Alappuzha Backwaters host sunset cruise from 5 October

A new sunset cruise will begin on 5 October 2026 across the Alappuzha Backwaters (Alappuzha Kayal) in Alappuzha, India. The State Water Transport Department is adding the service to the existing See Kuttanad operation, creating a new evening option on the region's connected waterways.

The launch date places the cruise within the first week of October, when the backwater network becomes the setting for a scheduled public boat service rather than only a daytime connection. The route links Alappuzha and the Alappuzha-Kainakary section of Vembanad Lake.

Sunset cruise starts on 5 October across Alappuzha

The State Water Transport Department, known as SWTD, announced that the sunset cruise starts on 5 October 2026. It will use the double-decker See Kuttanad boat and add a further trip to the existing service.

The planned departure is at 5.30pm, with the cruise lasting two hours. The announced route passes through Punchiri, Mangalassery, Vembanad Lake and Punnamada Lake, giving the new service a direct connection with several named parts of the water network. The announcement of the October cruise was carried by the Times of India.

The See Kuttanad boat is already part of SWTD's passenger-cum-tourist network. The new departure therefore changes the daily pattern of a public water service, rather than introducing a private excursion operated by a hotel or tour company.

Vembanad and Punnamada define the Alappuzha route

The attraction is a broad network of lakes, canals and lagoons on Kerala's Malabar Coast. The Government of India's tourism portal describes the Backwaters of Alappuzha as a system of five interconnected lakes and 38 rivers.

Vembanad Lake and Punnamada Lake are among the named waters on the announced evening route. This gives the 5 October cruise a clear geographical link to the wider attraction: its programme follows the same connected landscape that defines the Alappuzha Backwaters, rather than stopping at the town's waterfront alone. Further background is provided by the official tourism description.

Traditional boats are also part of the area's history. Tourism authorities describe vessels once used to carry rice and spices through the waterways before they were adapted as houseboats. The new public cruise uses a modern double-decker boat, but follows the same inland geography.

Visiting Alappuzha Backwaters: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The new sunset cruise begins on 5 October 2026 and runs through the Alappuzha-Kainakary section of Vembanad Lake.
• The service is an additional SWTD trip using the double-decker See Kuttanad boat. The announced route includes Punchiri, Mangalassery, Vembanad Lake and Punnamada Lake.
• Alappuzha is the reference town for the cruise. Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport named by the national tourism portal.
• The setting consists of interconnected lakes, rivers, canals and lagoons, so the visit takes place on moving water rather than on a single enclosed attraction.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Alappuzha Backwaters

When does the sunset cruise take place at Alappuzha Backwaters?

The new cruise begins on 5 October 2026. It is scheduled to depart at 5.30pm and last two hours.

Where are Alappuzha Backwaters and how do you get there?

The waterways are in and around Alappuzha in Kerala, India. The nearest airport named by the national tourism portal is Cochin International Airport.

What are Alappuzha Backwaters?

They are a network of lakes, canals and lagoons on Kerala's Malabar Coast. The national tourism portal describes five interconnected lakes and 38 rivers.