Shikara Ride from Kochi: Planning the Day Trip
A shikara ride from Kochi as a day trip: about 55 km to Alleppey, 50 minutes by train from Ernakulam, and which start time fits your arrival.
A shikara ride from Kochi fits easily into a day trip. Alleppey is about 55 km south by road, and direct trains from Ernakulam Junction take about 50 minutes. The boat leaves from Punnamada Finishing Point, a short ride from the station. This page works out which start time suits the way you travel, and how to make the rest of the day count.
Getting there
Kochi to the shikara
- By road
- About 55 km from Kochi
- By train
- About 50 min from Ernakulam Junction
- Station to jetty
- About 6.6 km
- Bus stand to jetty
- About 2.5 km
- From Cochin airport
- About 80 km, around 2 hours
- The ride
- 2, 3 or 4 hours, from ₹2,000 per boat
Start times
Which start suits a day from Kochi
| Back at the jetty | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise, 6:00 AM | 8:00 to 10:00 AM | Guests who stay in Alleppey the night before |
| Morning, 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM | An early start from Kochi |
| Afternoon, 12:00 PM | 2:00 to 4:00 PM | An easy morning, with lunch on the way |
| Sunset | 6:30 PM | Seeing the evening light, back in Kochi at night |
Each start works for a 2, 3 or 4-hour ride; the earlier time in each row is the 2-hour finish. On holidays and peak dates only the 2-hour ride runs.
Choosing your start
The Afternoon start at 12:00 PM is the easiest from Kochi. You can travel down in the morning without rushing, ride through the middle of the day and be on your way back by mid-afternoon. A Kerala lunch can be arranged on request, and you pay for the food at the stop.
The Sunset start suits a longer day. The ride is back by 6:30 PM, and the 3-hour ride from 3:30 PM is the one that reaches Vembanad Lake as the sun goes down. From October to January the sun sets at about 6:00 to 6:20 PM, while you are still on the water. The sunset shikara ride page has the time for every month.
The Morning start at 9:00 AM works if you leave Kochi early, and frees the afternoon for the town or the beach. The Sunrise start at 6:00 AM is really for guests already in Alleppey, since it would mean leaving Kochi before dawn.
Getting to Punnamada Finishing Point
Every shikara ride starts and ends at Punnamada Finishing Point, the same jetty the houseboats use. It is about 6.6 km from Alappuzha railway station and about 2.5 km from the KSRTC bus stand. It is not the State Water Transport ferry jetty in town, near the bus stand: shikaras and houseboats do not leave from there. Directions and landmarks are on the boarding point page.
Straight from Cochin airport
Cochin International Airport is about 80 km from Alleppey, around two hours by road. If you land in the morning, the Afternoon or Sunset start gives you time to reach the jetty. Our Kochi to Alleppey houseboat page covers the same journey for a houseboat check-in.
Making a day of it
A 2-hour ride leaves most of the day free. Alappuzha lighthouse, built in 1862 and 28 m tall, is open to climb and has a museum beside it. Marari beach is about 11 to 14 km north of the town, and the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple, known for its palpayasam, is 14 km south. The Alleppey travel guide has more.
If one day is not enough, an overnight houseboat checks in at 12:00 PM from the same jetty. A 2-hour Morning ride is back by 11:00 AM, an hour before you board.
On holidays and peak dates
On holidays and peak dates, such as 20 December to 10 January, Diwali week and Onam, only the 2-hour ride runs, at ₹3,000 for the boat. The four start times stay the same, so a holiday day trip from Kochi still works; it is just the shorter route.
Booking from Kochi
Send your date, the start you want, the ride length and the number of guests on WhatsApp. We confirm the slot with the boat, and a ₹1,000 advance holds it for your group. The balance is paid at check-in. If your train or road time is uncertain, tell us when you expect to arrive and we will suggest the start that fits.
FAQ
Kochi day trip questions, answered.
Can I do a shikara ride as a day trip from Kochi?
Yes. Alleppey is about 55 km from Kochi by road, and direct trains from Ernakulam Junction take about 50 minutes. A 2 or 3-hour ride fits comfortably into the day.
Which shikara timing is best from Kochi?
The 12:00 PM Afternoon start is the easiest, with time to travel down in the morning. For the evening light, the Sunset start is back by 6:30 PM.
How far is the shikara jetty from Alleppey railway station?
About 6.6 km. Rides leave from Punnamada Finishing Point, which is also about 2.5 km from the KSRTC bus stand.
Can I go straight from Cochin airport to a shikara ride?
Yes, if the timing works. The airport is about 80 km away, around two hours by road, so a morning flight fits the Afternoon or Sunset start.
Coming from Kochi?
Tell us when you expect to reach Alleppey on WhatsApp, and we will suggest the start that fits.