Season-6 of Keralam’s prestigious Champions Boat League
(CBL), organised by the State Tourism Department annually, will commence on September 19,
showcasing God’s Own Country’s unique snake-boat race heritage in multiple venues across the
state.
Starting from Karuvatta in Alappuzha district, the IPL-model CBL 2026 will feature 11 races in
as many places, spanning across scenic backwater and riverine sites in different districts.
The final race will be held on November 21 in Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, coinciding with the
President’s Trophy Boat Race.
The Tourism Department has plans to brand Keralam’s unique snake-boat race tradition
globally, Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri P C Vishunadh said.
The upcoming CBL season will also enhance the tourism potential of the places where the races
are being held. Besides enjoying the races and the festive mood they generate, the season will
offer tourists an opportunity to experience the natural charm of our backwaters and riverine
ecosystem and local culture in all its flavours, the Minister said.
The teams this year onwards will be known by the name of the participating snake-boats unlike
previous years.
A meeting chaired by Shri Vishnunadh to plan the CBL Season-6 was attended by Minister for
Co-operation and Excise, Shri M Liju and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Shri Anoop Jacob.
District Collectors and senior officials of the Tourism Department were also present.
After the opening race, the CBL will move on to Kallada in Kollam district on September 23. The
third race will be at Pandanad in Alappuzha district on September 26. Kottapuram in Thrissur
district will be the fourth venue (October 2), followed by Marine Drive in Kochi (October 10)
and Piravom (October 17), both in Ernakulam District. Thazhathangadi in Kottayam will host
the seventh race on October 24.
The subsequent three races will be held Pulinkunnu (October 31) and Kainakari (November 7)
in Alappuzha district and Kayamkulam (November 14), before the grand finale in the
Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam on November 21.
CBL to be branded globally: Minister Shri P C Vishnunadh
Inaugural race at Karuvatta, finals at Kollam on Nov 21
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep. 11: Season-6 of Keralam’s prestigious Champions Boat League
(CBL), organised by the State Tourism Department annually, will commence on September 19,
showcasing God’s Own Country’s unique snake-boat race heritage in multiple venues across the
state.
Starting from Karuvatta in Alappuzha district, the IPL-model CBL 2026 will feature 11 races in
as many places, spanning across scenic backwater and riverine sites in different districts.
The final race will be held on November 21 in Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, coinciding with the
President’s Trophy Boat Race.
The Tourism Department has plans to brand Keralam’s unique snake-boat race tradition
globally, Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri P C Vishunadh said.
The upcoming CBL season will also enhance the tourism potential of the places where the races
are being held. Besides enjoying the races and the festive mood they generate, the season will
offer tourists an opportunity to experience the natural charm of our backwaters and riverine
ecosystem and local culture in all its flavours, the Minister said.
The teams this year onwards will be known by the name of the participating snake-boats unlike
previous years.
A meeting chaired by Shri Vishnunadh to plan the CBL Season-6 was attended by Minister for
Co-operation and Excise, Shri M Liju and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Shri Anoop Jacob.
District Collectors and senior officials of the Tourism Department were also present.
After the opening race, the CBL will move on to Kallada in Kollam district on September 23. The
third race will be at Pandanad in Alappuzha district on September 26. Kottapuram in Thrissur
district will be the fourth venue (October 2), followed by Marine Drive in Kochi (October 10)
and Piravom (October 17), both in Ernakulam District. Thazhathangadi in Kottayam will host
the seventh race on October 24.
The subsequent three races will be held Pulinkunnu (October 31) and Kainakari (November 7)
in Alappuzha district and Kayamkulam (November 14), before the grand finale in the
Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam on November 21.
