A striking example of the indigenous agricultural engineering know-how, here cultivation and habitation are made possible at four to ten feet below the sea level.  For this purpose extensive land has been reclaimed from the backwaters and is protected by dikes built around it.  A leisurely cruise along the canals here is a memorable experience.
Alappuzha or Aleppey was once the busiest coast south of Mumbai, and its canals and backwaters helped in the passage of cargo - be it tea, rubber or other produces from the hills - to the sea.