Preparations for the 12th Malabar River Festival are in full swing

The four-day event, which is scheduled from July 30 to August 2, is expected to attract kayakers and adventure enthusiasts from around the world. | Photo credit: file photo

Preparations are in full swing for the 12th edition of the Malabar River Festival, Asia’s largest whitewater kayaking competition, with international kayakers already arriving and training for next month’s event on the Chalipuzha and Iruvanjippuzha, tributaries of the Chaliyar.

The four-day event, which is scheduled from July 30 to August 2, is expected to attract kayakers and adventure enthusiasts from around the world.

The event, which is also one of India’s largest adventure sports festivals, is organized under the auspices of the Kerala Tourism Department in collaboration with the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS). Technical support is provided by the Indian Kayak and Canoe Association (IKCA).

Binu Kuriakose, Executive Director of KATPS, said registration for the event is going well.

“We have sent invitations to several renowned international kayakers. Out of them, 10 have already accepted our invitation and confirmed their participation. The previous editions saw around 50% on-site registration and we expect a large number of kayakers from India and other parts of the world to participate in this edition as well,” said Kuriakose.

The rivers flowing through Kodenchery and Thiruvambady grama panchayats in the scenic Malabar highlands will become the hub of international whitewater kayaking during the festival. The competition course winds through a landscape marked by dense forest cover and rugged rocky terrain and presents a huge challenge to the competitors. The rivers raised by the southwest monsoon are characterized by strong currents, technical rapids, sudden drops and unpredictable water bodies that require exceptional control, agility and endurance from the athletes.

Giovanni Giorgi from Italy was the first foreign kayaker to arrive in Kodenchera and start training. Apart from paddling on rivers in France and Italy, he has experience in whitewater kayaking on several rivers across India. Mr. Giorgi also participated in last year’s Malabar River Festival. Several kayakers from Kerala and other states are currently training in Iruvanjippuzha and Chalipuzha in preparation for the event.

Major competitive events include Kayak Slalom, Boater Cross, Downriver Race and Super Final Extreme Race. The male champion will receive the title of ‘Rapid Raja’ while the female champion will receive the title of ‘Rapid Rani’. 18 international athletes and around 85 Indian kayakers participated in the 2025 edition.

Pre-event programs are organized to encourage wider public participation and create momentum for the festival.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 20:30 IST