Johnson’s

Alappuzha (Alleppey)


This quirky longtime favourite, run by the gregarious Johnson Gilbert, is a rambling two-storey family residence with themed rooms, old-school furniture, hanging chairs, outdoor bathtubs and hydromassage showers, overlooking a garden with an open-air barbecue and a pet horse. Johnson also has an excellent 'eco-houseboat' (http://ecohouseboat.com; for two people ₹9000 to ₹14,000).


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Nearby Alappuzha (Alleppey) attractions

1. RKK Memorial Museum

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In a grand building fronted by Greco-Roman columns, this intriguing museum houses a priceless, astonishing collection of crystal, porcelain, South Indian…

2. Alleppey Lighthouse

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A few blocks back from the beach, the candy-striped 1862 lighthouse contains a small museum with an original oil lamp, but is best visited for the 360…

3. Alleppey Beach

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Alleppey's main beach is 2km west of the city centre; swimming is fraught due to strong currents, but the sunsets are good and there are a few places for…

6. Kidangamparamba Temple

1.07 MILES

Dedicated to the goddess Bhuvaneshvari, this major Hindu temple in central Alleppey has a soaring, rainbow-coloured Tamil Nadu–style gopuram.

7. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

11.21 MILES

This reserve on the 5-hectare site of a former rubber plantation on Vembanad Lake is the haunt of a variety of domestic and migratory birds. October to…

8. St Mary’s Syrian Knanaya Church

14.23 MILES

Perched on a low-lying riverside hill 2km northwest of central Kottayam, this bright-white church was founded in 1550 by Syrian Knanaya Christians (the…