Kainakari Boat Race | Home of Kerala's Champion Rowers

Kainakari is a scenic locale in the Kuttanad region of Kerala's Alappuzha district. The lush paddy fields and the proximity to various water bodies including lake, rivers, canals and ponds make this village an enchanting destination for travelers. Five major rivers originating from the Western Ghats, including Pamba, feed the massive Vembanad Lake at Kainakari.

As a land deeply linked to the waters, its people are adept at using various kinds of boats for business and commutation. This village is also home to the greatest snake boat rowing team in Kerala, UBC (United Boat Club) Kainakari. The team has an unbeaten record of 14 Nehru trophy wins.

The Kainakari Boat Race is unique as it is conducted on the Pamba River, unlike other races that are held on backwaters. This annual event is now part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

CBL Boat Races

Kayamkulam Boat Race

The Kayamkulam Boat Race is held on the Kayamkulam Lake in Alappuzha district. Launched in 2010, it is one of the most recent snake boat racing events in the state.Though the event is new, Kayamkulam is significant in the history of snake boats. The origins of Kerala's signature snake boats traces back to the feud between the princely states of Chempakassery and Kayamkulam. It is said that these boats were crafted to conduct warfare on the backwaters.The Kayamkulam Lake is Kerala's third largest lake. The race track, located between Karthikapally church and Panmana, is 1,200 metres long and 70 metres wide. The track is set on the shallow portion of the lake and special pavilions have been constructed in the middle of the waters to mark the starting and finishing points.The Kayamkulam Boat Race falls in the last leg of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

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Piravom Boat Race

Launched in 1958, the Piravom Boat Race is one of the oldest snake boat races in Kerala. The founding of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race inspired the people of Piravom in Ernakulam district to have a similar event of their own. Conducted on the Muvattupuzha River, this is one of the hardest snake boat races because competitors have to paddle against the undercurrents. Initially, smaller vessels like odi or iruttukuthi and kadathu (ferry) boats participated in the race. In 1962, parunthuvalans or veppu vallams (a type of smaller snake boat) were introduced to the contest. The Parthasarathy Chundan was the first snake boat to participate in the race and in the later years other major snake boats tested their mettle against the currents of the Muvattupuzha River. The 27 sections of the Piravom Municipality is divided into 9 karas (localities) and the races are held under the names of each division. The race begins at Kalamboor Aattutheeram Park and ends at the finishing point near the Piravom bridge. Every year, boat clubs from across the state arrive here to showcase their skills and raw power to win this title, which is now part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

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Beypore Boat Race

The Beypore Boat Race is a new entrant into Kerala's traditional water sports arena. The event was launched by Kerala Tourism to expand the indigenous sport to the northern regions of the state. The race is held on the Chaliyar River at the historic port town of Beypore in Kozhikode district. The race is part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League, but it does not involve chundan vallams (snake boats). Only churulan vallams (small sporting boats) compete in this event. The race track is located between the old and new Feroke bridges. Teams from the northern regions participate in this race, which is quickly gaining popularity in the state. The Beypore Boat Race is held during Kerala Tourism's annual adventure water sports carnival - The Beypore Water Festival. A celebration of Malayali spirit and an international showcase of the state's potential as an adventure sports destination, this gala has become one of India's biggest water fests. Apart from the boat race, the event also hosts canoeing, kayaking, parasailing, speedboat racing, wooden log racing and timber rafting competitions. The Beypore Marina Beach and the eco-friendly Oceanus Chaliyam stretch on the opposite shore are the venues of this spectacular event, which also features rocking musical evenings, delectable food fest, international symposiums, kite festivals, naval and coast guard aviation displays and much more.

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Marine Drive Boat Race

The Marine Drive Boat Race, also known as the Indira Gandhi Boat Race, was a forgotten snake boat contest in Kerala. The inaugural race was held in 1989 and it was named after Late Indira Gandhi, India's former prime minister. The event ran regularly for three years, but it slowly went into oblivion due to financial and organisational issues.The race was revived by Kerala Tourism after being added onto the Champions Boat League (CBL) roster in 2019. Today, it's a gala event with day-long cultural activities that attracts foreign as well as domestic tourists.The race is held at the Marine Drive area in Kochi. The track on the Kochi Lake, which is a stretch of the Vembanad Lake, extends from the Goshree bridge to the Marine Drive boat jetty. It is one of the most difficult snake boat races in Kerala, as it is held on a shallow track that has little or no undercurrents. So, victory depends on the strength and stamina of the paddlers. Apart from the energetic display of sportsmanship by the competitors, visitors are also treated to various traditional and modern cultural events.

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