Situated 64 km. south of Kochi, this district has a long coastal strech. Alappuzha has a large network of canals and is a centre for backwater cruises in Kerala. Alappuzha has earned fame in the commercial world as the world's chief supplier of coir. The temples of Alappuzha represent the Kerala style of architecture. Some of the most exquisite specimens of Kerala murals are still preserved here. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the most colourful of the boat races, is held here on the second Saturday of August every year.