Alappuzha District
Alappuzha has a coastal and low-lying landscape shaped by canals, rivers, Kuttanad’s paddy-growing region and waterways linked to Vembanad Lake.
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Topography Describes the district’s coast, lowlands, rivers, water bodies and Kuttanad. Government source: FAO: Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System Describes Kuttanad as a wider wetland agricultural system with rice cultivation below sea level.
District overview
Area
1,414 sq km
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: District Profile Lists the district area as 1,414 sq km.
Population (Census 2011)
2,127,789
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Demography Lists the total population as 2,127,789 in the 2011 Census. Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Alappuzha, Part B Primary Census Abstract for Alappuzha district.
Sex ratio (Census 2011)
1,100 females per 1,000 males
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Demography Lists a Census 2011 sex ratio of 1,100 females per 1,000 males. Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Alappuzha, Part B Primary Census Abstract for Alappuzha district.
Population density (Census 2011)
1,504 persons per sq km
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Demography Lists a Census 2011 population density of 1,504 persons per sq km. Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Alappuzha, Part B Primary Census Abstract for Alappuzha district.
Headquarters
Alappuzha
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: District Profile Lists Alappuzha as the district headquarters.
Economy
Kerala Tourism traces Alappuzha’s commercial coir production to 1859.
Source: Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Coir Manufacturing in Alappuzha Describes Alappuzha’s role in Kerala’s coir industry and traces commercial production to 1859.
Climate
The District Administration reports an average monthly temperature of 25°C and average rainfall of 2,763 mm.
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Topography Reports average monthly temperature and average district rainfall.
District background
History
Alappuzha district was formed on 17 August 1957 from parts of the former Kottayam and Kollam districts. The District Administration attributes the development of the modern town to Dewan Rajakesavadas in the second half of the 18th century. Its history page describes Kuttanad as known from the early Sangam period and records ancient trade links with Greece and Rome; it also relates the reported “Venice of the East” sobriquet to Lord Curzon’s visit.
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: History Records district formation in 1957 and attributes the modern town’s development to Dewan Rajakesavadas. Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: District Profile Lists the district formation date as 17 August 1957.
Geography
The District Administration describes Alappuzha as a coastal, low-lying district with 82 km of coastline, scattered eastern hillocks, no highland area, and water bodies covering 13% of the district. Major rivers include the Manimala, Pamba and Achankovil. Kuttanad is a wider below-sea-level farming region extending beyond Alappuzha into parts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. Vembanad Lake also crosses district boundaries.
Source: Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Topography Supports the coastline, lowland, hillock, water-body and climate figures. Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Rivers and Lakes Identifies the Manimala, Pamba and Achankovil among the district’s major rivers. Government source: FAO: Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System Describes Kuttanad’s below-sea-level wetland farming system. Research source: M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation: Kuttanad Wetland System Study (2007) Describes the Kuttanad Wetland System across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Vembanad Lake States that Vembanad Lake extends across Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.
Culture
Alappuzha is associated with the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada Lake; Kerala Tourism traces its origin to Nehru’s 1952 visit. Kerala Tourism dates commercial coir production in the district to 1859 and lists the Thakazhi Museum among its Alappuzha cultural centres.
Source: Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Nehru Trophy Boat Race Locates the annual race at Punnamada Lake and traces its origin to Nehru’s 1952 visit. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Coir Manufacturing in Alappuzha Describes Alappuzha’s coir industry and its commercial history. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Cultural Centres Lists the Thakazhi Museum in Alappuzha.
Popular Attractions
Source: Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Alappuzha Beach Identifies the beach’s historic pier and lighthouse. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Marari Beach Locates Marari Beach in Alappuzha district. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Vembanad Lake Describes Vembanad Lake across Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Pathiramanal Locates Pathiramanal Island in Alappuzha’s Vembanad backwaters. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Kuttanad Describes Kuttanad’s paddy fields and below-sea-level farming. Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Nehru Trophy Boat Race Identifies Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha as the race venue. Government source: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships: Alappuzha Lighthouse Lists the Alappuzha Lighthouse.
Attractions by type in Alappuzha
District Services
Sources
- Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: District Profile District area, headquarters and formation date.
- Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Demography Census 2011 population, density and sex ratio.
- Government source: Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Alappuzha, Part B Primary Census Abstract for Alappuzha district.
- Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: History District formation and attributed historical account.
- Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Topography Coastline, landforms, water bodies, rainfall and temperature.
- Government source: Alappuzha District Administration: Rivers and Lakes Major rivers and lakes.
- Government source: FAO: Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System Below-sea-level Kuttanad wetland agriculture system.
- Research source: M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation: Kuttanad Wetland System Study (2007) Regional study describing the Kuttanad Wetland System across three districts.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Kuttanad Kuttanad paddy-growing region and below-sea-level farming.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Vembanad Lake Lake location and district extent.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Nehru Trophy Boat Race Race location and history attributed to the 1952 visit.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Coir Manufacturing in Alappuzha Alappuzha’s commercial coir industry.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Cultural Centres Lists the Thakazhi Museum in Alappuzha.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Alappuzha Beach Historic pier and lighthouse at Alappuzha Beach.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Marari Beach Marari Beach in Alappuzha district.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Pathiramanal Pathiramanal Island in Alappuzha’s Vembanad backwaters.
- Government source: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships: Alappuzha Lighthouse Official lighthouse listing.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Locates Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in Kottayam district.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Locates Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Akathiyoor Locates Akathiyoor in Porkulam Panchayat, Thrissur district.
- Tourism authority: Kerala Tourism: Chelakkara Locates Chelakkara in Thrissur district.
- Government source: Ernakulam District Administration: Places of Interest Lists Chennamangalam destinations under Ernakulam district.
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