Aranmula Snake Boat Race

Aranmula Vallamkali, also known as Aranmula Uthrittathi Boat Race, is the annual snake boat race held at Aranmula village situated on the banks of Pamba River, in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. Aranmula Snake Boat Race is the oldest boat fiesta in Kerala. Aranmula Boat Race is held during the annual Onam festival in Kerala on the Uthrittathi Nakshatra (hence the name Aranmula Uthrittathi Boat Race).

One of the noted things of Aranmula Vallam Kali is that the race is not conducted to win any trophy but the origin of the race is in memory of the crossing of the Pampa River by Lord Krishna of Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple. Hence Aranmula Vallamkali is also related to the annual temple festival at Sree Parthasarathy Temple, which is usually celebrated on the last two days of the festival. 

Aranmula Boat Race is a colourful carnival with around 39 to 41 palliyodams (Aranmula’s unique snake boats) participating in the event. The snake boats will be beautifully decorated with flowers, ornamental umbrellas, ornamental cloths, and colourful flags. Each snake boats can accommodate around 100 to 120 people, which include the oarsmen, singers and helmsmen. The singers sing the Vanchipattu (song) while the oarsmen move the oars in circular form to the rhythm of the song. Every year thousands of people assemble on the banks of Pamba River to watch the boat race. After the there will be an elaborate feast in the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula.

How to reach Aranmula, Kerala

Reaching Aranmula by Bus / Road

Aranmula is around 10 km from Chengannur, 16 km from Pathanamthitta and 50 km from Kottayam. Aranmula is about 128 km from the capital of Kerala, Trivandrum.

Reaching Aranmula by Train

Chengannur Railway Station, managed by Southern Railways, is the nearest railway station situated around 10 km from Aranmula. Chengannur Railway Station lies on the Ernakulam – Kottayam - Kollam railway line.

The major express trains running through Chengannur Railway Station include New Delhi - Trivandrum Central (Kerala Express), Trivandrum – Shoranur Express (Venad Express), Mumbai - Kanyakumari Express (Jayanti Janata Express), Thiruvananthapuram Central - Palghat Town (Amritha Express), Thiruvananthapuram Central - Mangalore Central (Parasuram Express), Thiruvananthapuram - Hyderabad Express (Sabari Express), Thiruvananthapuram – Mangalore Express (Malabar Express), Ernakulam Junction - Thiruvananthapuram Central (Vanchinad Express), and Chennai Mail.

Reaching Aranmula by Air / Flight

Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport around 112 km from Aranmula.

Tourist attractions in Aranmula

Aranmula Kannadi - Aranmula is famous for Aranmula Kannadi or Aranmula Mirror – the world famous hand-made mirrors made entirely from metals, without using glass. Made from a special metal alloy, Aranmula Kannadi is a special front surface reflection mirror which removes the secondary reflections and optical aberration common in usual glass mirrors. An 18 inch (45 cm) tall Aranmula Kannadi, exhibited in the British Museum in London, claims the popularity of this finest unique piece of art.

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple - Sree Parthasarathi Temple at Aranmula is one of the most famous Lord Krishna Temples in Kerala, the others being Guruvayoor Temple, Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Trichambaram Sree Krishna Temple, and Thiruvarppu Krishna Temple.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple - Chengannur Mahadevar Kshetram is one of the oldest and most famous Shiva Temples in Kerala. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi, the temple is also regarded as one of the Shakthi Peedam. Chenganur Shiva Temple is around 8 km from Aranmula and just 1 km from Chengannur Railway Station.