Boat Race

April 2023

Sports

Melaghar, Tripura

37°C / Clouds

History
Places to visit
How to reach

The Boat Race is an annual event that is also a part of the Neermahal Festival in Tripura. The annual race festival is held in the month of August and is witnessed by the locals and global tourists with the same fervor. The major highlight of the Boat Race festival is witnessing people competing with one another enthusiastically on colorful boats in the serene backdrop of Rudrasagar Lake.

The venue for the event is either the village of Melaghara or Gandhacherra. Melaghara is located 50km away from Agartala, whereas Gandhacherra is situated approximately 74km away from Agartala.

The villages become the center of attraction during the adventurous Boat Race event and one cannot deny the buzz that follows. The event is organized at Rudrasagar lake, which also houses the Neermahal or water palace, which is another popular tourist destination of Tripura.

The Boat Race Festival has been a part of the local traditions for a long time now. The event celebrates and emphasizes the significance of teamwork and team spirit. This festival of Tripura is most awaited as local people love to take part in the event with an invincible spirit.

Boat Race Tripura attracts onlookers from different parts of India as well as the world, courtesy of its high adventure and excitement quotient.

The race takes place in the morning when the weather is very pleasant and the sun feels comfortable. Traditionally, only men from the fishermen community used to take part in this festival and were divided into ten different teams, but now anyone can participate in the event. In fact, lately, women have also started taking part in boat races.

Major Attractions of Boat Race 2023 Tripura

1. Neermahal

Neermahal has derived its name from two words - ‘neer’ which means water and ‘mahal’ which means palace, together they mean water palace. The palace was built in the middle of the Rudrasagar Lake by the Maharaja of Tripura, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarma Manikya. The palace was the summer residence of the Maharaja where he would come to relax and escape from the scorching heat. The beauty of Neermahal is mesmerizing and is alone sufficient to make you pack your bags and visit Tripura.

Neermahal Water Festival is another reason why you should plan a vacation in Tripura. This event is held twice every year - once in August and later in December. The one that happens in August accommodates the popular boat race event while the one in December features cultural performances and folk art.

2. North-Eastern Cuisine

When in Tripura, eat what the locals eat! If you are in Tripura to witness the exciting boat race then it is time to indulge in some exotic northeastern cuisine. Mui-Borok a fermented fish, Chauk the traditional beer, Mosdeng Serma a tomato dip and a lot more will excite your taste buds.

3. Team Work

You get to see the teamwork here like nowhere else. About 10 boats are rowed in the river in one go. People passionately row in unison to make their team victorious, working in full team spirit mode. The winning team is also awarded by the festival organizers. Many cultural events are also held on the day.

How to Reach Boat Race 2023 Tripura

To reach Tripura, you will need to cover a total distance of 2,352, 3,187, 1,453, 3,426 km from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Check out the following details on how you can reach here by the following means of public transport.

By Air

Tripura’s capital city Agartala has its own airport of the same name i.e. Agartala Airport aka Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (IXA). The airport receives both direct and connecting flights from several Indian cities. From the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transport.

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Agartala

By Rail

The Agartala Railway Station is the nearest railway station. From the station, one can take a local taxi or bus to commute to the hotel/resort that you have booked for your stay in Agartala, Tripura. Tripura Sundari Express and Kanchanjangha Express are the two popular trains that take you to Tripura along with many others.

By Road

You can also choose to travel here via well-maintained road networks. From the nearby cities and towns, you can easily consider traveling by interstate/private buses, cabs, or your own vehicle. To reach here, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of transportation.