Kumarakom is a tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam, in Kerala, India, known for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in the state of Kerala. In January 2023, when Kerala was listed by The New York Times in their "52 places to go in 2023" list, Kumarakom got a special mention for its backwater tourism.
Vallam kali, also known as snake boat race, is a traditional boat race in Kerala, India. It is a form of canoe racing, and uses paddled war canoes. It is mainly conducted during the season of the harvest festival Onam in spring. Vallam kali includes races of many kinds of paddled longboats and 'snake boats'. Each team spends about ₹60 lakhs for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Chundan vallam, known outside Kerala as Kerala snake boats, are one of the icons of Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali or boat race.
The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and canals lying parallel to the Arabian Sea of the Malabar coast of Kerala state in south-western India. It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to bayous. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. There are 34 backwaters in Kerala. Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to the sea. The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual vallam kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkaliy literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams. Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other categories of boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam , Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.
The Aranmula Boat festival is the oldest river boat festival in Kerala, the southwestern State of India is held during Onam (August–September). It takes place at Aranmula, near Sri Parthasarady Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting watched by an exciting crowd. In 1972, snake boat races were also added to the program of the festival, hence the name Aranmula Boat Race. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake boat races. In 2019 Fifty Two snake boats or Palliyodams had participated in the festival. The oarsmen sing traditional boat songs Vanchippattu and wear white mundu
The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is one of the oldest vallam kali in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the River Pamba on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple.
Kavalam Chundan is a snake boat that belongs to Kavalam village. This snake boat was formerly known as Kainakary Puthan Chundan.
A war canoe is a watercraft of the canoe type designed and outfitted for warfare, and which is found in various forms in many world cultures. In modern times, such designs have become adapted as a sport, and "war canoe" can mean a type of flatwater racing canoe.
Payippad Vallaarattu, or Jalotsavam, is a three-day water festival conducted in Payippad Lake, 6 km from Haripad of Kerala state in south India. There is a close relation between this Payippadu Vallam Kali and Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple.
The Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali or Boat Race, at Kumarakom, Kerala is held in September every year during Onam festival. More than 1,000 oarsmen in boats of different sizes and shapes participate. Even though snake boats participate in this race, the importance is given here is for iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row. The successful iruttukuthi wins the Sree Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy.
Thuruthipuram, also known as Chathedom Thuruthipuram, is a village on the borders of Ernakulam district and Thrissur in Paravur Taluk, Kerala, India. Situated on the Periyar River, the rainy season can prove challenging for residents, with occasional flooding of lower-lying areas. Fishing provides an important source of income for many villagers.
Champakulam is a village in Kerala, India. It is in Alappuzha district. Champakulam is part of Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, and is resplendent in green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl. Champakulam is an important tourist spot and is famous for the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race. The river Pampa flows through the village, splitting it into two. It is connected by road to Alappuzha, Changanassery and Edathua.
Thachiledathu Chundan is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Shajoon Karyal and written by Babu Janardhanan and produced by Thampi Kannanthanam under the banner of Jooliya Pictures. The film stars Mammootty in the lead role, along with Nandini, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju and Kaveri in supporting roles. The film revolves a boatrace fantic, Kochu Kunju. The film features original songs composed by Raveendran, with the background score done by S. P. Venkatesh. The lyrics were written by Bichu Thirumala. The film was released on 1 April 1999 on the occasion of Vishu. The film was major commercial success and went on to become the third highest grossing film of the year. The film was director Shajoon Karyal's breakthrough in Malayalam cinema.
The President's Trophy Boat Race is a popular boat race held on the Ashtamudi lake in Kollam city on 1 November every year. The day marks the birth of the Indian state of Kerala, known as Kerala Piravi. This is the most popular of the races to be held during the season of the harvest festival, Onam, in Autumn on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. There would be races in five categories, namely Chundan Vallam (snake-boats), two grades of Veppu Vallam, and two grades of Iruttukuthi Vallam. Sixteen snake-boats would compete in four heats. The trophy had been instituted in the name of the President of India. President of India will be present to witness the race and would also give away the trophy and cash prize to the winning team. The race will become a part of Kerala's IPL-model boat race league from 2019 onward. The Government of Kerala is planning to make President's Trophy Boat Race as the finishing event of Champions’ Boat League.
The Kallada Jalotsavam is a popular Vallam Kali held on the Kallada River at Munroe Thuruthu on 28 days after Onam in Indian state of Kerala. The boat race is conducted along the straight portion (nettayam) of Kallada River. Famous achievers in various fields are honoured during the event.
The Kandassankadavu Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Enamakkal Lake and Conolly Canal in Kandassankadavu of Thrissur District, Kerala, India. The race is conducted on the Thiruvonam day of the Onam festival followed by a 10-day festival. The trophy is known as Chief Minister's Ever-Rolling Trophy. Competitions were held for the Iruttukuthi and Churulan boats category.
The Triprayar Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Conolly Canal in Triprayar of Thrissur District, Kerala, India. The boat race is conducted by the Thriprayar Arts and Sports Club in front of the Shree Rama Temple. The race is for 3 kilometre from Vennakkadavu to Triprayar.
Kannetty is a village situated on the outskirts of Karunagappally, Kollam district, Kerala, India. Kannetty is famous for the Vallam kalis conducted in the backwater of the same name. old Kothukumukku bridge is situated in kannetty.
The Indira Gandhi Boat Race takes place as a very colorful water sports-cum-festival held every year. It is held in the backwaters of Cochin city of Kerala during the last week of December. It is popular all over Kerala and various boat race competitions like Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Utharatti Vallamkali, Pippappad Jalotsavam and Kumarakom Boat Race are held here.
