Vembanad Lake
Waterfront · Alappuzha Town
History & overview
Vembanad Lake (Vembanad Kayal) is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest in India, stretching roughly 96 km across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts. It was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2002 and is among the largest Ramsar sites in India (second only to the Sundarbans). The 1,252 m Thanneermukkom salt-water barrier divides the lake to prevent tidal salinity intrusion into the Kuttanad paddy lands.
Read the full history on Wikipedia ↗
Visiting Vembanad Lake
- Entry
- Free to view; boat/houseboat/shikara cruises charged privately (indicative, confirm locally).
- Timings
- Open natural waterbody; accessible year-round via boat (indicative, confirm locally).
- Getting here
- Accessible from Alappuzha boat jetties by houseboat or shikara; also reachable from Kumarakom (Kottayam side). Nearest railway: Alappuzha (ALLP). Nearest airport: Cochin International, ~82 km.
Best time: October to March; November-February is peak for birdwatching and pleasant cruising.
Fees and timings are indicative — please confirm locally. See getting around Kochi for transport.
Ratings & reviews
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Location
Emergency & help
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)Numbers are official/verified. In any emergency, call 112 first.
Getting here & around
Nearest transport from Vembanad Lake — tap for modes & approximate fares.
Fares are indicative (Kerala MVD / KMRL rates) — confirm in-app or with the driver.