Piravom Boat Race | A Historic & Challenging Kerala 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).

CBL Boat Races

Kottappuram Boat Race

The Kottappuram Boat Race is one of the two prestigious snake boat races held in Kerala's Thrissur district. The race was launched 26 years ago and it is conducted on the Kodungalloor-Kottappuram Lake. The event was not held for several years in between due to organisational and financial challenges.The race got a new lease of life with the intervention of Kerala Tourism. Now the event is held every year as a water carnival. The Kottappuram Boat Race is also part of the Champions Boat League (CBL), which makes it one of the much-awaited water sports events in the state.

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Karuvatta Boat Race

The Karuvatta boat race or the Brothers Trophy Boat Race is held every year during the Onam season at the Karuvatta village in Alappuzha district. A variety of spectacular cultural activities are organised during the race. The snake boat race is currently part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).The event was founded by the Karuvatta Brothers Arts & Sports Club in 1966. The race is held on the Karuvatta leading water channel and it was initially known as the Karuvatta Leading Channel Boat Race. The bunds on either side of the channel are used as galleries during the event.The race track is 1200 metres long and it stretches from Thaivypinkadavu to St. Joseph's Church. There is a permanent pavilion at the church premises. The Brothers Trophy Boat Race was initially conducted for smaller snake boats like Churulan, Odi and Veppu vallams. Nowadays, all major snake boats vie for this trophy. Vibrant festivities including a colourful procession are held during the event.

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Kainakari Boat Race

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).

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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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