We started the 2 days trip for Kerala backwater from Bangalore.
Day 1: Bangalore - Kottayam train friday night. After reaching kottayam Saturday morning hired an Auto to reach Illikalam resort at Kumarakom.
Autoes charge by meter (both sides) even if you hire them for city outskirts. Illikalam lake resort is very good and economical, all cottages are lake facing same as shown on their website. They charged 2250+tax for double bed/day.
They will provide hammock and fishing rod for Rs 50 each which is worth. Food is good and economical. We tried chicken stew, parora, Karimeen fry (lake fish). They will provide fruit and coconut from their organic garden. Owner and staff is very helping.In the even8ing, we visited Kumarakom bird sanctury is 2-3 KM from resort, good place maintained by KTDC, though we could not see birds since it was March end.
Day 2: From Resort ot Kottayam ferry stop by auto, resort people will arrange auto anytime on your request.From Kottayam-Alleppey there are ferry services, well maintained and very economical (23 Km for 10 Rs/ Person). Whole journey will take around 2-3 hrs and pass through several canals and lakes. From ferry stop to Alleppey beach is 3.5 Km which is .7 Km away from Alleppey railway station.
Alleppey beach is small one but clean. Best part is beach facing Indian Coffee house. Alleppey - Bangalore train Saturday night.Few Tips: If looking for lake view resorts go to Kumarakon, its having 10-15 resort within 2-3 Km on Vembanad lake. Motor boat ride (300 Rs / hour) or house boat ride (1000 Rs / hour) can be availed.
If looking for houseboat go to Alleppey, there are 100s of houseboat near Alleppey Ferry Stop. I dont thing all of them have online booking facility, so can be booked by looking at real product and with good bargain on arrival, couldnt get good deal online.