Thazhathangadi Boat Race 2025 in Kottayam: Timings, starting and ending points, traffic restrictions
The boat race is held on the Meenachil River in Kottayam.
The boat race is held on the Meenachil River in Kottayam.
The boat race is held on the Meenachil River in Kottayam.
Kottayam: The West Club and the tourism department, organisers of the 124th Thazhathangadi Kottayam Boat Race and the Champions Boat League (CBL), have stated that preparations for both events have been completed. The boat race is the third event that's part of CBL. The cultural procession proclaiming the Thazhathangadi race would be held on September 26. The rally starts at 3.30 pm from the Arupuzha West Club and reaches the finishing point before it ends in the premises of the Mar Baselios Gregorious Church near Alummoodu Junction.
The boat race, held on the Meenachil River in the historic town of Thazhathangadi, gets kicked off at 2 pm on September 27 with the district collector Chethankumar Meena hoisting the flag. Meanwhile, the meeting would be inaugurated by Minister VN Vasavan at 2.10 pm. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan MLA will preside over the event. Besides, the boat race souvenir would also be unveiled at this event.
The chundan vallams will take part in the mass drill at 2.15 pm. The heats round of the chundan vallams will begin at 2.45 pm followed by the heats round of the small boats. After the mass drill, the students of Baselios College will present an anti-drug flash mob and a thiruvathira on a decorated barge behind the procession of the chundan vallams. These cultural programs will be presented as part of the Drugxit program, an anti-drug campaign of the Orthodox church.
Meanwhile, Kottayam municipality and the Thiruvarpu panchayat have been making all the arrangements for the spectators to watch the boat race comfortably and safely from both sides of the lake. The main pavilion at the finishing point can accommodate up to 350 spectators, including the chief guests and tourists.
The CBL organising committee and the West Club have arranged a still start facility, three tracks, as well as a photo finish technique at the finishing point to ensure the accuracy of the race.
Vanchipattu contest
Vanchipattu competition would be held from 6 pm onwards tomorrow (September 26) for both men's and women’s teams from Kuttanad, Alappuzha and Kottayam regions. The competitions will be held on an illuminated barge in the middle of the lake. This would enable spectators to watch the competitions from the banks on both sides.
Parking
Vehicle parking would be banned on the roads from the starting point at Aravupuzha to the finishing point in Kulappura on September 27, the day of the boat race.
How to reach the starting point?
Thazhathangadi is well-connected by roads. The starting point of the race, Aravupuzha, is around 5.6 km from the Kottayam KSRTC Bus Stand. The nearest Railway Station is Kottayam.
Traffic restrictions
The police will implement traffic restrictions ahead of the cultural procession on September 26 and the boat race the next day. The vehicles coming from the town should turn right at Uppoottikava Junction and reach Kulappura via Valiangadi. These vehicles should be parked on one side of this road, as well as on the road from Uppoottikavala Junction to Alumoodu. Meanwhile, the vehicles from the Kumarakam side should park only on one side of the road from Illickal to Aravupuzha.