Malabar River Festival: Kodenchery to host Off-Road Fun Drive

In a major revival of adventure tourism in the Malabar region, Kodenchery is set to host a high-octane ‘Off-Road Fun Drive’ on Saturday (June 20, 2026) as part of the preparations for the 12th International Whitewater Kayaking Championship, a curtain-raiser to the Malabar River Festival.

The event will be officially launched at 9.30 am at Eeruth Thenharagiri Adventure Park, Thiruvambady MLA CK Kasim will inaugurate the rally and Kodenchery grama panchayat president Annakutty Devassya will preside over the event.

The tourism initiative is being organized through a joint effort led by the state tourism department and the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Board along with three panchayats. The fun ride is coordinated in collaboration with Kodenchery grama panchayat, Calicut Jeepers and Kodenchery Eeruth Thenharagiri Adventure Park Management.

“More than 40 off-road vehicles have registered to test their mettle in the rugged terrain of the region, navigating the challenging route through the Eeruth Kainady Estate and across the Veliyoram Mala to the scenic sunset spot,” said Binu Kuriakose, Managing Director of Adventure Tourism.

The event is designed to engage motorsport enthusiasts from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. “All safety measures have been put in place. The measures will be overseen by a specialized technical team and the program is being run with the support and permission of the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Fire and Rescue Service,” Kuriakose added.

The championship will be held from July 30 to August 2 in Chalippuzha and Iruvazhinjipuzha. To kick start the event, the local authorities have prepared a number of promotional activities.

Activities will include monsoon expeditions to Thevarmala and Thenharagiri, a mass cycle rally, a badminton tournament, a painting camp and a cultural show featuring traditional tribal dances and Udukku Kotti.

Published – 19 Jun 2026 20:41 IST