This famous boat race of Kerala takes place on the second Saturday of August each year. It’s held on Vembanad lake to the east of the town. Tickets for the race are available on the day from numerous ticket stands on the way to the lake where the race is held. The race is now repeated during the January tourist season as the ingeniously named Tourism Snakeboat Race.
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple is called the ‘Dwaraka’ of the South. The Ambalappuzha ‘Palpayasam’ is renowned for its unique taste and deliciousness. The temple is situated very near to the national highway about 10kms south of Alappuzha town. The annual festival of the temple falls in the month of April every year and Ottamthullal, Chakiyarkuthu, Krishnanattam and Velakali, the ancient traditional visual arts of Kerala are some of the special features on the occasion.
At Karumady, 3kms east of Ambalppuzha there is a statue of Buddha called Karumady Kuttan which attracts tourists from all parts of the world.
Arthungal is famous for St. Sebastian’s Church which is situated south-west of Shertallai town, 22kms north of Alappuzha. The famous Arthungal Perunnal is held in January every year.
There is a famous Mahadeva Temple at Chengannur. The ‘Thripoothe Arattu’ festival of Chengannur Devi Temple is very famous. A special phenomenon is observed on the Devi idol on certain days and the ‘Thripoothe Arattu’ is celebrated on these occasions.
Chettikulangara is famous for the temple there and for the ‘Kettukazhcha’ in connection with the annual festival.
It is an ancient cultural centre of the district. The Siva temple at Kandiyur is famous.
The Mullakkal Devi Temple , in the centre of the town , is linked to the legends of the goddess who is believed to have appeared at the site many times to care for a jasmine plant. Each year there is a 12 day festival, around the time of December full moon. The statue of Buddha near Mavelikkara Sreekrishna Swamy Temple is preserved as an archeological monument. ‘Sarada Mandiram’ the palace built by Kerala Panini A.R. Rajaraja Varma is located near the town. The Ravi Varma institute of Fine Arts is a prestigious institution of the district.
Pallana Kumarakodi is the place where Kerala’s poet Kumaran Asan takes his eternal rest. It is now preserved as ‘Asan Smarakam’ by the State Cultural Department.
Pathiramanal is an island having 60acres of area in the Vembanad Lake.
The small Jain community in Alappuzha constructed a new temple in 1990.