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One of the oldest traditions of Kerala, Champakulam Boat Race Festival started in the state in the 1500s. Fondly referred to as Champakulam Moolam Vallamkali, the race uses the traditional snake boats or Vallam Kalis. These Chundan Vallams are a symbol of Kerala’s centuries old expertise in Naval architecture. Used by kings and warriors for more than 500 years, these expert pieces of wooden craftsmanship can accommodate more than 100 men in one go. 

History of Champakulam Boat Festival - The Religious Folklore

Held every year on the tides of the Pampa river in Alappuzha, the festival is a symbol of a long held naval tradition. The day the boat race is held marks the auspicious day of the moolam nakshatra of the Malayalam calendar called Madhunam. It is the day when the 17th century Ambalapuzha Temple welcomed its head deity, Lord Krishna in the premises.  

The religious sanctity of the festival lies in the history of its origin. It is said the 15th century ruler Chembakassery revisited his naval strength and directed his naval fleet to design robust boats which would challenge their opponents at the time of war. Little did he know what he started as a war strategy would stand today as a mark of his naval legacy.

Also Read: A religious festival where elephants are fed with utmost devotion to appease Lord Ganesha

Major Attractions of Champakulam Boat Festival

Each year, this festival is organized by the Champakulam Boat Race Society. Different categories of boats are lined up for the festival. The prominent ones are Chundan, Veppu, Iruttu and Churulan. Out of these, Chundan boats are the ones which are decorated in the most regal ways. And this is something which also grabs the attention of the tourists and people who come here to witness this festival.  

It is exhilarating to see the number of people who come to witness the grand cultural fiesta. Massive boats are seen dissecting the water in half and speeding against one another in their swift yet wispy movements. It is a great sight to see the boatmen rowing in perfect symphony putting in all their strength in each pull and push. Amid the cheers and echo of noises from people cheering, the boats cruise through the water at great speeds.  

How to Reach

To travel here you will need to cover a total distance of 2,739, 1,380, 2,391, 576 km from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Check out the following travel details on how you can reach here. 

By Air. Deboard at the Cochin Airport (COK) situated about 80-100 km away. The airport is fairly well-connected with other Indian cities via direct and connecting flights. After getting off the airport, you can easily book a taxi or take a bus to reach your destination. 

• From Bhopal - Board IndiGo flights from Bhopal Airport. The airfares start from INR 6,000-7,000
• From Guwahati - Board IndiGo, Air India flights from Guwahati Airport. The airfares start from INR 7,000-8,000
• From Madurai - Board Spicejet, IndiGo flights from Madurai Airport. The airfares start from INR 4,000-5,000

By Train. The Alleppey Railway Station lies within the city, situated about 15-20 km away and has good train connectivity with Cochin, Trivandrum along with other nearby towns and districts. From the railway station, one can board a bus or hire a taxi to reach the main city.

By Road. Depending on your current location, you can consider travelling here via roadways as well. The road connectivity to Alappuzha is quite good due to the well-structured and accessible road network. As per your convenience, you can travel here by state-run/private buses, cabs or take your own two/four-wheeler. 

• From Madurai - 267 km via NH183
• From Kochi - 65-70 km via NH66
• From Munnar - 170 km via NH85

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here