Alleppey, Kerala.

The sight of boats racing towards the finish line as each boatman slams his oar into the water to a rhythmic chant. In the background, the crowd erupts into loud roars punctuated by loud silences as the happiness of the teams supporting them rises and falls throughout the afternoon. One team finally prevails over the others and crosses the finish line as the winner. The most defining image of Alappuzha or Alleppey is undoubtedly the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Here, the traditional snake boats engage in a fierce battle for supremacy, punctuated by occasional playfulness. But it is the famous backwaters of Alleppey that regularly attract tourists from all over the world. They make their way to one of the many houseboats, gently rocked by the waves under the lazy sun, to relax. 

Here they become part of an intricate water network of canals, lagoons, backwaters, and beaches. As far as the eye can see, they are surrounded only by the sea. This is what earned Alleppey the title "Venice of the East".