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| Boat races are exciting events and have brought international fame to the State of Kerala, India. This kind of water sports is popular in Kuttanad, a waterlogged region that falls in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. Country boats (in Malayalam a boat is called Vallam) of different types are a major mode of transport here. Kochuvallam, Kettuvallam, Churulan, Chundan, Veppu Vallam, Oadi or Iruttukuthi are the major types. Though races are held for several types of boats, the race of Chundan Vallam or Snake boat is the most popular one. The Chundan Vallams can carry 100 to 150 persons and were devised as war boats during the princely rule in the region.
The major boats races are Nehru Trophy boat race, Champakkulam Moolam Vallamkali, Payippad Jalotsavam, Aranmula Uthruttathy boat race, Neerettupuram boat race, Rajiv Gandhi boat race, Pulimkunnu Karuvatta boat race, Harippad Mannar boat race and Kumarakom boat race. While some boat races like those at Aranmula, Champakkulam and Payippad are associated to the local temples several others are pure races.
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