Mirror still lagoons, picture book lakesides, Palm fringed canals and shores bustling with glimpses from the day to day life in the country side Alappuzha the Venice of the East welcomes you to the backwaters of kerala It is emerging as a hot spot of the millennium Indeed she is gifted geographically to spread a unique tourist menu before a discriminating tourist .

Today Alappuzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year. Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad. The land of lush paddy fields, Kuttanad is called the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level.

During the 16th century small principalities like Kayamkulam (presently Karthikappally and Mavelikkara taluks), Purakkad which was often called Ambalappuzha or Chempakasseri (present Ambalappuzha and part of Kuttanadu taluk) Karappuram comprising two principalities called Moothedath and Iledath (present Cherthala taluk) emerged into power. In the same period, the Portuguese came into prominence in the political scene of this district and they built several churches of which churches located at Purakkad and Arthungal are wellknown.

In the 17th century, the Portuguese power declined and the Dutch had a predominant position in the principalities of this district. As a result of several treaties signed between the Dutch and the kings of Purakkad, Kayamkulam and Karappuram, the Dutch built factories and warehouses in various places of the district for storing pepper, ginger,etc. In course of time they interfered in the political and cultural affairs of the district. It was at that time Maharaja Mathandavarma, the 'Master of Modern Travancore' interfered in the political affairs of those principalities.

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