Snake-boats to Race on Mega Platforms

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

ISSUE: 269

JANUARY 2016

Snake-boats to Race on Mega Platforms

The snake-boat races of Kerala are now set to become the latest show stoppers, owing to the efforts of Kerala Tourism. The races will soon become more organized and glamorous with an all new Indian Premier League (IPL)-like format. This is expected to work wonders by drawing in audience from far and wide.

In addition to the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race on the Punnamada Lake, there is Champakkulam Moolam Boat Race on the Champakkulam River, Payippad Boat Race on the Payippad River, the President’s Trophy Boat Race on the Ashtamudi Lake and 15 other minor boat races across Kerala. The plan is to organise six IPL-style snake-boat races between April and August.

Conceptualised by Mr. A. P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, and Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, the races will not just carve out a niche tourism product but will also benefit about 2500 people who depend on it.

The IPL tag and the arrival of sponsors are sure to give a new lease of life for the majestic snake boats and the backwaters.