttanad” boat service-both are packed even in lean and shoulder seasons. As compared to the Gondolas of Venice, Alleppey-the Venice of the East has “Shikaras” which has caught the attention of the travellers.           

 The hospitality sector of Alappuzha looks bright and promising as Beach Resorts and Backwater Resorts have their own unique settings and ambience which is equally cherished by tourists as part of their memorable sojourn in Alappuzha. There is a possibility of converting potential cropped areas of the Kuttanad as tourist attractions with minimum intervention and by transferring the benefits of tourism directly to the farmers. The Government’s goodwill gesture to allow 5% of the agricultural area for tourism purpose is a step in the right direction for the industry. The various schemes underway are intended to prepare the agricultural lands of designated areas of Kuttanad to receive tourists by presenting a positive image of agriculture as a whole, in view of revitalising the agriculture sector of Alappuzha through tourism.            

Alappuzha also has religious spots/places and the most interesting are the Buddha Idol at Karumadi, the Krishnapuram Palace which houses one of the largest mural paintings in Kerala-famously known as the “Gajendramoksham”. It is also an abode to a Jain temple where offerings are still going  on and it brings back to the historic past of Alappuzha Port which was a business hub hugely populated by Gujarathi Jains then. The tourists who are on a visit to Alappuzha will not go/leave without having a sip of the  sanctified “Ambalappuzha Palpayasam” at Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple which is truly exceptional. The taste of the sweet porridge is delectable and delicious and the quality matchless.  While visiting the sanctum sanctorum, one can turn back the pages of history and will stumble upon the legacy of Kunchan Nambiar who was renowned as one among the trio of classical Malayalam poetry. The “Mizhavu” that Nambiar had used is still preserved here. A visit to Sree Krishna Temple also helps the visitors to date back to the time of Tippu’s attack on Malabar and even the Krishna idol of  Guruvayoor was kept here for some time as it was safe within the then Chenbakasseri Kingdom. It is still believed that “Guruvayoorappan” comes on every day at Ambalappuzha Temple during Nivedyam at Ucha Pooja. While cruising through the  Pallana Canal, a tributary of Lake Vembanad, the tourists will be grief-stricken by the sight of “Kumarakodi”, the graveyard of the revolutionary bard of Kerala, Kumaranashan who is often compared to Shelley, the revolutionary poet of England. Like Shelley, he was drowned to death while he travelled on a boat named “Redimer”.            

The canals that were live during its wee hours have become places to dump waste, litter, and urinate. Even though some schemes are invoked, now all are in limbo.  A better canal management along with its beautification will be an asset to the tourism in Alappuzha. Backwater Tourism in Alappuzha relies hugely on the Lake Vembanad but the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) shows that it is tumbling down at a faster pace. Most of the House boats do not have any kind of waste management cycling system. A strike that had called by suspending the services in the houseboat sector on June 2012, which employs 2,100 persons directly and about 6,600 persons indirectly, has sent jitters to the tourism industry. Especially in the wake of 60 per cent occupancy during this time in houseboats, one day strike will entail a loss of Rs 25 lakh to the sector.The Vemband-Kol Eco Development Authority (VEDA) will ensure a ‘sustainable and healthy Vembanad socio-ecological system’ which supports its rich biodiversity and the livelihood needs of the Tourism sector too. It will guide the sustainable development of the tourism in the limits of Lake Vembanad. All local bodies will get consulted on matters of environmental implication, land use, and infrastructure development while formulating their annual and five year Plans.            

The much-awaited Alappuzha Marina cum Cargo Port project has run into more rough weather since the project and feasibility report, prepared by Deloitte in consultation with Arrol Consultancies, has reportedly stated that a cargo port had little potential at present and that it would be sensible to give priority to a marina, cashing in on the tourism potential that Alappuzha held. The primary focus should be on the marina, which has to be linked with backwater tourism, utilising the tourism potential of Alappuzha's heritage structures and historic canals. Submerged breakwater systems with water sports and yachting facilities and connecting the same to the canals to take tourists to the backwaters of Kuttanad, were part of Arrol's proposal which is believed to change the course of growth of Alappuzha by stopping at Tourism.