There is no road to this house. That is the first thing you need to know, and it is either the best or the worst part of coming here, depending on how...

The mist sits on the lake until about half past six, and then the first diesel engine starts somewhere off to the east. A vallam heading to the market...

Last week a guest asked me, halfway through her second cup of tea, whether the food was included or if they should plan to eat out in Alleppey town. I...

A guest asked me last week, standing on the jetty with her bag still on her shoulder, whether we had a pool. I said no. She looked at the water all around...

I walk down to the jetty most evenings around six. It's about forty steps from the veranda, past the coconut stump where the kingfisher sits, and by then...

Rain on a tin roof has its own grammar. Slow at first, then a steady drumroll, then something closer to applause. I'm writing this on the veranda with a...

The mist sits on the lake until about seven. Before that, you only hear things — a kingfisher, the drip off the roof, and then the first diesel engine of...

Last updated: September 2026 Yes, Alleppey and Alappuzha are the same place. Alappuzha is the official Malayalam name of the town and district in Kerala. Alleppey is the older, anglicised name from British times. You will see both on maps, train tickets, booking sites and road signs, and both mean exactly the same town. Here […]

Last updated: September 2026 How much does a trip to Alleppey cost? It depends mostly on two things: where you sleep, and whether you book a houseboat. Everything else, like food, boats and local transport, is fairly affordable. This guide breaks down every cost, shows what drives each price up or down, and gives worked […]