• Home
• Holidays in South India
• Packages
• Special interest Holidays
• Short Breaks
• Palaces Rainforests
• World Heritage
• Boat Race
• Multi-Centre Holidays
• Package Maker
• Booking
• Information about South India
• Gallery

The Nehru Boat Race takes place on the second Saturday in August on the PUNNAMADA LAKE backwaters near to Alleppey. It is the most important festival of the backwaters, and has become an international event, drawing visitors from all over the World.This year it is on August 8th..

Each boat has a team of 100 paddlers as well as a leader and some cheerleaders with colourful umbrellas. They represent the various towns on the extensive backwaters. These towns are often only reachable by boat, so the team are all excellent boatsmen already. They practice rigorously for the big race.

The sight of 4 or 5 boats in each race heat, flying through the water, propelled by these extremely fit and skilled men and women, is one not to be forgotten. The large crowds come for a day out, with their picnics, and rattles to support their teams.

We are offering 4 different 5-day holidays, all starting in Cochin, all including a cruise on a backwaters houseboat, and some with trips to the mountains at Periyar, or more time in a bckwaters resort.

See Full Details
Download Document (pdf)