Boat Races In Kerala

Boat races in Kerala are mainly conducted during the season of the harvest festival Onam in autumn. It is a form of canoe racing, and uses paddled war canoes. It includes races of many kinds of paddled longboats, the traditional boats of Kerala.

List of Boat Races

Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race

District: Alappuzha

Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race at Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha. The event is a memorial to the former prime minister. Festival highlights: Colourful water procession Water floats Boat races.

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Kayamkulam, about 5 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha.

Champakkulam Boat Race

Event date: 01-07-2015
Venue: Champakkulam, Alappuzha district
Location: Champakulam
District: Alappuzha

The boat races of Kerala, the largest team sport in the world, impart experience beyond words. In Kerala, the season of boat races starts with the renowned Champakkulam Moolam Vallam Kali (vallam kali means boat race). The festival takes place at Champakkulam, a serene village in Alappuzha district, on the moolam asterism in the Malayalam month of mithunam (roughly June/July).

On the day of the race, people, both locals and travellers from far off places, flock the river bank to enjoy the race. Venturous spirits will ensure a better vantage point by climbing the nearby trees. As the sun comes straight on top of all gathered, boats in various categories like thechundan (snake boat), veppu, iruttu kuthi, churulan and others from nearby regions assemble at the starting point of the race. Among these boats, the snake boats with its fascinating design catch the attention of all.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Event date: 09-08-2014
Venue: Punnamada Backwaters
Location: Punnamada
District: Alappuzha

A regatta in all possible pomp and pageantry. Everything here has a magical charm: the zest of oarsmen, the sheer excitement of the spectators, the rippling waters and the grandiose boats. Yes, the 62nd edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is at hand and the thrill and excitement is round the corner. The placid waters of the Punnamada Lake become a track on fire and its silence broken by the striking oars.

Held on the second Saturday of August every year, it is the most popular of all boat races in the world. The genesis of the boat race dates back to the visit of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India to Alappuzha in 1952. While he was travelling from Kottayam to Alappuzha through the water logged Kuttanad a pageantry of boats accompanied him and an impromptu race conducted to honour him. Later he donated a silver trophy to be presented to the winners of the boat race.

Apart from the races of chundan valloms (snake-boats) and of smaller country crafts, the event also enlivens the spectators with ceremonial water processions, spectacular floats and decorated boats.

Nearest railway station: Alappuzha, about 8 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town

Aranmula Vallamkali

Event date: 10-09-2014
Venue: River Pamba in Aranmula
Location: Aranmula
District: Pathanamthitta

Noted for its grandeur and long tradition, the Aranmula Uthrittathi boat race is considered as a ritual than a race that takes place on the Uthrittathi asterism (as per the local Malayalam calendar) during the Onam festival. There is an interesting story associated with the boat race that makes it all the more beautiful. 

Legend has it that a devout Brahmin vowed to offer all the requirements for the thiruvona sadya (the grand traditional feast on the day of Thiruvonam) at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Once, the boat known as Thiruvona Thoni carrying these offerings was attacked by enemies. In order to protect the Thiruvona Thoni people from neighbouring areas sent their snake boats. Later on, this practice evolved into an offering to Lord Parthasarathy in the form of a snake boat race, held on the Uthrittathi day which eventually became popular as the Aranmula Boat Race.

Nearest railway station: Chengannur, which is about 11 km
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 117 km

Payippad Boat Race

Event date: 08-09-2014
Venue: Payippad backwaters in Payippad
District: Alappuzha

This is another spectacular boat race of Kerala held annually on the Payippad River in Alappuzha. The boat race commemorates the legend associated with the installation of the idol at the Subrahmanya Swamy Temple, Haripad. The legend says that the villagers once had a vision, which directed them to a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where they discovered the idol of Sree Subramanya. The Payippad Boat Race is held every year to remember this event.

The race has the largest participation of snake boats after the Nehru Trophy boat race. Apart from the breathtaking race of the snake boats and other country boats the event is made more impressive by colourful water pageants.

Nearest railway station: Haripad, about 5 km.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha.