Kerala Celebrates President Trophy Boat Race On The 1st November 2016

PRESIDENT TROPHY BOAT RACE 

AT

ASHTAMUNDI LAKE

The PRESIDENTS TROPHY BOAT RACE is the much celebrated highlight of the popular ASHTAMUNDI REGATTA and takes place annually in KOLLAM when Kerala celebrates its birthday on the 1st of November.

During this season, the monsoon rains have stopped and the renewed landscape is vibrant and refreshed. Renown as a cashew paradise, Kollam, also known as Desinganadu, is then at the peak of its charms.

Kollam is the oldest port town in Kerala and as such has a rich water sports history. Since its inception in 2011, the President’s Trophy Boat Race at Ashtamudi has become a much loved addition to this legacy and attracts visitors from far and wide.

The whole Desinganadu (Kollam) is enveloped by lush green. Tradition has it that Kollam, the oldest port town in kerala is the history chest of myriad activities. Worldly known as the cashew paradise, Kollam has been an effective trade centre. Laced with eight points of Ashtamudi lake kollam has its rich water sports history.

Since its inception in 2011 President’s trophy boat race, Ashtamudi has captured the imagination of water sports lovers from far and wide, apart from enthusing the spirit and elan of Kollam legacy.

The Ashtamudi Lake – the beautiful, serene and calm water with mind boggling greenery on the banks also is gifted with unique representative features - the sea, plains, heritage monuments, rivers, streams, backwaters and the woods.

The location of the boat race is at Gateway of Ashtamudi. Starting from the water column near Thevally Palace, the race finishes at the house boat terminal. As the oarsmen throw their oars in to the waters in unison to the fast paced rhythm of the vanchipattu (Song of the Boatmen), the huge black crafts slice through pristine race course of Ashtamudi Lake to a spectacular finish. Hundreds of spectators, including tourists from abroad, throng the lake front and the rest is moments of excitement.