Upland Kozhikode abuzz with pre-events of Malabar River Festival
The hilly hamlet of Kodenchery often wakes up to watch kayakers, both amateur and professional kayakers, rowing downstream the Chalippuzha, practising for the International Kayaking Competition to be held as part of the festival from July 24 to 27. River rafting is also being held in full swing here. While international kayakers are expected to arrive within a few days, several national-level kayakers, including national champion Amit Thapa, have already arrived at Kodenchery for practice sessions and training budding kayakers.
The Malabar River Festival begins at Meenthullippara in Chakkittapara panchayat on July 24 where freestyle demonstrations will be held. However, the inauguration will be held at Pulikkayam at Kodencheri on July 25, where extreme slalom competitions in all categories are to be held. The downriver race and super finals will be held at Pulloorampara on July 27.
The pre-events spread across several upland villages in the district have succeeded in creating enthusiasm in the high range. There are events such as ankling, rain walk, farm tour, painting, mud football, off-road fun drive, badminton tournament, tug-of-war, tourism seminar, cycling and bullock race in Kodiyathur, Thiruvambady, Kodencheri, Koodaranhi, Puthuppadi and Perumanna grama panchayats besides Mukkam Municipality that receive good patronage from the local community.
The Malabar River Festival is jointly organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) with the technical support of the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala poised to dazzle at Asia's biggest kayak fest
KOZHIKODE: The white-water rapids of the Iruvanjhipuzha and Chalipuzha rivers are set to echo with the cheers of thousands at the 11th Malabar River Festival (MRF), Asia's largest white-water kayaking event, which kicks off on July 24. This year, more than ever before, the spotlight is firmly on a new wave of local talent, particularly Kerala's own burgeoning generation of paddlers, poised to make history in their home waters. For the very first time, the festival is introducing a dedicated 'Kerala Paddlers' category, a groundbreaking move that celebrates and nurtures the state's growing passion for kayaking. And the response has been heartwarming. The latest edition -- slated to run through to July 27 -- is witnessing an unprecedented surge in registrations from within Kerala, with a delightful surprise: a significant number of participants are under the age of 15, some as young as 10 years old, ready to navigate the challenging currents. As many as 30 kayakers in the fray from the state have honed their skills at institutions accredited by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS). The recently opened International Kayaking Facilitation Centre at Pulikkayam in Kodenchery has become a buzzing hub, attracting students from across the country eager to master the art of kayaking. Its influence is palpable, contributing to what promises to be a truly packed festival season, featuring a vibrant mix of international and national participants. Binu Kuriakose, CEO of KATPS, beamed when discussing the upcoming event. 'This year is special in so many ways. We will finally see our own trainees shine in the competition. The surge in women and children's participation is particularly thrilling," he told TNIE. As the Malabar River Festival enters its second decade, this year marks a turning point, Binu said. 'The fusion of global talent with a blossoming local passion, especially among the youth, is transforming this annual spectacle into a truly remarkable celebration of adventure, skill, and the indomitable spirit of Kerala's burgeoning kayaking community,' he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Upland Kozhikode abuzz with pre-events of Malabar River Festival
With just a week remaining for the 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival commencing at Kodenchery and Thiruvambady, the upland villages of Kozhikode district are abuzz with pre-event activities and preparations for the event. The hilly hamlet of Kodenchery often wakes up to watch kayakers, both amateur and professional kayakers, rowing downstream the Chalippuzha, practising for the International Kayaking Competition to be held as part of the festival from July 24 to 27. River rafting is also being held in full swing here. While international kayakers are expected to arrive within a few days, several national-level kayakers, including national champion Amit Thapa, have already arrived at Kodenchery for practice sessions and training budding kayakers. The Malabar River Festival begins at Meenthullippara in Chakkittapara panchayat on July 24 where freestyle demonstrations will be held. However, the inauguration will be held at Pulikkayam at Kodencheri on July 25, where extreme slalom competitions in all categories are to be held. The downriver race and super finals will be held at Pulloorampara on July 27. The pre-events spread across several upland villages in the district have succeeded in creating enthusiasm in the high range. There are events such as ankling, rain walk, farm tour, painting, mud football, off-road fun drive, badminton tournament, tug-of-war, tourism seminar, cycling and bullock race in Kodiyathur, Thiruvambady, Kodencheri, Koodaranhi, Puthuppadi and Perumanna grama panchayats besides Mukkam Municipality that receive good patronage from the local community. The Malabar River Festival is jointly organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) and the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) with the technical support of the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA).
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
MUV safari will resume in Idukki from July 16
The Multi-utility vehicle (MUV) safari and on- and off-road trekking will be resumed in Idukki from Wednesday (July 16, 2025) onwards. District Collector V. Vigneshwari issued a detailed order on Monday (July 14, 2025) outlining strict conditions for the reopening of MUV safari and off-road safari in the nine routes in the first phase in the Idukki and Devikulam subdivisions in the district. The nine approved off-road MUV safari routes include the Parunthumpara-Satram route, Kuttikkanam-Madammakulam, Pambanar-Mlamala-Uppupara belt, Elappara-Kappakkanam-Uluppuni-Chakkimali-Vellarankallu stretch, Vagamon (Elappara)-Ottamaram Para Viewpoint, Vagamon-Kallattupara waterfalls trail in the Idukki subdivision, and the Munnar-Ponmudi-Nadukani-Munnar loop, Suryanelli-Kolukkumalai Sunrise route, and Mankulam-Perumbankuttu-Anakulam-6th Mile Hanging Bridge-33 Waterfall-Viripara areas in the Devikulam subdivision. According to the Collector, new order issued by the district administration mandates compliance with the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS)-issued safety regulations. Verification drive 'A multi-department regularisation drive will begin on Tuesday (July 15), ensuring that only registered and verified operators can resume service. During the drive, the officials will inspect the vehicle's fitness, driver records, insurance, police clearance, GPS installation, and route mapping,' said the order. 'The MUV safari routes will be reviewed by a route monitoring committee comprising Sub-Collector, RTO, concerned Station House Officer (SHO), panchayat secretary, and District Tourism Promotion Council Secretary (DTPC). The committee will inspect the terrain and classify the routes. Only drivers approved by the committee will be allowed to operate and on the prescribed routes,' said the order. 'The timing of the activities between 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. from and to the starting point of the trip will depend on the prevailing weather conditions, as decided by the committee. Every trip shall include tourist insurance, and a portion of ticket revenue shall go to a driver welfare fund for medical/accident coverage. Mandatory audits will be held twice yearly in April and October, chaired by the Sub-collector or as proposed by the route committee. Those who violate the committee's decisions will invite strict penalties, including license suspension and disqualification. There will be legal action in case of accidents due to negligence,' said the order. The Collector imposed a ban on multi-utility vehicle (MUV) safaris in Idukki under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, on July 5, after an MUV safari vehicle met with an accident in Munnar on July 1 in which onea tourist was killed and 10 injured.
