Tourism News
Malabar River Festival 2025: Kerala’s Kayaking Extravaganza
Kozhikode’s wild rivers and rapids came alive this July as the 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival unfolded across four action-packed days, reaffirming Kerala’s status as a premier destination for adventure tourism and international water sports. Organised by Kerala Tourism in collaboration with the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS), District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode District Panchayat, and with technical support from the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, the event drew more participants than ever before - both from around the globe and from within Kerala.
The festival, inaugurated at Pulikkayam in Kodanchery, saw an unprecedented surge in local registrations, with the newly introduced ‘Kerala Paddlers’ category reflecting the state’s growing enthusiasm for kayaking. Notably, a large contingent of young athletes - some as young as ten - took to the rapids, many having honed their skills at KATPS-accredited institutions and the new International Kayaking Facilitation Centre at Pulikkayam.
Participants hailed from across India, including Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Kashmir, as well as from 18 different countries. International stars like Anton Sveshnikov (Russia), Millie Chamberlain (New Zealand), and Patrick Sheehan (USA) were among the 14 global paddlers who competed alongside homegrown talents.
Highlights included the Olympic-style slalom and extreme slalom races on the Chalippuzha at Pulikkayam, with the Downriver Super Finals and Boater Cross events providing a dramatic climax at Pulloorampara on the Iruvazhinjipuzha. Two 15-year-olds from Madhya Pradesh, Garv Kokatery and Karishma Diwan, stole the spotlight on opening day by clinching first place in the men’s and women’s Extreme Slalom events. Ukrainian tourist Oxana Cherevchenko captured attention by winning silver in the women’s intermediate category after just five days of training in Kerala, a testament to the festival’s inclusivity and appeal.
The festival also doubled as a selection trial for the national kayaking team, offering a direct path for aspiring athletes to compete at higher levels. Safety remained a top priority throughout, with rescue teams, scuba divers, and onshore crews ensuring smooth, incident-free races even as the high waters made the courses more challenging.
Cultural performances added to the festive atmosphere, with local bands and artists energizing the riverbanks each evening. The closing ceremony on July 27 at Pullurampara, inaugurated by Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, included prize distributions to the champions and was attended by dignitaries such as Smt Priyakna Gandhi MP, Shri Linto Joseph MLA, and District Panchayat President Smt Sheeja Sasi.
This year’s Malabar River Festival marked a pivotal moment for adventure sports in Kerala. The fusion of international expertise with burgeoning local talent, especially among women and youth, underscored the state’s commitment to developing sustainable, high-quality tourism. As the festival entered its second decade, it not only cemented Kerala’s place on the global adventure map but also fostered a new generation of paddlers eager to take on the world’s wildest rivers.
