Venice of the east

“Here nature has spent up on the land her richest bounties. Alleppey, the Venice of the East.” So proclaimed George Nathaniel Curzon, the viceroy and governor-general of British India in the early 1900s. At the heart of Kerala’s economically vibrant and fertile rice bowl, Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, is like no other place in India. Sitting on the Laccadive Sea with the Vembanad Lake to its northeast, Alleppey draws comparison to Venice by virtue of its massive network of freshwater rivers, canals, lakes, and lagoons. Like Kochi, which was and continues to be a pivotal maritime node for Indian Ocean trade, life in Alleppey is intertwined with maritime activity. Ankit Panda is an associate editor at The Diplomat.

The following is a list of places which have been nicknamed List [ ] City/Town Country Photo References Bangladesh China China China China China China China China China India India Indonesia Indonesia Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan Japan Philippines South Korea South Korea South Korea South Korea Thailand See also [ ] • • • • • • References [ ] • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • Seema Nusrat Amin. Depart. No.10. Archived from . Retrieved 2013-11-15. • A Connectivity Index Development for Khal in Dhaka City: Venice of the East: Amazon.co.uk: Jannatul Mauya: 9783659187278: Books. • Wilson, Robert. . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2017-01-03. • "Lijiang - Venice of the East" Lijiang by hooiluangoh". Members.virtualtourist.com. Archived from . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • ^ a b c d . Retrieved 2017-01-03. also chinahighlights.com "The Top 8 Ancient Water Towns Near Shanghai" • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • Nytimes.com. 1988-03-13 . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • Пустыни Казахстана. . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • "Zhouzhuang - Venice of the Orient" Zhouzhuang by zingk". Members.virtualtourist.com. Archived from . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • . Retrieved 2012-10-29. [ permanent dead link] • Alappuzha.com. . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • Faizal Khan (2010-02-04). . Retrieved 2012-10-29. • web.archive.org. September 23, 2016. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016 . Retrieved March 12,...

A view of Suzhou's canals at night © Joe Sills / Lonely Planet A landscape frozen in time It’s no wonder Suzhou made an impression on Polo. Five-and-a-half thousand miles from Venice, the pioneering globetrotter had stumbled upon a mirror image of his home. The waters of this city bustle at night, with fleets of wooden ships ferry goods and visitors through the city’s labyrinth of canals, just as they have for thousands of years. On their banks, a hive of trade and commerce (shops and, increasingly, restaurants) buzz under the dim glow of lantern light. This wealth came primarily from the silk industry, and just as during Polo’s time, weathered hands still work the looms here today. Carefully, they grasp orbs of silk one at a time, reverently removing caterpillars from their cocoons (silk is made from the natural protein fibre that silkworms produce to form cocoons). These hands, like the thousands of hands before them, have been creating some of China’s finest silks since nearly the dawn of recorded history. Visitors can learn more at the Cormorants perched on a fishing boat © Joe Sills / Lonely Planet A familiar way to see the sights Life jackets aside, the traders and merchants of Suzhou remain largely true to their ancient roots. While a sprawling metropolis does span much of the old city’s land area, visitors can still easily lose themselves in narrow aisles of water and stone in its historic, outlying districts, like Tongli, Mudu and Guangfu, where the sound of car h...

By Dave & Deb Bouskill, on October 2, 2013 Bangkok – Venice of the East Known as the “Venice of the East,” is a city that truly beats to the rhythm of the Chao Phraya River. Named by King Rama I as “The River of Kings,” the Chao Phraya River cuts through the heart of Bangkok. It is here that you can visit some of the most extraordinary temples in all of Southeast Asia. Taking to the water when visiting the city is a must. Each time we return to Bangkok we always discover something new along the water’s edge. There are hidden tributaries, known as “klhongs,” that you can discover by hiring a long-tail boat for a day. Within minutes you’ll be transformed from the hustle and bustle of the busy thoroughfare of the Chao Phraya River to a quiet community where time stands still and people live as they have for centuries in stilt houses surrounded by mangrove trees. This is rural Bangkok. It’s almost impossible to imagine that beyond the mangroves, skyscrapers surround us. As we float through the quiet communities, I wonder if these families ever make it out of their little corner of the river to explore any of their own city. Stilt Houses Chao Praya River It is here in the canals that you will see the famous floating markets of Bangkok, where you can buy your lunch for a few cents. You will see fishermen zipping through the narrow passageways, and if you time it right, you may be able to stop and buy some bread from an old woman to feed the frenzy of catfish waiting nearby to sc...

Known as one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilisation, nowadays the region is one of the most prosperous in China, with thriving tech, commerce and textile industries and a population of around 80 million people. “Jiangsu is really a sort of a Chinese microcosm. It has landscapes to offer, as well as large metropolitan areas such as Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi. Plus it has lots of beautiful landscapes, as well as a lot of different kinds of coastal areas, “ says Andy Janz, Director of Marketing & Digital Commerce at Gebeco. “It's really kind of a microcosm in terms of what tourists can see.” So whether you’re interested in learning about Chinese silk production, or want to explore the region’s elegant gardens and waterways - which have earned the city of Suzhou the nickname ‘Venice of the East’ - here are some of our top destinations. When is China reopening to tourists? After a lengthy three year lockdown, the Chinese government announced that it would begin issuing tourist visas again from 15 March. Travellers should be aware that it may take some time to get an appointment and for applications to be processed. Travellers to China will need to take a COVID test within 48 hours of departure in order to enter the country, and all passengers will need to wear a mask on the plane. The Humble Administrator's Garden, Suzhou Canva Just over 90 kilometres from Shanghai, Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin. Nowadays, the city is a thriving trade hub, but its an...

It’s not every day that you chance on a dreamy city like Venice; but when you do, it’s easy to fall in love. This Floating City has been held as a standard for quite a lot of towns around the world — many of which proudly claim the nickname, “The Venice of the East.” So what is it about these cities that allow us to compare them to Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 cities that are known as The Venice of the East 1. Alleppey, India Blessed with an abundance of waterways, India boasts of multiple cities that are hailed as the Venice of the East. One of the most famous cities with this moniker is Alleppey, popularly known as the Venice of Some must-see attractions in Kerala: Eravikulam National Park, Athirappilly Water Falls, Varkala Beach, Chembra, Cherai Beach, Edakkal Caves 2. Udaipur, India Another Venice of the East in India is Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes. Evidently, its scenic waters are responsible for such its title. Breathtaking lake palaces line this city in Rajasthan. And in addition to its royal residences, artificial lakes also lead to the grandeur of Udaipur. Some must-see attractions in Udaipur: City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagmandir, Jagdish Temple, Fateh Sagar Lake, Saheliyon-ki-Bari 3. Ine, Japan An underrated Japanese city, Ine also holds the nickname “the Venice of Japan.” Tranquil waterways sprawl across this sleepy fishing town; wooden boat houses line its water’s edge. Unlike most of its counterparts around the world, I...

The royal ah-you-tah-ya) was a small kingdom in Siam (modern Thailand), and it was an unrivalled commercial and maritime power from 1350-1767 CE. Ayutthaya became the second capital of Siam in 1438 CE when it absorbed the Ayutthaya is in the valley of the Chao Phraya River and is believed to have been established because of a smallpox outbreak. King Ramathibodi I (r. 1351-1369 CE), who was the first king of Ayutthaya, moved his court from the principality of Lop Buri in south-central Siam. What is left of the former kingdom are the ruins contained in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. Portugal was the first European nation to establish commercial contact with Ayutthaya in 1511 CE. Modern Thai cuisine and language reflect Portuguese influence (the Thai word for soap sbū̀, for example, comes from the Portuguese sabão). By the 17th century CE, Ayutthaya was a strong maritime power and a centre for global diplomacy. The Versailles court of Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715 CE) received Ayutthaya's foreign minister, Kosa Ayutthaya also attracted some notable foreigners: the Kim Martins (CC BY-NC-SA) What is left of the former kingdom are the ruins contained in the 289-hectare (714 acres) Ayutthaya Historical Park, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1991 CE. Taking a tour of this park reminds the visitor that Thai-style Before Your Visit If you like taking Instagram-worthy photos, there is no better place to go than the Ayutthaya Historical Park. ...

Surrounded by rivers, lakes and canals, three parts of China comprise a “ Nanxun Nanxun. Creative Commons Escape the tourism crunch of Shanghai in Nanxun, about 70 miles to the west. This water town is a bit different from others in the area: it typically draws smaller crowds and the architecture is a unique mix of traditional Chinese and Western. As you walk along the ancient canals, you’re likely to see locals out playing cards or having some tea. The town dates back to the Tongli Boats on the canal in Tongli. Jennifer Billock Thirty minutes from Suzhou by car, you'll find one of the most well-known water towns in China: Tongli. It’s considered a miniature Venice, with nearly every building on or by a canal. The town itself is composed of seven islets, separated by 15 canals and joined by more than 40 bridges—plus, five lakes surround the town itself. Tongli is more than 1,000 years old, and the Xitang Xitang. Creative Commons Xitang separates itself from other water towns in the area with langpeng, Wuzhen Wuzhen. Creative Commons This town is about 90 miles from Shanghai and sits along the Grand Canal—the longest canal in the world at 1,104 miles, and once the main trade route connecting Hangzhou and Beijing. Zhujiajiao Zhujiajiao. Creative Commons Easily accessible by public transportation from downtown Shanghai, Zhujiajiao is one of the best preserved ancient water towns in the region. It dates back about Qibao Qibao. Creative Commons Located only 10 miles from downto...

Basra: The ‘Venice’ of the East By: Pamela Dimitrova / Arab America Contributing Writer Basra has a long history with a rich culture and an identity distinct from its more northern cousin Baghdad. While Baghdad developed the busy urban character typical of capital cities, this city retained more of a romantic quality and is often called the most beautiful part of Iraq. History ‘The Venice of the East’ Many referred to Basra as the Middle Eastern Venice for its rivers, winding canals, and decorative gondola-shaped boats that bared exported goods and newlyweds. The picturesque qualities of Basra have attracted a number of artists, poets and intellectuals over the years. Early on in its tumultuous history, it was known as a great centre of learning and theology and many figures important to the history of Islam were born or lived there, including the female Sufi mystic Rabia al-Basri and the polymath Alhazen. Perhaps most famously, it is also the city where Sinbad the Sailor began his seven voyages. An island in the river now bears his name in commemoration. An interesting fact is that some people believe Basra is the actual location of the ‘Where Many Paths Meet’ The etymology of Basra is uncertain, but some claim the name comes from Arabic and it means “the over watching” or “the seeing everything”, because of its role as a military base in the ancient past. Some sources suggest it comes from the Persian Bas-rāh or Bassorāh meaning “where many paths meet.” In fiction, the c...

Known as the Venice of the East, Thailand has tropical beaches and opulent royal palaces as well as ancient ruins and ornate temples adorned with Buddha figures. The country’s capital, Bangkok, is an ultramodern city that rises above canalside communities and is home to iconic temples such as the Emerald Buddha Temple. The popular beach resorts of Pattaya and Hua Hin are also nearby. If you have a little time, you can also take in the vibrant nightlife scene in Hua Hin. Bangkok is the Venice of the East If you’re looking for a great city to visit in Southeast Asia, look no further than Once known as the Venice of the East, Bangkok used to have hundreds of canals. These canals, known as Khlongs in Thai, were used for trade, transportation, and communication. European visitors to Bangkok often referred to the city as the “Venice of the East.” You’ll find elderly vendors paddling wooden boats up and down the canals selling noodles, vegetables, and other modern items. While most canals have been converted into roads, some still exist on the Western bank of the Chao Phraya River. A quick taxi ride from the airport to the Bangkok Venice Suite hotel takes 45-60 minutes and costs 200-300 Baht. The customer must pay for toll-way charges. Otherwise, you can take a BTS Skytrain from the airport to Chidlom Station. From there, it’s a short walk down Chidlom Road to the hotel. The hotel is regularly rated as one of the world’s best hotels. Wat Arun If you’re planning a visit to Bangkok...