CHAMPAKULAM BOAT RACE, KERALA
The oldest boat race in the country, the Champakulam Boat Race, held in late June or early July on the Pampa River, kicks off the annual boat racing season in Kerala. A riot of colours in the form of boats decked with beautiful parasols precedes the race, which is held in different stages for different categories of boats, with the most popular one being the snake-boat race. These long, narrow vessels are indeed an awe-inspiring sight, with each boat stretching over 30 metres in length, with raised prows and seating up to 100 rowers. Once the race begins, paddles swish furiously through the water as oarsmen attempt to get ahead of other competitors, all the while singing Vanchippattu, folk songs unique to Kerala.
GETTING THERE: Fly to Cochin International Airport from any major Indian city. From there, Champakulam is about an hour-and-a-half (71 km) away by road.
STAY: Step back in time at the Kumarakom Lake Resort, where rooms, villas, and suites have been built to emulate manas—16th-century, traditional homesteads of Kerala (starts from ₹19,500/USD259; kumarakomlakeresort.in).
BIHU, ASSAM
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Esta historia es de la edición September - October 2021 de Discover India.
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